| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 6 Months Ended |
| Oct. 24, 2014 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ' |
| Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements | ' |
| Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements: The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (“Bob Evans”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, Bob Evans and its subsidiaries are referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the disclosures normally required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or those normally made in our Form 10-K filing. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations have been included. The consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full fiscal year. No significant changes have occurred in the financial disclosures made in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 25, 2014 (refer to the Form 10-K for a summary of significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements). Throughout the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, dollars are in thousands, except per share amounts. |
| Revenue Recognition | ' |
| Revenue Recognition: Revenue in the Bob Evans Restaurants segment is recognized at the point of sale, other than revenue from the sale of gift cards, which is deferred and recognized upon redemption. All revenue is presented net of sales tax collections. |
| We issue gift cards, which do not have expiration dates or inactivity fees. We recognize revenue from gift cards when they are redeemed by the customer. In addition, we recognize income on unredeemed gift cards (“gift card breakage”) based on historical redemption patterns, referred to as the redemption recognition method. Gift card breakage is recognized proportionately over the period of redemption in net sales in the Consolidated Statements of Net Income. The liability for unredeemed gift cards is included in deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. |
| In the Bob Evans Restaurants segment, we engage in promotional programs that include email, direct mail, customer bounce-back offerings and specific platforms like, "Kids Eat Free." Costs associated with these programs are classified as a reduction of net sales in the period in which the sale occurs. |
| Revenue in the BEF Foods segment is generally recognized when products are received by our customers. All revenue is presented net of sales tax collections. We engage in promotional (sales incentive) programs in the form of “off-invoice” deductions, billbacks, cooperative advertising and coupons with our customers. Costs associated with these programs are classified as a reduction of net sales in the period in which the sale occurs. |
| Notes Receivable | ' |
| Notes Receivable: As a result of the sale of Mimi’s Café to Le Duff America, Inc. ("Le Duff") in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, we received a Promissory Note ("the Note") for $30,000. The Note has an annual interest rate of 1.5% and a term of seven years. The principal and interest are payable in full at maturity. Partial prepayments are required prior to maturity if the buyer reaches certain levels of EBITDA during specified periods, or upon a sale or liquidation. The buyer covenanted to and did provide funding of at least $10,000 through the initial 18-months after closing. To the extent of such capital being funded but not repaid, we agreed to subordinate our right to repayment under the Note until the buyer has first received a repayment of its funding. Our right to repayment under the Note is subordinated to third-party lenders. The Note is valued using a discounted cash flow model. We used our weighted-average cost of capital as the discount rate to value the Note from Le Duff |
| Inventories | ' |
| Inventories: We value our Bob Evans Restaurants inventories at the lower of first-in, first-out cost (“FIFO”) or market and our BEF Foods inventories are determined on an average cost method which approximates a FIFO basis due to the perishable nature of our inventory. Inventory includes raw materials and supplies ($15,001 at October 24, 2014, and $16,163 at April 25, 2014) and finished goods ($12,976 at October 24, 2014, and $9,080 at April 25, 2014). |
| Property, Plant and Equipment | ' |
| Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. The straight-line depreciation method is used for nearly all capitalized assets, although some assets purchased prior to fiscal 1995 continue to be depreciated using accelerated methods. Depreciation is calculated at rates adequate to amortize costs over the estimated useful lives of buildings and improvements (10 to 50 years) and machinery and equipment (3 to 30 years). Improvements to leased properties are depreciated over the shorter of their useful lives or the initial lease terms. |
| During the three month period ending July 25, 2014, we reassessed our overall long-range capital plan and revised the anticipated timing for future store remodel initiatives. It is now anticipated that assets capitalized under the Farm Fresh Refresh remodeling program will have an estimated total life of ten years, rather than seven years and accordingly useful lives for those affected assets were modified. |
| We have capitalized $20,819 related to a new enterprise resource planning system ("ERP"). During the three and six months ended October 24, 2014, we capitalized internal labor costs of $1,490 and $2,396, respectively, which primarily related to the development of our new ERP. During the three and six months ended October 25, 2013, we capitalized internal labor costs of $1,093 and $2,122, respectively, primarily related to the development of our new ERP. |
| We evaluate property, plant and equipment held and used in the business for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. Impairment is determined by comparing the estimated fair value for the asset group to the carrying amount of its assets. If impairment exists, the amount of impairment is measured as the excess of the carrying amount over the estimated fair values of the assets. See Note 5 for further information. |
| Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets | ' |
| Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill, which represents the cost in excess of fair market value of net assets acquired, was $19,634 as of October 24, 2014, and April 25, 2014. Other intangible assets were $3,192 and $3,270 as of October 24, 2014, and April 25, 2014, respectively. The goodwill and intangible assets are related to the BEF Foods segment. Of the $3,192 of intangible assets, $2,761 represents indefinite-lived trademark assets that are not subject to amortization and $431 represents definite-lived non-compete agreements that are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic life of five years. Goodwill and trademark intangible assets are tested for impairment during the fourth quarter each year or on a more frequent basis when indicators of impairment exist. |
| Earnings Per Share | ' |
| Earnings Per Share: Basic earnings-per-share computations are based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period presented. Diluted earnings-per-share calculations reflect the assumed exercise and conversion of outstanding employee stock options. |
| The numerator in calculating both basic and diluted earnings per share for each period is reported net income. The denominator is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. |
| Options to purchase 42,354 and 43,953 shares of common stock were excluded from the three and six months ended October 24, 2014, diluted earnings-per-share calculation because they were antidilutive. |
| Stock-Based Compensation | ' |
| Stock-Based Compensation: We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718. Accordingly, stock-based compensation awards are measured based on the fair value of the award on the grant date and are recognized over the vesting period of the award on a straight-line basis with the exception of compensation cost related to awards for retirement eligible employees, which are recognized immediately upon grant. |
| Other Compensation Plans | ' |
| Other Compensation Plans: We have a defined contribution plan (401(k)) that is available to substantially all employees who have at least 1,000 hours of service. We also have nonqualified deferred compensation plans, the Bob Evans Executive Deferral Plan (“BEEDP”) and Bob Evans Directors’ Deferral Plan (“BEDDP”), which provides certain executives and Board of Directors members, respectively, the opportunity to defer a portion of their current income to future years. Our annual matching contributions to the plans are at the discretion of our Board of Directors. The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) provides awards in the form of nonqualified deferred cash compensation. |
| Reporting Segments | ' |
| Reporting Segments: We have two business segments: Bob Evans Restaurants and BEF Foods. See Note 9 for detailed segment information. |
| The revenues from these two segments include both net sales to unaffiliated customers and intersegment net sales, which are accounted for on a basis consistent with net sales to unaffiliated customers. Intersegment net sales and other intersegment transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Operating income represents earnings before interest and income taxes. |
| Long-term Investments | ' |
| Long-term Investments: Long-term investments include assets held under certain deferred compensation arrangements, which primarily represent the cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance policies. Long-term investments totaled $33,275 and $31,972 as of October 24, 2014, and April 25, 2014, respectively. Change in the cash surrender value for these investments is reflected within the “Selling, general and administrative expenses” line (“S,G&A”) in the Consolidated Statements of Net Income. |
| Financial Instruments | ' |
| Financial Instruments: The fair value of our financial instruments (other than an interest-free loan recorded in long-term debt) approximate their carrying values at October 24, 2014. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. |
| Commitments and Contingencies | ' |
| Commitments and Contingencies: We rent certain restaurant facilities under operating leases having initial terms that primarily expire 20 years from inception. The leases typically contain renewal clauses of 5 to 30 years exercisable at our option. Most leases contain either fixed or inflation-adjusted escalation clauses. |
| We occasionally use purchase commitment contracts to stabilize the potentially volatile pricing associated with certain commodity items. |
| We are self-insured for most casualty losses and employee health-care claims up to certain stop-loss limits per claim. We have accounted for liabilities for casualty losses, including both reported claims and incurred but not reported claims. We have accounted for our employee health-care claims liability through a review of incurred, and paid claims history. We do not believe that our calculation of casualty losses and employee health-care claims liabilities would change materially under different conditions and/or different methods. However, due to the inherent volatility of actuarially determined casualty losses and employee health-care claims, it is reasonably possible that we could experience changes in estimated losses, which could be material to quarterly net income. |
| We are from time-to-time involved in ordinary and routine litigation, typically involving claims from customers, employees and others related to operational issues common to the restaurant and food manufacturing industries. Management presently believes that the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations. See Note 8 for further information. |
| Reclassifications | ' |
| Reclassifications: Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified or adjusted to conform to the current year presentation. |
| We reclassified $1,883 and $4,018 of carryout supplies expense incurred in the three and six months ended October 25, 2013, from the operating expenses line to the cost of sales line on the Consolidated Statements of Net Income. We believe that carryout supplies are better classified as cost of sales expense rather than other operating expense. Such reclassifications had no impact on reported net income. |
| We reclassified $1,315 and $2,449 of wages expense related to our store management training program incurred in the three and six months ended October 25, 2013, from the S,G&A expenses line to the operating wage and fringe benefit expenses line on the Consolidated Statements of Net Income. We believe that these costs are better classified as wage expense rather than S,G&A expense. Such reclassifications had no impact on reported net income. |
| We have reclassified to correct $2,755 of accrued promotional incentives sales deductions for the year ended April 25, 2014, from the other accrued expenses line to the accounts receivable line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These deductions are now classified in accounts receivable as they are reductions in what is owed to the Company from its customers. |
| New Accounting Pronouncements | ' |
| New Accounting Pronouncements: In the normal course of business, management evaluates all new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Emerging Issues Task Force, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or any other authoritative accounting body to determine the potential impact they may have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |
| In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") issued new joint guidance surrounding revenue recognition. Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"), this guidance is being introduced to the ASC as Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("Topic 606"), by Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 ("ASU 2014-09"). The new standard supersedes a majority of existing revenue recognition guidance under US GAAP, and requires companies to recognize revenue when it transfers goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled. Companies may need to use more judgment and make more estimates while recognizing revenue, which could result in additional disclosures to the financial statements. Topic 606 allows for either a "full retrospective" adoption or a "modified retrospective" adoption. The standard is effective for us in fiscal 2018. We are currently evaluating which method we will use and the revenue recognition impact this guidance will have once implemented. |
| In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity ("ASU 2014-08"), which is an update to existing guidance related to reporting discontinued operations. The updated guidance states that only those disposals of components of an entity which would represent a strategic shift in operations and has or will have a major impact on operations and financial results will be presented as discontinued operations. This update also requires the assets and liabilities of a discontinued operation to be presented separately in the statement of financial position for all prior periods presented. ASU 2014-08 is to be applied prospectively, and is effective for us in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. This update did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements. |
