Ingles Markets (IMKTA) 10-K 16 Dec 14 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 12, 2014
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	27-Sep-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	IMKTA
Entity Registrant Name	INGLES MARKETS INC
Entity Central Index Key	50493
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-18
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float		$322.80
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			13,553,433
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			6,706,343

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$8,613,628	$16,844,007
Receivables (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $307,029 – 2014 and $722,893 – 2013)	60,991,062	59,929,491
Inventories	329,523,604	329,691,256
Other	14,789,004	28,075,314
Total Current Assets	413,917,298	434,540,068
Property and Equipment, Net	1,218,607,029	1,212,132,055
Other Assets	24,427,237	22,655,614
Total Assets	1,656,951,564	1,669,327,737
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	12,488,400	18,956,761
Accounts payable - trade	167,314,891	160,314,263
Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities	70,944,728	72,002,983
Total Current Liabilities	250,748,019	251,274,007
Deferred Income Taxes	70,040,000	86,082,000
Long-Term Debt	924,771,343	893,514,238
Other Long-Term Liabilities	28,790,035	27,818,217
Total Liabilities	1,274,349,397	1,258,688,462
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.05 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued
Common stocks:
Paid-in capital in excess of par value	12,311,249	77,186,249
Retained earnings	369,277,929	332,315,037
Total Stockholders’ Equity	382,602,167	410,639,275
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	1,656,951,564	1,669,327,737
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Common stocks:
Common stock, value	677,017	671,899
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Common stocks:
Common stock, value	$335,972	$466,090

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivables	$307,029	$722,893
Preferred stock, par value	$0.05	$0.05
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Common stock, par value	$0.05	$0.05
Common stock, shares authorized	150,000,000	150,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	13,540,333	13,437,975
Common stock, shares outstanding	13,540,333	13,437,975
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Common stock, par value	$0.05	$0.05
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	6,719,443	9,321,801
Common stock, shares outstanding	6,719,443	9,321,801

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Inc

Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Net sales	$3,835,985,953	$3,738,540,461	$3,718,314,651
Cost of goods sold	2,990,822,438	2,910,730,478	2,897,534,853
Gross profit	845,163,515	827,809,983	820,779,798
Operating and administrative expenses	722,644,214	706,497,512	697,602,981
Gain from sale or disposal of assets	825,856	4,261,704	670,025
Income from operations	123,345,157	125,574,175	123,846,842
Other income, net	3,001,161	2,900,341	3,527,065
Interest expense	46,569,864	59,142,378	60,026,564
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		43,089,248
Income before income taxes	79,776,454	26,242,890	67,347,343
Income tax expense	28,350,000	5,447,000	23,903,000
Net income	$51,426,454	$20,795,890	$43,444,343
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Per share amounts:
Basic earnings per common share	$2.36	$0.89	$1.87
Diluted earnings per common share	$2.28	$0.87	$1.79
Cash dividends per common share:
Common Stock	$0.66	$1.32	$0.66
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Per share amounts:
Basic earnings per common share	$2.14	$0.85	$1.70
Diluted earnings per common share	$2.14	$0.85	$1.70
Cash dividends per common share:
Common Stock	$0.60	$1.20	$0.60

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Cha

Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Class A Common Stock [Member]	Class A Common Stock [Member]	Class A Common Stock [Member]	Class B Common Stock [Member]	Class B Common Stock [Member]	Class B Common Stock [Member]	Paid-In Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total
	Common Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]		Common Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]
Balance at Sep. 24, 2011	$646,977			$574,486			$116,844,842	$313,879,289	$431,945,594
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 24, 2011	12,939,533			11,489,726
Net income								43,444,343	43,444,343
Cash dividends		-8,537,270	-8,537,270		-6,822,131	-6,822,131
Common stock conversions	1,479			-1,479
Common stock conversions (in shares)	29,575			-29,575
Stock repurchases, at cost	-774			-7,700			-2,608,593		-2,617,067
Stock repurchases, at cost (in shares)	-15,473			-154,010
Balance at Sep. 29, 2012	647,682			565,307			114,236,249	341,964,231	457,413,469
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2012	12,953,635			11,306,141
Net income								20,795,890	20,795,890
Cash dividends		-17,141,839	-17,141,839		-13,303,245	-13,303,245
Common stock conversions	24,217			-24,217
Common stock conversions (in shares)	484,340			-484,340
Stock repurchases, at cost				-75,000			-37,050,000		-37,125,000
Stock repurchases, at cost (in shares)				-1,500,000
Balance at Sep. 28, 2013	671,899			466,090			77,186,249	332,315,037	410,639,275
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2013	13,437,975			9,321,801
Net income								51,426,454	51,426,454
Cash dividends		-8,894,632	-8,894,632		-5,568,930	-5,568,930
Common stock conversions	5,118			-5,118
Common stock conversions (in shares)	102,358			-102,358
Stock repurchases, at cost				-125,000			-64,875,000		-65,000,000
Stock repurchases, at cost (in shares)				-2,500,000		-2,500,000
Balance at Sep. 27, 2014	$677,017			$335,972			$12,311,249	$369,277,929	$382,602,167
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 27, 2014	13,540,333			6,719,443

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Cas

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$51,426,454	$20,795,890	$43,444,343
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	97,663,587	94,889,139	90,530,952
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		43,089,248
Gain from sale or disposal of assets	-825,856	-4,261,704	-670,025
Receipt of advance payments on purchase contracts	2,977,486	3,715,720	4,009,606
Recognition of advance payments on purchase contracts	-3,282,770	-3,448,546	-3,218,320
Deferred income taxes	-16,352,000	7,435,000	14,202,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables	-1,431,891	1,589,591	-4,678,023
Inventory	167,652	-76,332	-26,448,437
Other assets	11,116,836	-6,403,298	-14,762,062
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	12,889,283	-12,124,026	31,340,734
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	154,348,781	145,200,682	133,750,768
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sales of restricted investments			75,730,905
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	434,061	7,809,412	1,337,031
Capital expenditures	-108,338,402	-101,453,001	-180,628,852
Net Cash Used by Investing Activities	-107,904,341	-93,643,589	-103,560,916
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	413,837,067	581,930,489	781,566,880
Payments on short-term borrowings	-383,927,017	-622,051,131	-741,446,238
Proceeds from issuance of bonds		700,000,000
Bond issuance costs		-9,919,840
Proceeds from new long-term borrowings	14,000,000	8,000,000	3,250,000
Principal payments on long-term borrowings	-19,121,307	-602,026,300	-63,321,866
Prepayment penalties on debt extinguishment		-27,759,630
Stock repurchases	-65,000,000	-37,125,000	-2,617,067
Dividends paid	-14,463,562	-30,445,084	-15,359,401
Net Cash Used By Financing Activities	-54,674,819	-39,396,496	-37,927,692
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	-8,230,379	12,160,597	-7,737,840
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	16,844,007	4,683,410	12,421,250
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	$8,613,628	$16,844,007	$4,683,410

Summary_Of_Significant_Account

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Nature of Operations –  Ingles Markets, Incorporated (“Ingles” or the “Company”), is a leading supermarket chain in the southeast United States, operates 202 supermarkets in Georgia (71), North Carolina (71), South Carolina (36), Tennessee (21), Virginia (2) and Alabama (1).
	Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sky King, Inc., Ingles Markets Investments, Inc., Milkco, Inc., Shopping Center Financing, LLC, and Shopping Center Financing II, LLC. All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
	Fiscal Year – The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in September. Fiscal year 2014 consisted of 52weeks; fiscal year 2013 consisted of 52 weeks and fiscal year 2012 consisted of 53 weeks.
	Segment Information – The Company operates one primary business segment, retail grocery sales (representing the aggregation of individual retail stores).   The “Other” segment includes our remaining operations -- fluid dairy and shopping center rentals.
	New Accounting Pronouncements –In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-08 “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity” (ASU 2014-08).  ASU 2014-08 is aimed at reducing the frequency of disposals reported as discontinued operations by focusing on strategic shifts that have or are expected to have a major impact on an entity’s operations and financial results.  Such a shift could include the disposal of a major line of business, a major geographical area, a major equity method of investment or other major parts of the entity.  ASU 2014-08 also permits companies to have continuing cash flows and significant continuing involvement with the disposed component.  ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures for discontinued operations and new disclosures for individually material disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation.  The Company has early adopted ASU effective June 28, 2014.  ASU 2014-08 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
	Cash Equivalents – All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash.  Outstanding checks in excess of bank balances are included in the line item “Accounts payable – trade” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts totaled $15.5 million and $4.2 million as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively.
	Financial Instruments – The Company at times has short-term investments and certificates of deposit with maturities of three months or less when purchased that are included in cash. At September 27, 2014 the Company had no such investments.  The Company’s policy is to invest its excess cash either in money market accounts, reverse repurchase agreements or in certificates of deposit. Money market accounts and certificates of deposit are not secured; reverse repurchase agreements are secured by government obligations. At September 27, 2014 demand deposits of approximately $4.2 million in two banks exceed the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit per bank.
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable are primarily from vendor allowances, customer charges and pharmacy insurance company reimbursements.  Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts, which is determined through analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the consolidated financial statements and assessments of the collectability based upon historical collection activity adjusted for current conditions.
	Inventories – Substantially all of the Company’s inventory consists of finished goods.  Warehouse inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market.  Store inventories are valued using the retail method under which inventories at cost (and the resulting gross margins) are determined by applying a calculated cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of inventories.  As an integral part of valuing inventory at cost, management makes certain judgments and estimates for standard gross margins, allowances for vendor consideration, markdowns and shrinkage.  Warehousing and distribution costs are not included in the valuation of inventories.  The Company reviews its judgments and estimates regularly and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.
	Property, Equipment and Depreciation – Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives by the straight-line method.  Buildings are generally depreciated over 30 years.  Store, office and warehouse equipment is generally depreciated over three to 10 years.  Transportation equipment is generally depreciated over three to five years.  Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the subject lease term or the useful life of the asset, generally from three to 30 years.  Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $97.7 million, $94.9 million and $90.6 million for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Asset Impairments – The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 360.  Asset groups are primarily comprised of individual store and shopping center properties.  For assets to be held and used, the Company tests for impairment using undiscounted cash flows and calculates the amount of impairment using discounted cash flows. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized based on the excess of remaining book value over expected recovery value. The recovery value is the fair value as determined by independent quotes or expected sales prices developed by internal associates, less costs to sell. Estimates of future cash flows and expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of local operations and cash flows that are projected for several years into the future. These estimates can fluctuate significantly due to changes in real estate market conditions, the economic environment, capital spending decisions and inflation. The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets for potential impairment each quarter based on whether any indicators of impairment have occurred.
	Restricted Investments – Restricted investments consisted of money market deposits and United States Treasury securities purchased with the proceeds of the Recovery Zone Bonds issued in December 2010.  These investments were held in a trust account and were liquidated as the Company incurred approved costs to build the Project, which was completed during fiscal year 2012.  These assets were classified as available-for-sale and stated at market value.
	Capitalized Loan Costs – Other assets include capitalized loan costs of $10.6 million (net of $2.4 million accumulated amortization) and $11.6 million (net of $1.2 million accumulated amortization) at September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively. These costs are amortized over the life of the underlying debt instrument at approximately $1.3 million per year. During the year ended September 28, 2013 the Company wrote off $15.3 million of capitalized loan costs in conjunction with the early repayment of certain outstanding debt.  This amount is included in the line item “Loss on early extinguishment of debt” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
	Nonqualified Investment Plan – The purpose of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan is to provide retirement benefits similar to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to certain of the Company’s management employees who are otherwise subject to limited participation in the 401(k) feature of the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan.  Participant retirement account balances are liabilities of the Company.  Assets of the plan are assets of the Company and are held in trust for employees and distributed upon retirement, death, disability, in-service distributions, or termination of employment.  In accordance with the trust, the Company may not use these assets for general corporate purposes.  During the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014 the Company liquidated certain life insurance policy assets and invested the proceeds in marketable securities.  These marketable securities will be liquidated and invested in life insurance policies in future periods.  Life insurance policies and marketable securities held in the trust are included in the caption “Other assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	Self-Insurance – The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability and group medical and dental benefits. Risks and uncertainties are associated with self-insurance; however, the Company has limited its exposure by maintaining excess liability coverage of $750,000 per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $500,000 for general liability, and $325,000 per covered person for medical care benefits for a policy year.  Self-insurance liabilities are established based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates are based on data provided by the respective claims administrators, which is then applied to appropriate actuarial methods. These estimates can fluctuate if historical trends are not predictive of the future. The Company’s self-insurance reserves totaled $29.9 million and $29.4 million for employee group insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance at September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively. The Company is required in certain cases to obtain letters of credit to support its self-insured status. At fiscal year-end 2014, the Company’s self-insured liabilities were supported by $9.3 million of undrawn letters of credit which expire between October 2014 and September 2015. The Company carries casualty insurance only on those properties where it is required to do so. The Company has elected to self-insure its other properties.
	Income Taxes – The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC Topic 740.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the currently enacted tax rates.   The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return.
	The Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $148,800 and $149,100 as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively.  These benefits, if recognized, would have an insignificant effect on the effective tax rate. The Company does not expect that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.
	The Company files income tax returns with federal and various state jurisdictions.  With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2010. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has completed its examination of the Company’s U.S. Federal income tax returns filed through fiscal year 2011.  Examinations may challenge certain of the Company’s tax positions.  Actual results could materially differ from these estimates and could significantly affect the effective tax rate and cash flows in the future years.
	Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not expected to be realized.
	The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions and related matters in income tax expense. As of September 27, 2014, the Company had approximately $53,000 accrued for interest and penalties.
	Pre-Opening Costs – Costs associated with the opening of new stores are expensed when incurred.
	Per-Share Amounts – The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260.
	Advertising – The Company expenses advertising as incurred. Advertising and promotion expenses, net of vendor allowance reimbursements, totaled $12.3 million, $13.9 million and $14.1 million for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results.  Such estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, various inventory reserves, realizability of deferred tax assets, and self-insurance reserves.
	Cost of Goods Sold –  In addition to the direct product cost, cost of goods sold for the grocery segment includes inbound freight charges and costs of the Company’s distribution network.  Milk processing is a manufacturing process.  Therefore, cost of goods sold include direct product and production costs, inbound freight, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and other costs of distribution.  Depreciation expense included in costs of goods sold totaled $16.7 million, $14.2 million and $9.2 million for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Operating and Administrative Expenses –  Operating and administrative expenses include costs incurred for store and administrative labor, occupancy, depreciation (to the extent not included in Cost of Goods Sold), insurance and general administration.
	Revenue Recognition – The Company recognizes revenues from grocery segment sales at the point of sale to its customers.  Sales taxes collected from customers are not included in reported revenues.  Discounts provided to customers by the Company at the point of sale, including discounts provided in connection with loyalty cards, are recognized as a reduction in sales as the products are sold.  Product returns are not significant.
	The Company recognizes fluid dairy revenues at the time the risk of loss shifts to the customer pursuant to our terms of sale.  Therefore, approximately 67%    of fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is picked up by the customer at our facility. The remaining fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is received at the customer’s facility upon delivery via transportation arranged by the Company.
	Rental income, including contingent rentals, is recognized on the accrual basis.  Upfront consideration paid by either the Company as lessor or by the lessee is recognized as an adjustment to net rental income using the straight line method over the term of the lease.
	Vendor Allowances – The Company receives funds for a variety of merchandising activities from the many vendors whose products the Company buys for resale in its stores. These incentives and allowances are primarily comprised of volume or purchase based incentives, advertising allowances, slotting fees, and promotional discounts. The purpose of these incentives and allowances is generally to help defray the costs incurred by the Company for stocking, advertising, promoting and selling the vendors’ products. These allowances generally relate to short term arrangements with vendors, often relating to a period of a month or less, and are negotiated on a purchase-by-purchase or transaction-by-transaction basis.  Whenever possible, vendor discounts and allowances that relate to buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a component of item cost in inventory and recognized in merchandise costs when the item is sold. Due to system constraints and the nature of certain allowances, it is sometimes not practicable to apply allowances to the item cost of inventory. In those instances, the allowances are applied as a reduction of merchandise costs using a rational and systematic methodology, which results in the recognition of these incentives when the inventory related to the vendor consideration received is sold.  Vendor allowances applied as a reduction of merchandise costs totaled $126.7 million, $121.9 million, and $114.3 million for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.  Vendor advertising allowances that represent a reimbursement of specific identifiable incremental costs of advertising the vendor’s specific products are recorded as a reduction to the related expense in the period that the related expense is incurred.  Vendor advertising allowances recorded as a reduction of advertising expense totaled $14.8 million, $14.5 million, and $13.2 million for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.
	If vendor advertising allowances were substantially reduced or eliminated, the Company would likely consider other methods of advertising as well as the volume and frequency of its product advertising, which could increase or decrease its expenditures.
	Similarly, the Company is not able to assess the impact of vendor advertising allowances on the creation of additional revenue; as such allowances do not directly generate revenue for its stores.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	2. Income Taxes
	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities and Assets – Deferred income taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax laws and rates.  Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax liabilities and assets are as follows:
		2014		2013
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Property and equipment tax/book differences	$	79,861,000	$	96,989,000
	Property tax method		1,418,000		1,384,000
	Total deferred tax liabilities		81,279,000		98,373,000
	Deferred tax assets:
	Insurance reserves		8,360,000		8,957,000
	Advance payments on purchases contracts		676,000		797,000
	Vacation accrual		2,603,000		2,560,000
	State tax credits		604,000		1,358,000
	Inventory		1,917,000		2,323,000
	Deferred compensation		3,157,000		2,784,000
	Other		1,544,000		824,000
	Total deferred tax assets		18,861,000		19,603,000
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	62,418,000	$	78,770,000
	Current deferred income tax benefits of $7.6 million and $7.3 million at September 27,  2014 and September 28,  2013, respectively, included in other current assets, result from timing differences arising from deferred vendor income, vacation pay, non-income taxes, self-insurance reserves, and from capitalization of certain overhead costs in inventory for tax purposes.
	At September 27,  2014 and September 28,  2013 refundable current income taxes totaling $1.2 million and $13.8 million, respectively, are included in the line item “Other current assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	Income Tax Expense - Income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal rates to income before income taxes. The reasons for the differences are as follows:
		2014		2013		2012
	Federal tax at statutory rate	$	27,922,000	$	9,109,000	$	23,572,000
	State income tax, net of federal tax benefits		2,308,000		-2,204,000		1,943,000
	Federal tax credits		-718,000		-1,410,000		-1,209,000
	Other		-1,162,000		-48,000		-403,000
	Total	$	28,350,000	$	5,447,000	$	23,903,000
	Current and deferred income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:
		2014		2013		2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	40,475,000	$	73,000	$	6,734,000
	State		4,227,000		-2,061,000		2,967,000
	Total current		44,702,000		-1,988,000		9,701,000
	Deferred:
	Federal		-15,913,000		7,368,000		12,149,000
	State		-439,000		67,000		2,053,000
	Total deferred		-16,352,000		7,435,000		14,202,000
	Total expense	$	28,350,000	$	5,447,000	$	23,903,000
	Uncertain Tax Positions – Under ASC 740-10 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, the Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit.  For tax positions meeting the “more likely than not” threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.  A reserve for uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties, of $0.2 million is included in the Company’s income taxes payable at both September 27,  2014 and September 28,  2013. The reserve for uncertain tax positions has been recorded based on management’s assumption that certain tax positions would be successfully challenged by taxing authorities.
	Recently Enacted Tax Regulations – On September 13, 2013, the IRS released final tangible property regulations under Sections 162(a) and 263(a) of the Internal Revenue Code regarding the deduction and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property as well as dispositions of tangible property.  These regulations will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 26, 2015.  Taxpayers may elect to apply them to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2012.  The Company does not anticipate that the regulations will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Property_And_Equipment

Property And Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Property And Equipment [Abstract]
Property And Equipment	3. Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment, net, consists of the following:
		2014		2013
	Land	$	308,475,596	$	302,390,527
	Construction in progress		7,201,640		9,644,248
	Buildings		1,015,061,129		983,136,114
	Store, office and warehouse equipment		785,827,851		738,305,477
	Transportation equipment		64,705,509		64,436,941
	Leasehold improvements		53,183,103		53,886,925
	Total		2,234,454,828		2,151,800,232
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		1,015,847,799		939,668,177
	Property and equipment - net	$	1,218,607,029	$	1,212,132,055

Property_Held_For_Lease_And_Re

Property Held For Lease And Rental Income	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Property Held For Lease And Rental Income [Abstract]
Property Held For Lease And Rental Income	4. Property Held for Lease and Rental Income
	At September 27, 2014, the Company owned and operated 69 shopping centers in conjunction with its supermarket operations. The Company leases to others a portion of its shopping center properties. The leases are non-cancelable operating lease agreements for periods ranging up to 25 years.
	Rental income is included in the line item “Net sales” on the Consolidated Statement of Income.  Depreciation on owned properties leased to others and other shopping center expenses are included in the line item “Cost of goods sold” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
		2014		2013		2012
	Rents earned on owned and subleased properties:
	Base rentals including lease termination payments	$	7,875,101	$	7,997,136	$	8,352,748
	Contingent rentals		331,352		257,598		528,083
	Total		8,206,453		8,254,734		8,880,831
	Depreciation on owned properties leased to others		-5,363,637		-5,220,102		-5,478,307
	Other shopping center expenses		-1,982,212		-1,936,250		-1,958,178
	Total	$	860,604	$	1,098,382	$	1,444,346
	Owned properties leased or held for lease to others under operating leases by major classes are summarized as follows:
		September 27,		September 28,
		2014		2013
	Land	$	41,796,507	$	39,487,058
	Buildings		168,884,878		162,673,028
	Total		210,681,385		202,160,086
	Less accumulated depreciation		-103,238,395		-93,950,201
	Total	$	107,442,990	$	108,209,885
	The above amounts are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in the caption “Property and equipment, net.”
	The following is a schedule of minimum future rental income on non-cancelable operating leases as of September 27,  2014:
	Fiscal Year
	2015	$	4,941,290
	2016		3,891,919
	2017		2,639,172
	2018		1,454,504
	2019		1,045,880
	Thereafter		2,499,485
	Total minimum future rental income	$	16,472,250

Leases_And_Rental_Expense

Leases And Rental Expense	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Leases And Rental Expense [Abstract]
Leases And Rental Expense	5. Leases and Rental Expense
	The Company conducts part of its retail operations from leased facilities. The initial terms of the leases are generally 20 years. The majority of the leases include one or more renewal options and provide that the Company pay property taxes, utilities, repairs and certain other costs incidental to occupation of the premises. Several leases contain clauses calling for percentage rentals based upon gross sales of the supermarket occupying the leased space.  Step rent provisions, escalation clauses, capital improvements and other lease concessions are taken into account in computing minimum lease payments, which are recognized on a straight-line basis over the minimum lease term.
	Operating Leases - Rent expense for all operating leases of $14.1 million, $14.4 million and $14.2 million for fiscal years 2014,  2013 and 2012, respectively, is included in operating and administrative expenses. Sub-lease rental income of $0.2 million for each of fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, is included as a reduction of rental expense.
	The components of aggregate minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases as of September 27,  2014 are as follows:
	Fiscal Year
	2015	$	11,733,813
	2016		10,771,402
	2017		10,339,177
	2018		8,769,561
	2019		7,675,403
	Thereafter		39,323,619
	Total minimum future rental commitments	$	88,612,975

Supplementary_Balance_Sheet_In

Supplementary Balance Sheet Information	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information	6. Supplementary Balance Sheet Information
	Accrued Expenses and Current Portion of Other Long-Term Liabilities - Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities are summarized as follows:
		2014		2013
	Property, payroll, and other taxes payable	$	16,469,128	$	16,771,941
	Salaries, wages, and bonuses payable		25,514,842		25,129,025
	Self-insurance liabilities:
	Employee group insurance		4,585,759		4,591,256
	Workers’ compensation insurance		5,677,217		5,658,840
	General liability insurance		2,671,944		2,594,047
	Interest		12,676,648		12,993,252
	Other		3,349,190		4,264,622
	Total	$	70,944,728	$	72,002,983
	Employee insurance expense, including workers’ compensation and medical care benefits, net of employee contributions, totaled $27.4 million, $31.4 million and $30.6 million for fiscal years 2014,  2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Other Long-Term Liabilities - Other long-term liabilities are summarized as follows:
		2014		2013
	Advance payments on purchases contracts	$	1,748,818	$	2,054,112
	Deferred gain - sale/leasebacks		369,773		420,166
	Deferred lease expense		1,875,776		1,900,084
	Nonqualified investment plan liability		8,172,335		7,211,523
	Self-insurance liabilities:
	Workers’ compensation insurance		13,283,535		13,066,779
	General liability insurance		3,643,676		3,460,935
	Other		1,261,623		1,047,281
	Total other long-term liabilities		30,355,536		29,160,880
	Less current portion		1,565,501		1,342,663
		$	28,790,035	$	27,818,217
	Advance Payments on Purchases Contracts - The Company has entered into agreements with suppliers whereby payment is received in advance and earned based on purchases of product from these suppliers in the future. The unearned portion, included in other long-term liabilities, will be recognized in the results of operations in accordance with the terms of the contract.

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	7.  Long-Term Debt
	Long-term debt and short-term loans are summarized as follows:
			2014		2013
	Bonds payable:
	Senior notes, interest rate of 5.75%, maturing 2023		$	700,000,000	$	700,000,000
	Recovery Zone Facility Bonds, maturing 2036			95,210,000		99,740,000
	Outstanding line of credit, weighted average interest rate of 3.38%			29,910,050		—
	Notes payable:
	Real estate and equipment maturing 2013-2031:
	Due to banks, weighted average interest rate of 3.01 for 2014 and 3.26% for 2013			80,634,003		78,405,127
	Due to other financial institutions, weighted average interest rate of  4.09% for 2014 and 4.04% for 2013			31,505,690		34,325,872
	Total long-term debt			937,259,743		912,470,999
	Less current portion			12,488,400		18,956,761
	Long-term debt, net of current portion		$	924,771,343	$	893,514,238
	In June 2013, the Company issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due in 2023 (the “Notes”) in a private placement.  The Notes bear an interest rate of 5.75% per annum and were issued at par. Note proceeds were used to repay $575.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes maturing in 2017, $52.0 million of indebtedness outstanding under the Company’s line of credit, and to pay costs related to the offering of the Notes.  Remaining Note proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures.  In connection with the repayment of the $575.0 million senior notes, the Company paid $27.8 million in debt extinguishment costs and expensed $15.3 million of unamortized loan costs.  These amounts comprise the line item “Loss on early extinguishment of debt” on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013.
	The Company filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to exchange the private placement notes with registered notes.  This exchange has been completed.
	The Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes at any time on or after June 15, 2018 at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning June 15 of the years indicated below:
	Year
	2018	102.88%
	2019	101.92%
	2020	100.96%
	2021 and thereafter	100.00%
	In connection with the offering of the Notes, the Company extended the maturity date of its $175.0 million line of credit (the “Line”) from December 29, 2015 to June 12, 2018 and modified certain interest rate options and covenants.  At September 27, 2014, the Company had $29.9 million borrowing outstanding under the line of credit.
	The Line provides the Company with various interest rate options based on the prime rate, the Federal Funds Rate, or the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”). The Line allows the Company to issue up to $30.0 million in unused letters of credit, of which $11.0 million of unused letters of credit were issued at September 27, 2014.  The Company is not required to maintain compensating balances in connection with the Line.
	On December 29, 2010, the Company completed the funding of $99.7 million of Recovery Zone Facility Bonds (the “Bonds”) for:  (A) acquisition, construction and equipping of an approximately 830,000 square foot new warehouse and distribution center to be located in Buncombe County, North Carolina (the “Project”), and (B) the payment of certain expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the Bonds.  The final maturity date of the Bonds is January 1, 2036.
	Bond proceeds were invested in a trust account with the Bond trustee.  The Company received disbursements from the account as it submitted requisitions to the trustee for incurred Project costs.  Disbursements from the trust account are listed in the line item “Proceeds from sales of restricted investments” on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012.  All funds had been disbursed from the trust account as of September 29, 2012.
	The Bonds were issued by the Buncombe County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority and were purchased by certain financial institutions.  Under a Continuing Covenant and Collateral Agency Agreement (the “Covenant Agreement”) between the financial institutions and the Company, the financial institutions would hold the Bonds until January 2, 2018, subject to certain events.   Mandatory redemption of the Bonds by the Company in the annual amount of $4.5 million began on January 1, 2014.
	In connection with the offering of the Notes, the Company extended the maturity date of the Covenant Agreement from January 2, 2018 to June 30, 2021 and modified certain interest rate options and covenants. The Company may redeem the Bonds without penalty or premium at any time prior to June 30, 2021.
	Interest earned by bondholders on the Bonds is exempt from Federal and North Carolina income taxation.  The interest rate on the Bonds is equal to one month LIBOR (adjusted monthly) plus a credit spread, adjusted to reflect the income tax exemption.
	The Company’s obligation to repay the Bonds is collateralized by the Project.  Additional collateral was required in order to meet certain loan to value criteria in the Covenant Agreement.  The Covenant Agreement incorporates substantially all financial covenants included in the Line.
	The Notes, the Bonds and the Line contain provisions that under certain circumstances would permit lending institutions to terminate or withdraw their respective extensions of credit to the Company. Included among the triggering factors permitting the termination or withdrawal of the Line to the Company are certain events of default, including both monetary and non-monetary defaults, the initiation of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, and the failure of the Company to meet certain financial covenants designated in its respective loan documents. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants related to the Notes, the Bonds and Line at September 27, 2014.
	The Company’s long-term debt agreements generally have cross-default provisions which could result in the acceleration of payments due under the Company’s line of credit, Bond and Notes indenture in the event of default under any one instrument.
	At September 27,  2014, property and equipment with an undepreciated cost of approximately $273 million was pledged as collateral for long-term debt. Long-term debt and Line agreements contain various restrictive covenants requiring, among other things, minimum levels of net worth and maintenance of certain financial ratios. In addition, certain loan agreements containing provisions outlining minimum tangible net worth requirements restrict the ability of the Company to pay cash dividends in excess of the current annual per share dividends paid on the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock. Further, the Company is prevented from paying cash dividends at any time that it is in default under the indenture governing the Notes. In addition, the terms of the indenture may restrict the ability of the Company to pay additional cash dividends based on certain financial parameters.
	Components of interest costs are as follows:
			2014		2013		2012
	Total interest costs		$	46,846,912	$	59,598,030	$	61,764,642
	Interest capitalized			-277,048		-455,652		-1,738,078
	Interest expense		$	46,569,864	$	59,142,378	$	60,026,564
	Maturities of long-term debt at September 27,  2014 are as follows:
	Fiscal Year
	2015		$	12,488,400
	2016			12,678,414
	2017			11,677,721
	2018			79,421,418
	2019			18,916,389
	Thereafter			802,077,401
	Total		$	937,259,743

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Stockholder's Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	8. Stockholders’ Equity
	The Company has two classes of Common Stock: Class A and Class B. Class A Common Stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol IMKTA. There is no public market for the Company’s Class B Common Stock. However, each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into one share of Class A Common Stock. Upon any transfers of Class B Common Stock (other than to immediate family members and participants in the Investment/Profit Sharing Plan), such stock is automatically converted into Class A Common Stock.
	The holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to dividends and other distributions when declared out of assets legally available therefore, subject to the dividend rights of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Each share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to receive a cash dividend and liquidation payment in an amount equal to 110% of any cash dividend or liquidation payment on Class B Common Stock. Any stock dividend must be paid in shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to Class A Common Stock and in shares of Class B Common Stock with respect to Class B Common Stock.
	The voting powers, preferences and relative rights of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are identical in all respects, except that the holders of Class A Common Stock have one vote per share and the holders of Class B Common Stock have ten votes per share. In addition, holders of Class A Common Stock, as a separate class, are entitled to elect 25% of all directors constituting the Board of Directors (rounded to the nearest whole number). As long as the Class B Common Stock represents at least 12.5% of the total outstanding Common Stock of both classes, holders of Class B Common Stock, as a separate class, are entitled to elect the remaining directors. The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors can set the number of directors between five and eleven.
	During the year ended September 28, 2013 the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to four million shares of its Class A and Class B Common Stock.  The share repurchase program may be carried out through open market purchases, block trades, purchases from the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan and in negotiated private transactions.
	During the year ended September 27, 2014, the Company repurchased 2.5 million shares of Class B Common Stock under this plan.  Following this transaction, all four million shares authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors have been repurchased.

Earnings_Per_Common_Share

Earnings Per Common Share	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Earnings Per Common Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Common Share	9. Earnings Per Common Share
	The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260.
	The two-class method of computing basic earnings per share for each period reflects the cash dividends paid per share for each class of stock, plus the amount of allocated undistributed earnings per share computed using the participation percentage which reflects the dividend rights of each class of stock.  Diluted earnings per share is calculated assuming the conversion of all shares of Class B Common Stock to shares of Class A Common Stock on a share-for-share basis.   The tables below reconcile the numerators and denominators of basic and diluted earnings per share for current and prior periods.
		Year Ended
		27-Sep-14
		Class A		Class B
	Numerator: Allocated net income
	Net income allocated, basic	$	31,776,515	$	19,649,939
	Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		19,649,939		—
	Net income allocated, diluted	$	51,426,454	$	19,649,939
	Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding
	Weighted average shares outstanding, basic		13,482,296		9,126,381
	Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		9,126,381		—
	Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		22,608,677		9,126,381
	Earnings per share
	Basic	$	2.36	$	2.14
	Diluted	$	2.28	$	2.14
		Year Ended				Year Ended
		28-Sep-13				29-Sep-12
		Class A		Class B		Class A		Class B
	Numerator: Allocated net income
	Net income allocated, basic	$	11,638,545	$	9,157,345	$	24,151,777	$	19,292,566
	Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		9,157,345		—		19,292,566		—
	Net income allocated, diluted	$	20,795,890	$	9,157,345	$	43,444,343	$	19,292,566
	Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding
	Weighted average shares outstanding, basic		13,054,425		10,817,989		12,936,583		11,364,899
	Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		10,817,989		—		11,364,899		—
	Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		23,872,414		10,817,989		24,301,482		11,364,899
	Earnings per share
	Basic	$	0.89	$	0.85	$	1.87	$	1.70
	Diluted	$	0.87	$	0.85	$	1.79	$	1.70

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	10. Employee Benefit Plans
	Investment/Profit Sharing Plan - The purpose of the qualified investment/profit sharing plan is to provide retirement benefits to eligible employees. Assets of the plan, including the Company’s Class B Common Stock, are held in trust for employees and distributed upon retirement, death, disability or termination of employment. Company contributions are discretionary and are determined quarterly by the Board of Directors. The plan includes a 401(k) feature. Company contributions to the plan, included in operating and administrative expenses, were approximately $1.4 million,  $1.3 million and $1.3 million for fiscal years 2014,  2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Nonqualified Investment Plan - The purpose of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan is to provide benefits similar to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to certain of the Company’s management employees who are otherwise subject to limited participation in the 401(k) feature of the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan. Company contributions to the plan, included in operating and administrative expenses, were approximately $84,000,  $77,000 and $71,000 for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Cash Bonuses - The Company pays monthly bonuses to various managerial personnel based on performance of the operating units managed by these personnel. The Company pays discretionary annual bonuses to certain employees who do not receive monthly performance bonuses. The Company pays discretionary bonuses to certain executive officers based on Company performance. Operating and administrative expenses include bonuses of approximately $9.2 million, $9.0 million and $10.0 million for fiscal years 2014,  2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Medical Care Plan - Medical and dental benefits are provided to qualified employees under a self-insured plan. Expenses under the plan include claims paid, administrative expenses and an estimated liability for claims incurred but not yet paid.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Segment Information [Abstract]
Segment Information	11. Segment Information
	The Company operates one primary business segment, retail grocery sales (representing the aggregation of individual retail stores).   The “Other” segment includes the Company’s remaining operations -- fluid dairy and shopping center rentals.    Information about the Company’s operations by lines of business (amounts in thousands) is as follows:
		2014		2013		2012
	Revenues from unaffiliated customers:
	Grocery sales	$	3,683,353	$	3,599,820	$	3,577,510
	Other		152,633		138,720		140,805
	Total revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	3,835,986	$	3,738,540	$	3,718,315
	Income before income taxes:
	Grocery sales	$	112,030	$	114,380	$	111,540
	Other		11,315		11,194		12,307
	Total income from operations		123,345		125,574		123,847
	Other income, net		3,001		2,900		3,527
	Interest expense		46,570		59,142		60,027
	Loss on early extinguishment of debt		—		43,089		—
	Income before income taxes	$	79,776	$	26,243	$	67,347
	Assets:
	Grocery sales	$	1,515,055	$	1,528,483	$	1,486,109
	Other		144,667		143,237		158,267
	Elimination of intercompany receivable		-2,770		-2,392		-2,267
	Total assets	$	1,656,952	$	1,669,328	$	1,642,109
	Capital expenditures:
	Grocery sales	$	105,808	$	99,995	$	175,835
	Other		2,531		1,458		4,794
	Total capital expenditures	$	108,338	$	101,453	$	180,629
	Depreciation and amortization:
	Grocery sales	$	90,025	$	87,331	$	82,584
	Other		7,639		7,558		7,947
	Total depreciation and amortization	$	97,664	$	94,889	$	90,531
	Sales by product category for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are as follows:
		Fiscal Year Ended September
		(dollars in thousands)
		2014		2013		2012
	Grocery	$	1,397,870	$	1,424,869	$	1,447,520
	Non-foods		729,934		707,294		709,959
	Perishables		937,402		898,956		866,252
	Gasoline		618,147		568,701		553,779
	Total grocery segment	$	3,683,353	$	3,599,820	$	3,577,510
	The grocery category includes grocery, dairy, and frozen foods.
	The non-foods category includes alcoholic beverages, tobacco, pharmacy, health and video.
	The perishable category includes meat, produce, deli and bakery.
	The fluid dairy operation had $58.7  million, $58.3 million and $58.5 million in sales to the grocery sales segment in fiscal 2014,  2013 and 2012, respectively. These sales were eliminated in consolidation.

Selected_Quarterly_Financial_D

Selected Quarterly Financial Data	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Selected Quarterly Financial Data	12. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
	The following is a summary of unaudited financial data regarding the Company’s quarterly results of operations. Each of the quarters in the two fiscal years presented contains thirteen weeks.
		1st		2nd		3rd		4th
		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Total
		(amounts in thousands except earnings per common share)
	2014
	Net sales	$	945,125	$	947,761	$	978,262	$	964,838	$	3,835,986
	Gross profit		203,506		206,124		215,151		220,383		845,164
	Net income		9,533		10,455		13,834		17,604		51,426
	Basic earnings per common share
	Class A		0.44		0.47		0.63		0.82		2.36
	Class B		0.40		0.43		0.57		0.74		2.14
	Diluted earnings per common share
	Class A		0.42		0.46		0.61		0.79		2.28
	Class B		0.40		0.43		0.57		0.74		2.14
	2013
	Net sales	$	934,977	$	920,694	$	934,015	$	948,854	$	3,738,540
	Gross profit		208,205		198,646		210,652		210,307		827,810
	Net income		11,568		8,090		-14,424		15,562		20,796
	Basic earnings per common share
	Class A		0.50		0.35		-0.62		0.71		0.89
	Class B		0.45		0.32		-0.56		0.65		0.85
	Diluted earnings per common share
	Class A		0.48		0.33		-0.62		0.68		0.87
	Class B		0.45		0.32		-0.56		0.65		0.85
	Net loss for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 includes pre-tax debt extinguishment costs totaling $43.1 million (pre-tax).

Commitments_And_Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	13. Commitments and Contingencies
	Various legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business are pending against the Company.  In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, from all pending legal proceedings and claims will not materially affect the Company’s financial position or the results of its operations.
	Construction commitments at September 27,  2014 totaled $2.6 million.  The Company expects these commitments to be fulfilled during fiscal year 2015.

Fair_Values_Of_Financial_Instr

Fair Values Of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Fair Values Of Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Values Of Financial Instruments	14. Fair Values of Financial Instruments
	The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:
	Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents approximate their fair values.
	Receivables: The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for receivables approximate their fair values.
	The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated using valuation techniques under the accounting guidance related to fair value measurements based on observable and unobservable inputs.  Observable inputs reflect readily available data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions.  These inputs are classified into the following hierarchy:
	Level 1 Inputs  -	Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
	Level 2 Inputs  -	Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
	Level 3 Inputs  -	Pricing inputs are unobservable for the assets or liabilities and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the assets or liabilities.  The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation
	The carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s debt at September 27, 2014 is as follows (in thousands):
			Carrying
			Amount		Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements
	Senior Notes		$	700,000	$	705,250	Level 2
	Recovery Zone Facility Bonds			95,210		95,210	Level 2
	Real estate and equipment notes payable			112,140		112,805	Level 2
	Line of credit payable			29,910		29,910	Level 2
	Total debt		$	937,260	$	943,175
	The fair values for Level 2 measurements were determined primarily using market yields and taking into consideration the underlying terms of the debt.

Cash_Flow_Information

Cash Flow Information	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash Flow Information	15. Cash Flow Information
	Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information is as follows:
		2014		2013		2012
	Cash paid (received) during the year for:
	Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	$	46,886,468	$	65,281,861	$	61,269,522
	Income taxes		32,064,452		-2,470,362		21,390,331
	Non cash items:
	Property and equipment additions included in accounts payable		8,555,952		14,598,996		7,957,599

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	16. Related Party Transactions
	The Company will from time to time make short-term non-interest bearing loans to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to allow the plan to meet distribution obligations during a time when the plan was prohibited from selling shares of the Company’s Class A common stock.  At September 27,  2014 loans outstanding totaled $0.4 million.
	In fiscal 2013, the Company approved the repurchase of 1.5 million shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock from a trust that is part of the estate of Robert P. Ingle, former CEO and Director of the Company.  The aggregate purchase price for the stock was $37.1 million, equal to the fair market value of the Company’s publicly traded Class A Common Stock at the time of the transaction.  The transaction was approved by the Company’s Executive Committee and Audit Committee in accordance with Company policy and regulatory guidelines.
	In fiscal 2014, the Company approved the repurchase of 2.5 million shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock from a trust that is part of the estate of Robert P. Ingle, former CEO and Director of the Company.  The aggregate purchase price for the stock was $65.0 million, equal to the fair market value of the Company’s publicly traded Class A Common Stock at the time of the transaction.  The transaction was approved by the Company’s Executive Committee and Audit Committee in accordance with Company policy and regulatory guidelines.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	17.  Subsequent Events
	In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 855, the Company evaluated events occurring between the end of its most recent fiscal year and the date the financial statements were filed with the SEC.

Schedule_II_Supplemental_Sched

Schedule II - Supplemental Schedule Of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Supplemental Schedule Of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Supplemental Schedule Of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts	SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
		BALANCE AT		CHARGED TO				BALANCE
		BEGINNING OF		COSTS AND				AT END
	DESCRIPTION	YEAR		EXPENSES		DEDUCTIONS (1)		OF YEAR
	Fiscal year ended September 27, 2014:
	Deducted from asset accounts:
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	772,893	$	-	$	465,864	$	307,029
	Fiscal year ended September 28, 2013:
	Deducted from asset accounts:
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	741,690	$	30,000	$	-1,203	$	772,893
	Fiscal year ended September 29, 2012:
	Deducted from asset accounts:
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	524,460	$	288,977	$	71,747	$	741,690
	(1)Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account1

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature Of Operations	Nature of Operations –  Ingles Markets, Incorporated (“Ingles” or the “Company”), is a leading supermarket chain in the southeast United States, operates 202 supermarkets in Georgia (71), North Carolina (71), South Carolina (36), Tennessee (21), Virginia (2) and Alabama (1).
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sky King, Inc., Ingles Markets Investments, Inc., Milkco, Inc., Shopping Center Financing, LLC, and Shopping Center Financing II, LLC. All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year	Fiscal Year – The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in September. Fiscal year 2014 consisted of 52weeks; fiscal year 2013 consisted of 52 weeks and fiscal year 2012 consisted of 53 weeks.
Segment Information	Segment Information – The Company operates one primary business segment, retail grocery sales (representing the aggregation of individual retail stores).   The “Other” segment includes our remaining operations -- fluid dairy and shopping center rentals.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements –In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-08 “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity” (ASU 2014-08).  ASU 2014-08 is aimed at reducing the frequency of disposals reported as discontinued operations by focusing on strategic shifts that have or are expected to have a major impact on an entity’s operations and financial results.  Such a shift could include the disposal of a major line of business, a major geographical area, a major equity method of investment or other major parts of the entity.  ASU 2014-08 also permits companies to have continuing cash flows and significant continuing involvement with the disposed component.  ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures for discontinued operations and new disclosures for individually material disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation.  The Company has early adopted ASU effective June 28, 2014.  ASU 2014-08 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Cash Equivalents	Cash Equivalents – All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash.  Outstanding checks in excess of bank balances are included in the line item “Accounts payable – trade” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts totaled $15.5 million and $4.2 million as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively.
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments – The Company at times has short-term investments and certificates of deposit with maturities of three months or less when purchased that are included in cash. At September 27, 2014 the Company had no such investments.  The Company’s policy is to invest its excess cash either in money market accounts, reverse repurchase agreements or in certificates of deposit. Money market accounts and certificates of deposit are not secured; reverse repurchase agreements are secured by government obligations. At September 27, 2014 demand deposits of approximately $4.2 million in two banks exceed the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit per bank.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable are primarily from vendor allowances, customer charges and pharmacy insurance company reimbursements.  Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts, which is determined through analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the consolidated financial statements and assessments of the collectability based upon historical collection activity adjusted for current conditions.
Inventories	Inventories – Substantially all of the Company’s inventory consists of finished goods.  Warehouse inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market.  Store inventories are valued using the retail method under which inventories at cost (and the resulting gross margins) are determined by applying a calculated cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of inventories.  As an integral part of valuing inventory at cost, management makes certain judgments and estimates for standard gross margins, allowances for vendor consideration, markdowns and shrinkage.  Warehousing and distribution costs are not included in the valuation of inventories.  The Company reviews its judgments and estimates regularly and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.
Property, Equipment and Depreciation	Property, Equipment and Depreciation – Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives by the straight-line method.  Buildings are generally depreciated over 30 years.  Store, office and warehouse equipment is generally depreciated over three to 10 years.  Transportation equipment is generally depreciated over three to five years.  Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the subject lease term or the useful life of the asset, generally from three to 30 years.  Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $97.7 million, $94.9 million and $90.6 million for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Asset Impairments	Asset Impairments – The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 360.  Asset groups are primarily comprised of individual store and shopping center properties.  For assets to be held and used, the Company tests for impairment using undiscounted cash flows and calculates the amount of impairment using discounted cash flows. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized based on the excess of remaining book value over expected recovery value. The recovery value is the fair value as determined by independent quotes or expected sales prices developed by internal associates, less costs to sell. Estimates of future cash flows and expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of local operations and cash flows that are projected for several years into the future. These estimates can fluctuate significantly due to changes in real estate market conditions, the economic environment, capital spending decisions and inflation. The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets for potential impairment each quarter based on whether any indicators of impairment have occurred.
Restricted Investments	Restricted Investments – Restricted investments consisted of money market deposits and United States Treasury securities purchased with the proceeds of the Recovery Zone Bonds issued in December 2010.  These investments were held in a trust account and were liquidated as the Company incurred approved costs to build the Project, which was completed during fiscal year 2012.  These assets were classified as available-for-sale and stated at market value.
Capitalized Loan and Leasehold Costs	Capitalized Loan Costs – Other assets include capitalized loan costs of $10.6 million (net of $2.4 million accumulated amortization) and $11.6 million (net of $1.2 million accumulated amortization) at September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively. These costs are amortized over the life of the underlying debt instrument at approximately $1.3 million per year. During the year ended September 28, 2013 the Company wrote off $15.3 million of capitalized loan costs in conjunction with the early repayment of certain outstanding debt.  This amount is included in the line item “Loss on early extinguishment of debt” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Nonqualified Investment Plan	Nonqualified Investment Plan – The purpose of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan is to provide retirement benefits similar to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to certain of the Company’s management employees who are otherwise subject to limited participation in the 401(k) feature of the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan.  Participant retirement account balances are liabilities of the Company.  Assets of the plan are assets of the Company and are held in trust for employees and distributed upon retirement, death, disability, in-service distributions, or termination of employment.  In accordance with the trust, the Company may not use these assets for general corporate purposes.  During the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014 the Company liquidated certain life insurance policy assets and invested the proceeds in marketable securities.  These marketable securities will be liquidated and invested in life insurance policies in future periods.  Life insurance policies and marketable securities held in the trust are included in the caption “Other assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Self-Insurance	Self-Insurance – The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability and group medical and dental benefits. Risks and uncertainties are associated with self-insurance; however, the Company has limited its exposure by maintaining excess liability coverage of $750,000 per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $500,000 for general liability, and $325,000 per covered person for medical care benefits for a policy year.  Self-insurance liabilities are established based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates are based on data provided by the respective claims administrators, which is then applied to appropriate actuarial methods. These estimates can fluctuate if historical trends are not predictive of the future. The Company’s self-insurance reserves totaled $29.9 million and $29.4 million for employee group insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance at September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively. The Company is required in certain cases to obtain letters of credit to support its self-insured status. At fiscal year-end 2014, the Company’s self-insured liabilities were supported by $9.3 million of undrawn letters of credit which expire between October 2014 and September 2015. The Company carries casualty insurance only on those properties where it is required to do so. The Company has elected to self-insure its other properties.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes – The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC Topic 740.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the currently enacted tax rates.   The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return.
	The Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $148,800 and $149,100 as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively.  These benefits, if recognized, would have an insignificant effect on the effective tax rate. The Company does not expect that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.
	The Company files income tax returns with federal and various state jurisdictions.  With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2010. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has completed its examination of the Company’s U.S. Federal income tax returns filed through fiscal year 2011.  Examinations may challenge certain of the Company’s tax positions.  Actual results could materially differ from these estimates and could significantly affect the effective tax rate and cash flows in the future years.
	Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not expected to be realized.
	The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions and related matters in income tax expense. As of September 27, 2014, the Company had approximately $53,000 accrued for interest and penalties.
Pre-Opening Costs	Pre-Opening Costs – Costs associated with the opening of new stores are expensed when incurred.
Per-Share Amounts	Per-Share Amounts – The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260.
Advertising	Advertising – The Company expenses advertising as incurred. Advertising and promotion expenses, net of vendor allowance reimbursements, totaled $12.3 million, $13.9 million and $14.1 million for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results.  Such estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, various inventory reserves, realizability of deferred tax assets, and self-insurance reserves.
Cost of Goods Sold	Cost of Goods Sold –  In addition to the direct product cost, cost of goods sold for the grocery segment includes inbound freight charges and costs of the Company’s distribution network.  Milk processing is a manufacturing process.  Therefore, cost of goods sold include direct product and production costs, inbound freight, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and other costs of distribution.  Depreciation expense included in costs of goods sold totaled $16.7 million, $14.2 million and $9.2 million for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Operating and Administrative Expenses	Operating and Administrative Expenses –  Operating and administrative expenses include costs incurred for store and administrative labor, occupancy, depreciation (to the extent not included in Cost of Goods Sold), insurance and general administration.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition – The Company recognizes revenues from grocery segment sales at the point of sale to its customers.  Sales taxes collected from customers are not included in reported revenues.  Discounts provided to customers by the Company at the point of sale, including discounts provided in connection with loyalty cards, are recognized as a reduction in sales as the products are sold.  Product returns are not significant.
	The Company recognizes fluid dairy revenues at the time the risk of loss shifts to the customer pursuant to our terms of sale.  Therefore, approximately 67%    of fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is picked up by the customer at our facility. The remaining fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is received at the customer’s facility upon delivery via transportation arranged by the Company.
	Rental income, including contingent rentals, is recognized on the accrual basis.  Upfront consideration paid by either the Company as lessor or by the lessee is recognized as an adjustment to net rental income using the straight line method over the term of the lease.
Vendor Allowances	Vendor Allowances – The Company receives funds for a variety of merchandising activities from the many vendors whose products the Company buys for resale in its stores. These incentives and allowances are primarily comprised of volume or purchase based incentives, advertising allowances, slotting fees, and promotional discounts. The purpose of these incentives and allowances is generally to help defray the costs incurred by the Company for stocking, advertising, promoting and selling the vendors’ products. These allowances generally relate to short term arrangements with vendors, often relating to a period of a month or less, and are negotiated on a purchase-by-purchase or transaction-by-transaction basis.  Whenever possible, vendor discounts and allowances that relate to buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a component of item cost in inventory and recognized in merchandise costs when the item is sold. Due to system constraints and the nature of certain allowances, it is sometimes not practicable to apply allowances to the item cost of inventory. In those instances, the allowances are applied as a reduction of merchandise costs using a rational and systematic methodology, which results in the recognition of these incentives when the inventory related to the vendor consideration received is sold.  Vendor allowances applied as a reduction of merchandise costs totaled $126.7 million, $121.9 million, and $114.3 million for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.  Vendor advertising allowances that represent a reimbursement of specific identifiable incremental costs of advertising the vendor’s specific products are recorded as a reduction to the related expense in the period that the related expense is incurred.  Vendor advertising allowances recorded as a reduction of advertising expense totaled $14.8 million, $14.5 million, and $13.2 million for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.
	If vendor advertising allowances were substantially reduced or eliminated, the Company would likely consider other methods of advertising as well as the volume and frequency of its product advertising, which could increase or decrease its expenditures.
	Similarly, the Company is not able to assess the impact of vendor advertising allowances on the creation of additional revenue; as such allowances do not directly generate revenue for its stores

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Schedule Of Deferred Income Tax Liabilities And Assets
		2014		2013
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Property and equipment tax/book differences	$	79,861,000	$	96,989,000
	Property tax method		1,418,000		1,384,000
	Total deferred tax liabilities		81,279,000		98,373,000
	Deferred tax assets:
	Insurance reserves		8,360,000		8,957,000
	Advance payments on purchases contracts		676,000		797,000
	Vacation accrual		2,603,000		2,560,000
	State tax credits		604,000		1,358,000
	Inventory		1,917,000		2,323,000
	Deferred compensation		3,157,000		2,784,000
	Other		1,544,000		824,000
	Total deferred tax assets		18,861,000		19,603,000
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	62,418,000	$	78,770,000
Schedule Of Income Tax Expense Reconciliation
		2014		2013		2012
	Federal tax at statutory rate	$	27,922,000	$	9,109,000	$	23,572,000
	State income tax, net of federal tax benefits		2,308,000		-2,204,000		1,943,000
	Federal tax credits		-718,000		-1,410,000		-1,209,000
	Other		-1,162,000		-48,000		-403,000
	Total	$	28,350,000	$	5,447,000	$	23,903,000
Schedule Of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
		2014		2013		2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	40,475,000	$	73,000	$	6,734,000
	State		4,227,000		-2,061,000		2,967,000
	Total current		44,702,000		-1,988,000		9,701,000
	Deferred:
	Federal		-15,913,000		7,368,000		12,149,000
	State		-439,000		67,000		2,053,000
	Total deferred		-16,352,000		7,435,000		14,202,000
	Total expense	$	28,350,000	$	5,447,000	$	23,903,000

Property_And_Equipment_Tables

Property And Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Property And Equipment [Abstract]
Schedule Of Property And Equipment
		2014		2013
	Land	$	308,475,596	$	302,390,527
	Construction in progress		7,201,640		9,644,248
	Buildings		1,015,061,129		983,136,114
	Store, office and warehouse equipment		785,827,851		738,305,477
	Transportation equipment		64,705,509		64,436,941
	Leasehold improvements		53,183,103		53,886,925
	Total		2,234,454,828		2,151,800,232
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		1,015,847,799		939,668,177
	Property and equipment - net	$	1,218,607,029	$	1,212,132,055

Property_Held_For_Lease_And_Re1

Property Held For Lease And Rental Income (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Property Held For Lease And Rental Income [Abstract]
Schedule Of Rental Income
		2014		2013		2012
	Rents earned on owned and subleased properties:
	Base rentals including lease termination payments	$	7,875,101	$	7,997,136	$	8,352,748
	Contingent rentals		331,352		257,598		528,083
	Total		8,206,453		8,254,734		8,880,831
	Depreciation on owned properties leased to others		-5,363,637		-5,220,102		-5,478,307
	Other shopping center expenses		-1,982,212		-1,936,250		-1,958,178
	Total	$	860,604	$	1,098,382	$	1,444,346
Schedule Of Owned Properties Under Operating Leases By Major Classes
		September 27,		September 28,
		2014		2013
	Land	$	41,796,507	$	39,487,058
	Buildings		168,884,878		162,673,028
	Total		210,681,385		202,160,086
	Less accumulated depreciation		-103,238,395		-93,950,201
	Total	$	107,442,990	$	108,209,885
Schedule Of Minimum Future Rental Income
	Fiscal Year
	2015	$	4,941,290
	2016		3,891,919
	2017		2,639,172
	2018		1,454,504
	2019		1,045,880
	Thereafter		2,499,485
	Total minimum future rental income	$	16,472,250

Leases_And_Rental_Expense_Tabl

Leases And Rental Expense (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Leases And Rental Expense [Abstract]
Schedule Of Aggregate Minimum Rental Commitments
	Fiscal Year
	2015	$	11,733,813
	2016		10,771,402
	2017		10,339,177
	2018		8,769,561
	2019		7,675,403
	Thereafter		39,323,619
	Total minimum future rental commitments	$	88,612,975

Supplementary_Balance_Sheet_In1

Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Accrued Expenses And Current Portion Of Other Long-Term Liabilities
		2014		2013
	Property, payroll, and other taxes payable	$	16,469,128	$	16,771,941
	Salaries, wages, and bonuses payable		25,514,842		25,129,025
	Self-insurance liabilities:
	Employee group insurance		4,585,759		4,591,256
	Workers’ compensation insurance		5,677,217		5,658,840
	General liability insurance		2,671,944		2,594,047
	Interest		12,676,648		12,993,252
	Other		3,349,190		4,264,622
	Total	$	70,944,728	$	72,002,983
Schedule Of Other Long-Term Liabilities
		2014		2013
	Advance payments on purchases contracts	$	1,748,818	$	2,054,112
	Deferred gain - sale/leasebacks		369,773		420,166
	Deferred lease expense		1,875,776		1,900,084
	Nonqualified investment plan liability		8,172,335		7,211,523
	Self-insurance liabilities:
	Workers’ compensation insurance		13,283,535		13,066,779
	General liability insurance		3,643,676		3,460,935
	Other		1,261,623		1,047,281
	Total other long-term liabilities		30,355,536		29,160,880
	Less current portion		1,565,501		1,342,663
		$	28,790,035	$	27,818,217

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Schedule Of Long-Term Debt And Short-Term Loans
			2014		2013
	Bonds payable:
	Senior notes, interest rate of 5.75%, maturing 2023		$	700,000,000	$	700,000,000
	Recovery Zone Facility Bonds, maturing 2036			95,210,000		99,740,000
	Outstanding line of credit, weighted average interest rate of 3.38%			29,910,050		—
	Notes payable:
	Real estate and equipment maturing 2013-2031:
	Due to banks, weighted average interest rate of 3.01 for 2014 and 3.26% for 2013			80,634,003		78,405,127
	Due to other financial institutions, weighted average interest rate of  4.09% for 2014 and 4.04% for 2013			31,505,690		34,325,872
	Total long-term debt			937,259,743		912,470,999
	Less current portion			12,488,400		18,956,761
	Long-term debt, net of current portion		$	924,771,343	$	893,514,238
Schedule Of Redemption Prices Of Senior Notes
	Year
	2018	102.88%
	2019	101.92%
	2020	100.96%
	2021 and thereafter	100.00%
Schedule Of Components Of Interest Costs
			2014		2013		2012
	Total interest costs		$	46,846,912	$	59,598,030	$	61,764,642
	Interest capitalized			-277,048		-455,652		-1,738,078
	Interest expense		$	46,569,864	$	59,142,378	$	60,026,564
Schedule Of Maturities Of Long-Term Debt
	Fiscal Year
	2015		$	12,488,400
	2016			12,678,414
	2017			11,677,721
	2018			79,421,418
	2019			18,916,389
	Thereafter			802,077,401
	Total		$	937,259,743

Earnings_Per_Common_Share_Tabl

Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Earnings Per Common Share [Abstract]
Reconciliation Of Numerators And Denominators Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share
		Year Ended
		27-Sep-14
		Class A		Class B
	Numerator: Allocated net income
	Net income allocated, basic	$	31,776,515	$	19,649,939
	Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		19,649,939		—
	Net income allocated, diluted	$	51,426,454	$	19,649,939
	Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding
	Weighted average shares outstanding, basic		13,482,296		9,126,381
	Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		9,126,381		—
	Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		22,608,677		9,126,381
	Earnings per share
	Basic	$	2.36	$	2.14
	Diluted	$	2.28	$	2.14
		Year Ended				Year Ended
		28-Sep-13				29-Sep-12
		Class A		Class B		Class A		Class B
	Numerator: Allocated net income
	Net income allocated, basic	$	11,638,545	$	9,157,345	$	24,151,777	$	19,292,566
	Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		9,157,345		—		19,292,566		—
	Net income allocated, diluted	$	20,795,890	$	9,157,345	$	43,444,343	$	19,292,566
	Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding
	Weighted average shares outstanding, basic		13,054,425		10,817,989		12,936,583		11,364,899
	Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		10,817,989		—		11,364,899		—
	Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		23,872,414		10,817,989		24,301,482		11,364,899
	Earnings per share
	Basic	$	0.89	$	0.85	$	1.87	$	1.70
	Diluted	$	0.87	$	0.85	$	1.79	$	1.70

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Segment Information [Abstract]
Operations By Lines Of Business
		2014		2013		2012
	Revenues from unaffiliated customers:
	Grocery sales	$	3,683,353	$	3,599,820	$	3,577,510
	Other		152,633		138,720		140,805
	Total revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	3,835,986	$	3,738,540	$	3,718,315
	Income before income taxes:
	Grocery sales	$	112,030	$	114,380	$	111,540
	Other		11,315		11,194		12,307
	Total income from operations		123,345		125,574		123,847
	Other income, net		3,001		2,900		3,527
	Interest expense		46,570		59,142		60,027
	Loss on early extinguishment of debt		—		43,089		—
	Income before income taxes	$	79,776	$	26,243	$	67,347
	Assets:
	Grocery sales	$	1,515,055	$	1,528,483	$	1,486,109
	Other		144,667		143,237		158,267
	Elimination of intercompany receivable		-2,770		-2,392		-2,267
	Total assets	$	1,656,952	$	1,669,328	$	1,642,109
	Capital expenditures:
	Grocery sales	$	105,808	$	99,995	$	175,835
	Other		2,531		1,458		4,794
	Total capital expenditures	$	108,338	$	101,453	$	180,629
	Depreciation and amortization:
	Grocery sales	$	90,025	$	87,331	$	82,584
	Other		7,639		7,558		7,947
	Total depreciation and amortization	$	97,664	$	94,889	$	90,531
Sales By Product Category
		Fiscal Year Ended September
		(dollars in thousands)
		2014		2013		2012
	Grocery	$	1,397,870	$	1,424,869	$	1,447,520
	Non-foods		729,934		707,294		709,959
	Perishables		937,402		898,956		866,252
	Gasoline		618,147		568,701		553,779
	Total grocery segment	$	3,683,353	$	3,599,820	$	3,577,510

Selected_Quarterly_Financial_D1

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Summary Of Selected Quarterly Financial Data
		1st		2nd		3rd		4th
		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Total
		(amounts in thousands except earnings per common share)
	2014
	Net sales	$	945,125	$	947,761	$	978,262	$	964,838	$	3,835,986
	Gross profit		203,506		206,124		215,151		220,383		845,164
	Net income		9,533		10,455		13,834		17,604		51,426
	Basic earnings per common share
	Class A		0.44		0.47		0.63		0.82		2.36
	Class B		0.40		0.43		0.57		0.74		2.14
	Diluted earnings per common share
	Class A		0.42		0.46		0.61		0.79		2.28
	Class B		0.40		0.43		0.57		0.74		2.14
	2013
	Net sales	$	934,977	$	920,694	$	934,015	$	948,854	$	3,738,540
	Gross profit		208,205		198,646		210,652		210,307		827,810
	Net income		11,568		8,090		-14,424		15,562		20,796
	Basic earnings per common share
	Class A		0.50		0.35		-0.62		0.71		0.89
	Class B		0.45		0.32		-0.56		0.65		0.85
	Diluted earnings per common share
	Class A		0.48		0.33		-0.62		0.68		0.87
	Class B		0.45		0.32		-0.56		0.65		0.85

Fair_Values_Of_Financial_Instr1

Fair Values Of Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Fair Values Of Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Carrying Amount And Fair Value Of Debt
		Carrying
		Amount		Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements
	Senior Notes	$	700,000	$	705,250	Level 2
	Recovery Zone Facility Bonds		95,210		95,210	Level 2
	Real estate and equipment notes payable		112,140		112,805	Level 2
	Line of credit payable		29,910		29,910	Level 2
	Total debt	$	937,260	$	943,175

Cash_Flow_Information_Tables

Cash Flow Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information
		2014		2013		2012
	Cash paid (received) during the year for:
	Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	$	46,886,468	$	65,281,861	$	61,269,522
	Income taxes		32,064,452		-2,470,362		21,390,331
	Non cash items:
	Property and equipment additions included in accounts payable		8,555,952		14,598,996		7,957,599

Summary_Of_Significant_Account2

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
	segment
	item
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of segments	1
Other income, net	$3,001,161	$2,900,341	$3,527,065
Outstanding checks in excess of bank balances	15,500,000	4,200,000
Demand deposits	4,200,000
Number of banks	2
FDIC insurance limit per bank	250,000
Total depreciation expense	97,700,000	94,900,000	90,600,000
Capitalized loan and leasehold costs	10,600,000	11,600,000
Accumulated amortization	2,400,000	1,200,000
Costs to be amortized over the life of the underlying debt instrument or lease, per year.	1,300,000
Write off of capitalized loan costs		15,300,000
Liability coverage per occurrence for workers compensation	750,000
Liability coverage for general liability	500,000
Liability coverage per covered person for medical care benefits	325,000
Company's self insurance reserves	29,900,000	29,400,000
Undrawn letters of credit	9,300,000
Expiry date of undrawn letters of credit, Start	1-Oct-14
Expiry date of undrawn letters of credit, End	1-Sep-15
Unrecognized tax benefits	148,800	149,100
Interest and penalties, expense	53,000
Advertising and promotion expenses, net of vendor allowances	12,300,000	13,900,000	14,100,000
Depreciation expense included in costs of goods sold totaled	16,700,000	14,200,000	9,200,000
Fluid dairy revenues recognition	67.00%
Vendor allowances applied as a reduction of merchandise costs	126,700,000	121,900,000	114,300,000
Vendor advertising allowances recorded as a reduction of advertising expense	$14,800,000	$14,500,000	$13,200,000
Buildings [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property, plant and equipment	30 years
Minimum [Member] | Store, Office and Warehouse Equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property, plant and equipment	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Transportation Equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property, plant and equipment	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property, plant and equipment	3 years
Maximum [Member] | Store, Office and Warehouse Equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property, plant and equipment	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Transportation Equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property, plant and equipment	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property, plant and equipment	30 years
Georgia [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of locations	71
North Carolina [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of locations	71
South Carolina [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of locations	36
Tennessee [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of locations	21
Virginia [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of locations	2
Alabama [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of locations	1

Income_Taxes_Narrative_Details

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Current deferred income tax benefits	$7.60	$7.30
Refundable current income taxes	1.2	13.8
Interest and penalties, accrued	$0.20	$0.20

Income_Taxes_Schedule_Of_Defer

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Deferred Income Tax Liabilities And Assets) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Property and equipment tax/book differences	$79,861,000	$96,989,000
Property tax method	1,418,000	1,384,000
Total deferred tax liabilities	81,279,000	98,373,000
Insurance reserves	8,360,000	8,957,000
Advance payments on purchases contracts	676,000	797,000
Vacation accrual	2,603,000	2,560,000
State tax credits	604,000	1,358,000
Inventory	1,917,000	2,323,000
Deferred compensation	3,157,000	2,784,000
Other	1,544,000	824,000
Total deferred tax assets	18,861,000	19,603,000
Net deferred tax liabilities	$62,418,000	$78,770,000

Income_Taxes_Schedule_Of_Incom

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Income Tax Expense Reconciliation) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Federal tax at statutory rate	$27,922,000	$9,109,000	$23,572,000
State income tax, net of federal tax benefits	2,308,000	-2,204,000	1,943,000
Federal tax credits	-718,000	-1,410,000	-1,209,000
Other	-1,162,000	-48,000	-403,000
Income tax expense	$28,350,000	$5,447,000	$23,903,000

Income_Taxes_Schedule_Of_Incom1

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Federal, current	$40,475,000	$73,000	$6,734,000
State, current	4,227,000	-2,061,000	2,967,000
Total current	44,702,000	-1,988,000	9,701,000
Federal, deferred	-15,913,000	7,368,000	12,149,000
State, deferred	-439,000	67,000	2,053,000
Total deferred	-16,352,000	7,435,000	14,202,000
Income tax expense	$28,350,000	$5,447,000	$23,903,000

Property_And_Equipment_Details

Property And Equipment (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	$2,234,454,828	$2,151,800,232
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,015,847,799	939,668,177
Property and equipment - net	1,218,607,029	1,212,132,055
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	308,475,596	302,390,527
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	7,201,640	9,644,248
Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	1,015,061,129	983,136,114
Store, Office and Warehouse Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	785,827,851	738,305,477
Transportation Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	64,705,509	64,436,941
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	$53,183,103	$53,886,925

Property_Held_For_Lease_And_Re2

Property Held For Lease And Rental Income (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
	item
Property Held For Lease And Rental Income [Abstract]
Number of shopping centers	69
Maximum period for non-cancelable operating lease agreements	25 years

Property_Held_For_Lease_And_Re3

Property Held For Lease And Rental Income (Schedule Of Rental Income) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Property Held For Lease And Rental Income [Abstract]
Base rentals including lease termination payments	$7,875,101	$7,997,136	$8,352,748
Contingent rentals	331,352	257,598	528,083
Total	8,206,453	8,254,734	8,880,831
Depreciation on owned properties leased to others	-5,363,637	-5,220,102	-5,478,307
Other shopping center expenses	-1,982,212	-1,936,250	-1,958,178
Total	$860,604	$1,098,382	$1,444,346

Property_Held_For_Lease_And_Re4

Property Held For Lease And Rental Income (Schedule Of Owned Properties Under Operating Leases By Major Classes) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Property subject to operating lease, Gross	$210,681,385	$202,160,086
Less accumulated depreciation	-103,238,395	-93,950,201
Property subject to operating lease, Total	107,442,990	108,209,885
Land [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Property subject to operating lease, Gross	41,796,507	39,487,058
Buildings [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Property subject to operating lease, Gross	$168,884,878	$162,673,028

Property_Held_For_Lease_And_Re5

Property Held For Lease And Rental Income (Schedule Of Minimum Future Rental Income) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014
Property Held For Lease And Rental Income [Abstract]
2015	$4,941,290
2016	3,891,919
2017	2,639,172
2018	1,454,504
2019	1,045,880
Thereafter	2,499,485
Total minimum future rental income	$16,472,250

Leases_and_Rental_Expense_Narr

Leases and Rental Expense (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Leases And Rental Expense [Abstract]
Lease term	20 years
Rent expense for all operating leases	$14.10	$14.40	$14.20
Sub-lease rental income	$0.20	$0.20	$0.20

Leases_and_Rental_Expense_Sche

Leases and Rental Expense (Schedule Of Aggregate Minimum Rental Commitments) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014
Leases And Rental Expense [Abstract]
Minimum rental commitment 2015	$11,733,813
Minimum rental commitment 2016	10,771,402
Minimum rental commitment 2017	10,339,177
Minimum rental commitment 2018	8,769,561
Minimum rental commitment 2019	7,675,403
Minimum rental commitment thereafter	39,323,619
Total minimum rental commitment	$88,612,975

Supplementary_Balance_Sheet_In2

Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Employee insurance expense	$27.40	$31.40	$30.60

Supplementary_Balance_Sheet_In3

Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (Accrued Expenses And Current Portion Of Other Long-Term Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Property, payroll, and other taxes payable	$16,469,128	$16,771,941
Salaries, wages and bonuses payable	25,514,842	25,129,025
Interest	12,676,648	12,993,252
Other	3,349,190	4,264,622
Total	70,944,728	72,002,983
Employee Group Insurance [Member]
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Self-insurance liabilities	4,585,759	4,591,256
Workers Compensation Insurance [Member]
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Self-insurance liabilities	5,677,217	5,658,840
General Liability [Member]
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Self-insurance liabilities	$2,671,944	$2,594,047

Supplementary_Balance_Sheet_In4

Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (Schedule Of Other Long-Term Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Advance payments on purchases contracts	$1,748,818	$2,054,112
Deferred gain - sale/leasebacks	369,773	420,166
Deferred lease expense	1,875,776	1,900,084
Nonqualified investment plan liability	8,172,335	7,211,523
Other	1,261,623	1,047,281
Total other long-term liabilities	30,355,536	29,160,880
Less current portion	1,565,501	1,342,663
Other long-term liabilities, net of current portion	28,790,035	27,818,217
Workers Compensation Insurance [Member]
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Self-insurance liabilities	13,283,535	13,066,779
General Liability [Member]
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Line Items]
Self-insurance liabilities	$3,643,676	$3,460,935

LongTerm_Debt_Narrative_Detail

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2013	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 29, 2010
					sqft
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payments on line of credit	$52,000,000	$383,927,017	$622,051,131	$741,446,238
Unamortized loan expense	15,300,000
Line of credit facility		175,000,000
Maximum amount of unused letters of credit issued		30,000,000
Unused letters of credit issued		11,000,000
Total amount of bonds funded					99,700,000
Total area of new warehouse and distribution center					830,000
Annual amount of redemption of bonds		4,500,000
Property and equipment with undepreciated cost pledge as collateral for long term debt		273,000,000
Line of credit outstanding		29,910,050
Senior Notes, Interest Rate Of 5.75%, Maturing 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount	$700,000,000
Interest rate of Senior note		5.75%

LongTerm_Debt_Schedule_Of_Long

Long-Term Debt (Schedule Of Long-Term Debt And Short-Term Loans) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit, weighted average interest rate of 3.99%	$29,910,050
Total long-term debt	937,259,743	912,470,999
Less current portion	12,488,400	18,956,761
Long-term debt, net of current portion	924,771,343	893,514,238
Weighted average interest rate	3.38%
Senior Notes, Interest Rate Of 5.75%, Maturing 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bonds payable	700,000,000	700,000,000
Interest rate	5.75%
Recovery Zone Facility Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bonds payable	95,210,000	99,740,000
Due to Banks, Weighted Average Interest Rate of 3.01 for 2014 and 3.26% for 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable	80,634,003	78,405,127
Weighted average interest rate	3.01%	3.26%
Due to Other Financial Institutions, Weighted Average Interest Rate of 4.09% for 2014 and 4.04% for 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable	$31,505,690	$34,325,872
Weighted average interest rate	4.09%	4.04%

LongTerm_Debt_Schedule_Of_Rede

Long-Term Debt (Schedule Of Redemption Prices Of Senior Notes) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
2018	102.88%
2019	101.92%
2020	100.96%
2021 and thereafter	100.00%

LongTerm_Debt_Schedule_Of_Comp

Long-Term Debt (Schedule Of Components Of Interest Costs) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Total interest costs	$46,846,912	$59,598,030	$61,764,642
Interest capitalized	-277,048	-455,652	-1,738,078
Interest expense	$46,569,864	$59,142,378	$60,026,564

LongTerm_Debt_Schedule_Of_Matu

Long-Term Debt (Schedule Of Maturities Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
2015	$12,488,400
2016	12,678,414
2017	11,677,721
2018	79,421,418
2019	18,916,389
Thereafter	802,077,401
Total long-term debt	$937,259,743	$912,470,999

Stockholders_Equity_Narrative_

Stockholder's Equity (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Percentage of cash dividend or liquidation payment based on Class B common stock	110.00%
Shares authorized for repurchase		4,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of directors set by board of directors	5
Maximum [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of directors set by board of directors	11
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of votes per share held by common stock holders	1
Percentage of directors to be elected by holders of common stock	25.00%
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of votes per share held by common stock holders	10
Minimum percentage of outstanding common stock of both classes represented by common stock	12.50%
Shares authorized for repurchase	2,500,000	1,500,000
Shares repurchased during the period	2,500,000

Earnings_Per_Common_Share_Reco

Earnings Per Common Share (Reconciliation Of Numerators And Denominators Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Schedule Of Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income allocated, basic									$31,776,515	$11,638,545	$24,151,777
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares									19,649,939	9,157,345	19,292,566
Net income allocated, diluted									51,426,454	20,795,890	43,444,343
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic									13,482,296	13,054,425	12,936,583
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares									9,126,381	10,817,989	11,364,899
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted									22,608,677	23,872,414	24,301,482
Earnings per share, Basic	$0.82	$0.63	$0.47	$0.44	$0.71	($0.62)	$0.35	$0.50	$2.36	$0.89	$1.87
Earnings per share, Diluted	$0.79	$0.61	$0.46	$0.42	$0.68	($0.62)	$0.33	$0.48	$2.28	$0.87	$1.79
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Schedule Of Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income allocated, basic									19,649,939	9,157,345	19,292,566
Net income allocated, diluted									$19,649,939	$9,157,345	$19,292,566
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic									9,126,381	10,817,989	11,364,899
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted									9,126,381	10,817,989	11,364,899
Earnings per share, Basic	$0.74	$0.57	$0.43	$0.40	$0.65	($0.56)	$0.32	$0.45	$2.14	$0.85	$1.70
Earnings per share, Diluted	$0.74	$0.57	$0.43	$0.40	$0.65	($0.56)	$0.32	$0.45	$2.14	$0.85	$1.70

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Investment Profit Sharing Plan [Member]
Postemployment and Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Operating and administrative expenses	$1,400	$1,300	$1,300
Nonqualified Investment Plan [Member]
Postemployment and Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Operating and administrative expenses	84	77	71
Cash Bonuses [Member]
Postemployment and Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Operating and administrative expenses	$9,200	$9,000	$10,000

Segment_Information_Narrative_

Segment Information (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of segments	1
Fluid Dairy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$58.70	$58.30	$58.50

Segment_Information_Operations

Segment Information (Operations By Lines Of Business) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2013	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total revenues from unaffiliated customers		$3,835,986,000	$3,738,540,000	$3,718,315,000
Total income from operations		123,345,157	125,574,175	123,846,842
Other income, net		3,001,161	2,900,341	3,527,065
Interest expense		46,569,864	59,142,378	60,026,564
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	43,100,000		-43,089,248
Income before income taxes		79,776,454	26,242,890	67,347,343
Total assets		1,656,951,564	1,669,327,737	1,642,109,000
Total capital expenditures		108,338,402	101,453,001	180,628,852
Depreciation and amortization expense		97,663,587	94,889,139	90,530,952
Elimination Of Intercompany Receivable [Member]
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total assets		-2,770,000	-2,392,000	-2,267,000
Grocery Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total revenues from unaffiliated customers		3,683,353,000	3,599,820,000	3,577,510,000
Total income from operations		112,030,000	114,380,000	111,540,000
Total assets		1,515,055,000	1,528,483,000	1,486,109,000
Total capital expenditures		105,808,000	99,995,000	175,835,000
Depreciation and amortization expense		90,025,000	87,331,000	82,584,000
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total revenues from unaffiliated customers		152,633,000	138,720,000	140,805,000
Total income from operations		11,315,000	11,194,000	12,307,000
Total assets		144,667,000	143,237,000	158,267,000
Total capital expenditures		2,531,000	1,458,000	4,794,000
Depreciation and amortization expense		$7,639,000	$7,558,000	$7,947,000

Segment_Information_Sales_By_P

Segment Information (Sales By Product Category) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Net sales	$964,838,000	$978,262,000	$947,761,000	$945,125,000	$948,854,000	$934,015,000	$920,694,000	$934,977,000	$3,835,985,953	$3,738,540,461	$3,718,314,651
Grocery [Member]
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Net sales									1,397,870,000	1,424,869,000	1,447,520,000
Non-Foods [Member]
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Net sales									729,934,000	707,294,000	709,959,000
Perishables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Net sales									937,402,000	898,956,000	866,252,000
Gasoline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Net sales									618,147,000	568,701,000	553,779,000
Grocery Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Net sales									$3,683,353,000	$3,599,820,000	$3,577,510,000

Selected_Quarterly_Financial_D2

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Net sales	$964,838,000	$978,262,000	$947,761,000	$945,125,000	$948,854,000	$934,015,000	$920,694,000	$934,977,000	$3,835,985,953	$3,738,540,461	$3,718,314,651
Gross profit	220,383,000	215,151,000	206,124,000	203,506,000	210,307,000	210,652,000	198,646,000	208,205,000	845,163,515	827,809,983	820,779,798
Net income	17,604,000	13,834,000	10,455,000	9,533,000	15,562,000	-14,424,000	8,090,000	11,568,000	51,426,454	20,795,890	43,444,343
Pre-tax debt extinguishment costs						$43,100,000				($43,089,248)
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Basic earnings per common share	$0.82	$0.63	$0.47	$0.44	$0.71	($0.62)	$0.35	$0.50	$2.36	$0.89	$1.87
Diluted earnings per common share	$0.79	$0.61	$0.46	$0.42	$0.68	($0.62)	$0.33	$0.48	$2.28	$0.87	$1.79
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Basic earnings per common share	$0.74	$0.57	$0.43	$0.40	$0.65	($0.56)	$0.32	$0.45	$2.14	$0.85	$1.70
Diluted earnings per common share	$0.74	$0.57	$0.43	$0.40	$0.65	($0.56)	$0.32	$0.45	$2.14	$0.85	$1.70

Commitments_And_Contingencies_

Commitments And Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Construction commitments	$2.60

Fair_Values_Of_Financial_Instr2

Fair Values Of Financial Instruments (Details) (Level 2 [Member], USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	$937,260
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	943,175
Senior Notes, Net Of Unamortized Original Issue Discount [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	700,000
Senior Notes, Net Of Unamortized Original Issue Discount [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	705,250
Recovery Zone Facility Bonds [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	95,210
Recovery Zone Facility Bonds [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	95,210
Real Estate And Equipment Notes Payable [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	112,140
Real Estate And Equipment Notes Payable [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	112,805
Line Of Credit Payable [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	29,910
Line Of Credit Payable [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of debt	$29,910

Cash_Flow_Information_Details

Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	$46,886,468	$65,281,861	$61,269,522
Income taxes	32,064,452	-2,470,362	21,390,331
Property and equipment additions included in accounts payable	$8,555,952	$14,598,996	$7,957,599

Related_Party_Transactions_Det

Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Short-term non-interest bearing loans to investment/profit sharing plan	$0.40
Shares authorized for repurchase		4
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Shares authorized for repurchase	2.5	1.5
Purchase price of shares	$65	$37.10

Schedule_II_Supplemental_Sched1

Schedule II - Supplemental Schedule Of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts (Details) (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014		Sep. 28, 2013		Sep. 29, 2012
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	$772,893		$741,690		$524,460
CHARGED TO COST AND EXPENSES			30,000		288,977
DEDUCTIONS	465,864	[1]	-1,203	[1]	71,747	[1]
BALANCE AT END OF YEAR	$307,029		$772,893		$741,690
[1]	Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.

Uncategorized_Items

Uncategorized Items	6/1/2013 - 6/29/2013
	USD ($)
[us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts]	27,800,000
[us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt]	575,000,000