Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization Accumulated amortization Accumulated amortization Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Payment for purchase of acquired entities, net of cash acquired Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Debt Assumed Convertible debentures assumed in the Wild Oats acquisition Impairment of Leasehold Advertising Costs, Policy [Text Block] Advertising Amortization of Intangible Assets Amortization of intangible assets Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) Reclassified to Earnings, Net Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified During Next 12 Months, Net Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense expected in next 12 months Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense expected in next 12 months Zero coupon convertible subordinated debentures Asset Impairment Charges Impairment of long-lived assets Total impairment of long-lived assets Consolidated Balance Sheets Buildings and Improvements, Gross Buildings and leasehold improvements Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Transaction Costs Direct costs of the acquisition Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract] Pro forma results of operations Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract] Purchase price allocation Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Assets Acquired (Liabilities Assumed), Net Total purchase price Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Assets Acquired Total assets acquired Tangible and identifiable assets acquired in business combination Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Capital Lease Obligation Accrual Capital leases assumed in business combination Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets Current assets Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Liabilities Current liabilities Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Deferred Income Taxes, Asset (Liability), Net Deferred income taxes Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount Goodwill recorded Goodwill Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Liabilities Assumed Total liabilities assumed Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-term Debt Long-term debt Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Other Noncurrent Assets Other assets Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Property, Plant and Equipment Property and equipment Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisition Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Text Block] Pro forma results of operations Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss) Net income Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue Sales Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table] Business Exit Costs Costs related to lease terminations for stores Capital Lease Obligations, Current Less current installments Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Long-term capital lease obligations, less current installments Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Current Capital leases, Fiscal year 2011 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Five Years Capital leases, Fiscal year 2015 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Four Years Capital leases, Fiscal year 2014 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Three Years Capital leases, Fiscal year 2013 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Two Years Capital leases, Fiscal year 2012 Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter Capital leases, Future fiscal years Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Interest Included in Payments Less amounts representing interest Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Minimum capital lease commitments Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Text Block] Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Interest Paid, Net Interest paid Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities Accrued payroll, bonus and other benefits due team members Change in Accounting Estimate by Type [Axis] Change in Accounting Estimate, Type [Domain] Increase (Decrease) in Other Accrued Liabilities Other current liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Receivables Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Net change in current assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Balances (in shares) Balances (in shares) Compensation Related Costs, Policy [Text Block] Share-Based Payments Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Abstract] Significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities for continuing operations Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract] Components of income tax expense Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Comprehensive Income Construction in Progress, Gross Construction in progress and equipment not yet in service Conversion of Stock, Amount Converted Conversion of redeemable preferred stock into common stock Preferred stock converted to common stock (in shares) Conversion of Stock, Shares Converted Common stock issued upon conversion of preferred stock (in shares) Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued Convertible Subordinated Debt Convertible debentures, including accreted interest Construction and Development Costs Cost of Sales, Policy [Text Block] Vendor Rebates and Allowances Current Federal Tax Expense (Benefit) Current federal income tax Current Foreign Tax Expense (Benefit) Current foreign income tax Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Total current tax Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current Current installments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations Less current installments Current State and Local Tax Expense (Benefit) Current state income tax Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract] Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current installments Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current installments Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued Common stock issued on the conversion of convertible subordinate debentures (in shares) Debt Instrument, Fee Amount Debt origination fees Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred federal income tax Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred foreign income tax Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income tax expense (benefit) Deferred State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred state income tax Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net, Current Deferred income taxes Current assets Deferred Tax Assets, Gross [Abstract] Deferred tax assets: Deferred Tax Assets, Gross Gross deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Hedging Transactions Cash flow hedge instrument Tax effect of the change in accumulated gains and losses on cash flow hedge instruments Deferred Tax Assets, Inventory Inventories Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net Net deferred tax asset Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Noncurrent assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net Total deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards Net domestic and international operating loss carryforwards Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards Tax credit carryforwards Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits Compensation-related costs Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Deferred Rent Rent differential Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Restructuring Charges Lease and other termination accruals Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Self Insurance Insurance-related costs Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance Valuation allowance Deferred tax assets valuation allowance associated with international operating loss and federal tax credit carryforwards and unrecognized tax benefits Deferred Tax Liabilities [Abstract] Deferred tax liabilities: Deferred Tax Liabilities, Deferred Expense Capitalized costs expensed for tax purposes Deferred Tax Liabilities Total deferred tax liabilities Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other Other Defined Benefit Plans [Domain] Employer contributions to 401(k) plan Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized Derivative, Amount of Hedged Item Portion of term loan hedged by interest rate swap agreement Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivatives Derivatives, Policy [Text Block] Derivative Instruments Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Business Combinations Details of Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held and Used by Asset [Text Block] Long-lived asset impairment charges Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) Consolidation, Policy [Text Block] Principles of Consolidation Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Report Line [Domain] Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items] Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation of Recognized Period Costs Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense Income tax benefit Share-based Compensation Share-based payment expense Share-based payment expense before income taxes Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Discount from Market Price Percentage discount from purchase date market value under stock purchase plan (in hundredths) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost Share-based payment expense related to vesting stock options Schedule of Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Text Block] Summary of annual percentage sales by product category Product and Service, Name [Domain] Annual percentage sales by product category Schedule of Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table] Equipment