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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 segment week | Dec. 25, 2010 week segment | Dec. 26, 2009 week
Fiscal year |  |  |
Number of weeks in fiscal year (in weeks) | 53 | 52 | 52
Additional net sales due to extra week in fiscal period | $ 50,000 |  |
Cash overdrafts |  |  |
Cash book overdrafts | 21,214 | 11,952 |
Operating segments |  |  |
Number of reportable segments | 4 | 4 |
Maximum percentage of sales of other businesses and activities to consolidated sales as basis for aggregation | 10.00% | 10.00% |
Inventories |  |  |
Inventory valued at the lower of cost, determined on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market (as a percent) | 40.00% | 32.00% |
Excess of replacement cost of inventories over the LIFO value | 49,536 | 42,559 |
Additional net earnings due to extra week in fiscal period | $ 3,000 |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Principles of Consolidation |  |  |
Equity method investment in affiliates, ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |
Cost method investment in affiliates, ownership percentage | 20.00% |  |
Fiscal year |  |  |
Number of weeks in fiscal year (in weeks) | 53 |  |
Minimum |  |  |
Principles of Consolidation |  |  |
Equity method investment in affiliates, ownership percentage | 20.00% |  |
Fiscal year |  |  |
Number of weeks in fiscal year (in weeks) | 52 |  |

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- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of payments made in excess of existing cash balances, which will be honored by the bank but reflected as a loan to the entity. Overdrafts generally have a very short time frame for correction or repayment and are therefore more similar to short-term bank financing than trade financing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6743817&loc=d3e1243-112600 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Chapter 3 -Section A -Paragraph 7 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Current Liabilities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph f -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a (1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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- Definition The excess of replacement or current cost over the stated LIFO (last in first out) inventory value when the LIFO inventory method is utilized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph c -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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