XML 118 R64.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Restructuring Charges - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2014 | Oct. 31, 2013 | Oct. 31, 2014 Employees | Oct. 31, 2013 Employees | Oct. 31, 2012 Employees
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges | $ 5.6 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges | $ 2.2 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges | $ 16.1 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges | $ 4.8 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges | $ 23.1 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Number of employees severed |  |  | 850 gef_NumberOfEmployeesSevered | 278 gef_NumberOfEmployeesSevered | 513 gef_NumberOfEmployeesSevered
Anticipated cost savings related to restructuring |  |  | 16.8 us-gaap_EffectOnFutureEarningsAmount |  |
Amounts remaining to be incurred | 9.2 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 | 6.6 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 | 9.2 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 | 6.6 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Anticipated cost savings related to restructuring payback period |  |  | 1 year |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Anticipated cost savings related to restructuring payback period |  |  | 5 years |  |
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges |  |  | 9.6 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  |
Number of plants closed | 8 gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember | 0 gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember | 8 gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember | 0 gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember | 4 gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Amounts remaining to be incurred | 6.8 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  | 6.8 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  |
Employee Separation Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges |  |  | 12.0 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | 2.8 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | 13.4 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Employee Separation Costs [Member] | Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges |  |  | 7.5 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  |
Amounts remaining to be incurred | 3.9 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  | 3.9 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  |
Other Restructuring Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges |  |  | 4.1 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember | 2.0 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember | 9.7 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
Other Restructuring Costs [Member] | Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges |  |  | 2.1 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  |
Amounts remaining to be incurred | $ 2.9 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  | $ 2.9 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |  |

X
- Definition Number of employees severed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_NumberOfEmployeesSevered
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of plants closed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Term of the initial period in which these effects are expected to be realized represented as Period Year Month Day for example 1 year is P1Y. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_TermOfInitialPeriodInWhichEffectsAreExpectedToBeRealized
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The quantified amount of the future effect on earnings. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectOnFutureEarningsAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expected cost remaining for the specified restructuring cost. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |