Associate Retirement Plans - Components of Net Periodic Pension and Postretirement Benefit Cost (Income) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2013	Jan. 03, 2015	Mar. 30, 2013
Cash Balance Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	$ 1,682	$ 2,225	$ 2,587
Expected return on plan assets	(3,069)	(3,547)	(4,499)
Amortization of actuarial net loss	976	970	1,279
Net periodic benefit (income) cost	(411)	(352)	(633)
Settlement expense	621	2,294
Total expense (income)	210	1,942	(633)
Weighted average assumptions at measurement date:
Discount rate	3.90%	4.35%	4.50%
Expected return on plan assets	6.55%	5.95%	7.50%
Super Foods Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	234	1,998
Expected return on plan assets	(258)	(2,190)
Net periodic benefit (income) cost	(24)	(192)
Settlement expense		294
Total expense (income)	(24)	102
Weighted average assumptions at measurement date:
Discount rate	4.60%	4.65%
Expected return on plan assets	6.00%	5.70%
SERP [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	24	35	39
Amortization of actuarial net loss	23	30	32
Net periodic benefit (income) cost	47	65	71
Settlement expense			50
Total expense (income)	47	65	121
Weighted average assumptions at measurement date:
Discount rate	3.90%	4.35%	4.50%
SpartanNash Medical Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	194	186	194
Interest cost	287	394	404
Amortization of prior service credit	(42)	(158)	(54)
Amortization of actuarial net loss	134	20	137
Total expense (income)	$ 573	$ 442	$ 681
Weighted average assumptions at measurement date:
Discount rate	3.90%	5.05%	4.50%

Defined benefit plan net periodic benefit cost before settlement expense.

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- Definition

The amount of gains or losses recognized in net periodic benefit cost.

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- Definition

The amount of the prior service cost or credit recognized in net periodic benefit cost relating to benefit changes attributable to plan participants' prior service pursuant to a plan amendment or a plan initiation.

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- Definition

The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money.

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- Definition

An assumption as to the rate of return on plan assets reflecting the average rate of earnings expected on the funds invested or to be invested to provide for the benefits included in the benefit obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Expected Long-Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets

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-Section 50

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-Subparagraph (k)(3)

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- Definition

An amount calculated as a basis for determining the extent of delayed recognition of the effects of changes in the fair value of assets. The expected return on plan assets is determined based on the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the market-related value of plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Expected Return on Plan Assets

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- Definition

The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

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- Definition

The total amount of net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss), prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments.

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- Definition

Amount of net gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit cost as a result of an irrevocable action that relieves the employer (or the plan) of primary responsibility for a benefit obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to effect the settlement. Examples of transactions that constitute a settlement include, but are not limited to, lump-sum cash payments to plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts to cover vested benefits.

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- Definition

The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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