v3.26.1
Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details)
shares in Millions, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Nov. 15, 2023
USD ($)
shares
Apr. 28, 2023
USD ($)
shares
Apr. 30, 2026
USD ($)
Facility
Contract
Apr. 30, 2025
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Cash and cash equivalents     $ 58.6 $ 69.9 $ 62.0 $ 655.8
Advertising expense     179.3 181.0 182.5  
Reserve for credit loss     1.5      
Unrealized pre-tax gains included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on available-for-sale securities     1.5 0.7    
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     $ (134.1) (184.5)    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Vesting period for share-based payments     3 years      
Compensation cost related to nonvested share-based awards not yet recognized     $ 34.9      
Weighted-average period of recognition     2 years 2 months 12 days      
Excess tax expense (benefit) from share-based compensation     $ 1.9 1.0 (2.9)  
Accounting Policies (Additional Textual) [Abstract]            
Charges for defined contribution plans     48.3 47.7 41.5  
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]            
Operating Lease, Expense     114.4 118.7 121.7  
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]            
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)     $ 0.0 0.0 (21.5)  
Concentration Risk [Line Items]            
Facilities covered by union contracts | Facility     8      
Number of union contracts expiring in 2025 | Contract     3      
Other debt gains (charges) – net [1]     $ 0.0 30.2 [2] (19.5)  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     5,543.8 6,082.6 7,693.9 7,290.8
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]            
Concentration Risk [Line Items]            
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     $ (38.5) (41.7) (39.2) $ (34.3)
Maximum            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Vesting period for share-based payments     3 years      
Location, Statement of Income, Balance [Axis]: us-gaap:SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Distribution costs     $ 286.5 291.1 267.7  
Research and development costs     $ 55.2 51.7 49.1  
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Minimum            
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]            
Estimated useful life of assets     3 years      
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Maximum            
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]            
Estimated useful life of assets     20 years      
Capitalized software costs [Member] | Minimum            
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]            
Estimated useful life of assets     1 year      
Capitalized software costs [Member] | Maximum            
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]            
Estimated useful life of assets     7 years      
Buildings, fixtures, and improvements [Member] | Minimum            
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]            
Estimated useful life of assets     5 years      
Buildings, fixtures, and improvements [Member] | Maximum            
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]            
Estimated useful life of assets     40 years      
Location, Statement of Financial Position, Balance [Axis]: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Cash and cash equivalents     $ 0.0 0.0    
Location, Statement of Financial Position, Balance [Axis]: us-gaap:InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Work-in-process inventory     118.2 81.0    
Location, Statement of Financial Position, Balance [Axis]: us-gaap:OtherAssetsNoncurrent            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Marketable securities and other investments     $ 18.5 20.0    
Post Holdings Inc.            
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]            
Investment in equity securities, current, ownership percentage           8.00%
Cumulative realized loss on investment in equity securities - net       $ 30.7    
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)         $ 26.9  
Post Holdings Inc. | Pet Food Brands            
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]            
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business, Equity | shares 5.4 5.4        
Investment in equity securities $ 460.9 $ 491.6       $ 487.8
Mountain Country Foods [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Percentage of equity interest acquired     20.00%      
Numi, Inc. [Member]            
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]            
Percentage of equity interest acquired     42.00%      
Unionized Employees [Member] | Number of Employees, Total [Member]            
Concentration Risk [Line Items]            
Percentage of concentration risk     21.00%      
Unionized Employees Subject to Union Contracts Expiring within One Year | Number of Employees, Total [Member]            
Concentration Risk [Line Items]            
Percentage of concentration risk     5.00%      
[1] Includes special project costs related to certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring activities. For more information, see Note 4: Special Project Costs, Note 5: Reportable Segments, and Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
[2] Includes special project costs related to certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring activities. For more information, see Note 4: Special Project Costs and Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.