Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balances at Jan. 03, 2009	$ 199,000	$ 525,201,000	$ 369,397,000	$ (102,279,000)	$ (157,799,000)	$ 9,335,000	$ 644,054,000
Balance, shares at Jan. 03, 2009	101,659,924				(8,913,142)
Net income			130,297,000			3,415,000	133,712,000
Derivative instruments, net of tax				28,940,000			28,940,000
Pension and postretirement plans, net of tax				8,667,000			8,667,000
Comprehensive income							167,904,000
Comprehensive income attributable to Flowers Foods, Inc.							167,900,000
Stock repurchases					(40,531,000)		(40,531,000)
Stock repurchases, shares					(1,793,534)
Exercise of stock options		(1,552,000)			4,166,000		2,614,000
Exercise of stock options, shares					232,024		348,000
Issuance of performance-contingent restricted stock awards		(4,416,000)			4,416,000
Issuance of performance-contingent restricted stock awards, shares					248,680
Issuance of deferred stock awards		(352,000)			352,000
Issuance of deferred stock awards, shares					19,450
Amortization of share-based compensation awards		11,792,000					11,792,000
Income tax benefits related to share-based payments		1,522,000					1,522,000
Conversion of deferred compensation (Note 11)		95,000					95,000
Issuance of deferred compensation		(146,000)			146,000
Issuance of deferred compensation, shares					6,135
Distributions from noncontrolling interest to owners						(669,000)	(669,000)
Dividends paid per common share			(62,170,000)				(62,170,000)
Balances at Jan. 02, 2010	199,000	532,144,000	437,524,000	(64,672,000)	(189,250,000)	12,081,000	728,026,000
Balance, shares at Jan. 02, 2010	101,659,924				(10,200,387)
Deconsolidation of Variable Interest Entity (Note 12)						(12,081,000)	(12,081,000)
Net income			137,047,000				137,047,000
Derivative instruments, net of tax				35,769,000			35,769,000
Pension and postretirement plans, net of tax				(4,806,000)			(4,806,000)
Comprehensive income							168,010,000
Comprehensive income attributable to Flowers Foods, Inc.							168,000,000
Stock repurchases					(39,184,000)		(39,184,000)
Stock repurchases, shares					(1,548,771)
Exercise of stock options		(1,202,000)			9,086,000		7,884,000
Exercise of stock options, shares					486,887		731,000
Issuance of performance-contingent restricted stock awards		(4,102,000)			4,102,000
Issuance of performance-contingent restricted stock awards, shares					220,640
Issuance of deferred stock awards		(631,000)			631,000
Issuance of deferred stock awards, shares					33,920
Amortization of share-based compensation awards		12,995,000					12,995,000
Income tax benefits related to share-based payments		1,022,000					1,022,000
Performance-contingent restricted stock awards forfeitures and cancellations		83,000			(83,000)
Performance-contingent restricted stock awards forfeitures and cancellations, shares					(4,425)
Issuance of deferred compensation		(15,000)			15,000
Issuance of deferred compensation, shares					642
Dividends paid per common share			(70,882,000)				(70,882,000)
Balances at Jan. 01, 2011	199,000	540,294,000	503,689,000	(33,709,000)	(214,683,000)		795,790,000
Balance, shares at Jan. 01, 2011	101,659,924				(11,011,494)
Net income			123,428,000				123,428,000
Derivative instruments, net of tax				(38,813,000)			(38,813,000)
Pension and postretirement plans, net of tax				(39,525,000)			(39,525,000)
Comprehensive income							45,090,000
Comprehensive income attributable to Flowers Foods, Inc.							45,100,000
Adjustment for 3 for 2 stock split (Note 14), shares	50,828,084				(5,375,912)
Adjustment for 3 for 2 stock split (Note 14), value			(39,000)				(39,000)
Stock repurchases					(26,598,000)		(26,598,000)
Stock repurchases, shares					(1,155,103)		(1,500,000)
Exercise of stock options		(2,512,000)			15,445,000		12,933,000
Exercise of stock options, shares					803,090		1,165,000
Issuance of performance-contingent restricted stock awards		(4,213,000)			4,213,000
Issuance of performance-contingent restricted stock awards, shares					216,050
Issuance of deferred stock awards		(1,160,000)			1,119,000		(41,000)
Issuance of deferred stock awards, shares					56,505
Amortization of share-based compensation awards		12,982,000					12,982,000
Income tax benefits related to share-based payments		2,932,000					2,932,000
Performance-contingent restricted stock awards forfeitures and cancellations		961,000			(961,000)
Performance-contingent restricted stock awards forfeitures and cancellations, shares					(51,630)
Issuance of deferred compensation		(219,000)			219,000
Issuance of deferred compensation, shares					11,672
Contingent acquisition consideration		(5,000,000)					(5,000,000)
Dividends paid per common share			(79,081,000)				(79,081,000)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 199,000	$ 544,065,000	$ 547,997,000	$ (112,047,000)	$ (221,246,000)		$ 758,968,000
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	152,488,008				(16,506,822)