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Postretirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Jan. 01, 2011
Jan. 02, 2010
May 20, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Net Periodic Pension Cost [Member]
Jan. 01, 2011
Net Periodic Pension Cost [Member]
Jan. 02, 2010
Net Periodic Pension Cost [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost [Member]
Jan. 01, 2011
Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Projected Benefit Obligation [Member]
Jan. 01, 2011
Projected Benefit Obligation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Accumulated Benefit Obligation [Member]
Jan. 01, 2011
Accumulated Benefit Obligation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Of Plan Assets [Member]
Jan. 01, 2011
Fair Value Of Plan Assets [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Multi Employer Plans [Member]
Jan. 01, 2011
Multi Employer Plans [Member]
Jan. 02, 2010
Multi Employer Plans [Member]
Feb. 10, 2011
Multi Employer Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Red Zone [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Yellow Zone [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Green Zone [Member]
Maximum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Nonqualified Pension Plan [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Common Stock [Member]
Jan. 01, 2011
Common Stock [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]                                                  
Date of acquisition May 20, 2011                                                
Unfunded liability at acquisition       $ 29,000,000                                          
Expected pension income 1,100,000                                                
Actual return (loss) on plan assets 100,000 27,000,000 37,900,000   67,000 27,012,000                                      
Amortization from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost         5,100,000     (600,000)                                  
Accumulated benefit obligation and projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets                   472,800,000 341,100,000 471,700,000 340,200,000 330,100,000 277,800,000                    
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets 8.00%       8.00% 8.00% 8.00%                                    
Average annual return on the plan assets over the last 15 years 7.30%                                                
Defined benefit plan equity securities included in common stock                                               2,020,242 2,020,242
Percentage of total plan assets 51.70% 53.40%                                           11.60% 13.00%
Equity securities, amount                                               38,300,000 36,200,000
Cash contributions 12,230,000 909,000 450,000   6,900,000                                   1,100,000    
Discretionary contribution 5,300,000                                                
Expected company contribution 907,000       18,200,000                                   400,000    
Contributions by participants 400,000 400,000 400,000         402,000 392,000                                
Expense under plans 222,000 1,842,000 5,112,000                         4,200,000 3,100,000 2,000,000              
Liabilities related to partial withdrawal                               2,500,000 1,200,000   1,200,000            
Percentage of funded under multi employer plans                                       65.00% 80.00% 80.00%      
Contribution of pension fund in excess of total contribution                               5.00% 5.00% 5.00%              
Total cost and contributions $ 18,200,000 $ 17,200,000 $ 15,600,000                                            
Description of pension plan

The Flowers Foods 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan covers substantially all of the company's employees who have completed certain service requirements. During fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, the total cost and employer contributions were $18.2 million, $17.2 million and $15.6 million, respectively.