Name:	flo_FairValueDisclosuresLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	flo_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the term in years for distributor notes receivable

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	flo_FinancingPeriodOfDistributorNotesReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	flo_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the approximate number of independent distributors for the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	flo_NumberOfIndependentDistributors
Namespace Prefix:	flo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of interest income and other income recognized during the period. Included in this element is interest derived from investments in debt securities, cash and cash equivalents, and other investments which reflect the time value of money or transactions in which the payments are for the use or forbearance of money and other income from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SeniorLongTermNotes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	4 Months Ended
	Apr. 25, 2015 Distributor	Apr. 19, 2014	Jan. 03, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Line Items]
Number of independent distributors	3,720flo_NumberOfIndependentDistributors
Interest income	$ 6,800,000us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome	$ 6,000,000us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome
Long term debt carrying value	399,334,000us-gaap_SeniorLongTermNotes		399,304,000us-gaap_SeniorLongTermNotes
4.375% Senior Notes
Fair Value Disclosures [Line Items]
Notes bearing interest rate	4.375%
Debt instrument term	10 years
Debt Obligations	$ 429,300,000
Maximum
Fair Value Disclosures [Line Items]
Financing period of territories, years	10 years