Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011	Dec. 30, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Apr. 01, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Apr. 03, 2011 Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Class B Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member] Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member] Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member] Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Apr. 01, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member] Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member] Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Class B Common Stock [Member] Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Class B Common Stock [Member] Quarterly Financial Data [Member]	Apr. 03, 2011 Class B Common Stock [Member] Quarterly Financial Data [Member]
Schedule of financial data
Net sales	$ 1,614,433	$ 1,561,239	$ 1,514,599	$ 386,700	$ 419,855	$ 430,693	$ 377,185	$ 372,859	$ 405,858	$ 422,893	$ 359,629
Gross margin	654,309	629,243	640,816	154,374	170,928	173,413	155,594	151,793	162,716	165,573	149,161
Net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated	$ 27,217	$ 28,608	$ 36,057	$ 1,826	$ 10,079	$ 10,747	$ 4,565	$ 1,826	$ 9,768	$ 11,101	$ 5,913
Basic net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock				$ 0.20	$ 1.09	$ 1.16	$ 0.50	$ 0.20	$ 1.06	$ 1.21	$ 0.64	$ 2.95	$ 3.11	$ 3.93	$ 0.20	$ 1.09	$ 1.16	$ 0.50	$ 0.20	$ 1.06	$ 1.21	$ 0.64
Diluted net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock				$ 0.20	$ 1.09	$ 1.16	$ 0.49	$ 0.20	$ 1.06	$ 1.20	$ 0.64	$ 2.92	$ 3.08	$ 3.90	$ 0.19	$ 1.08	$ 1.16	$ 0.49	$ 0.19	$ 1.05	$ 1.20	$ 0.64