Net Income Per Share - Computation of Basic Net Income Per Share and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Oct. 02, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Numerator for basic and diluted net income per Common Stock and Class B Common Stock share:
Net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated	$ 23,142	$ 25,553	$ 28,753	$ 54,711
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock	1,785	1,785	5,356	5,356
Total undistributed earnings – basic	20,814	23,230	21,773	47,747
Total undistributed earnings - diluted	20,814	23,230	21,773	47,747
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share	17,745	19,638	22,060	42,070
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share	$ 23,142	$ 25,553	$ 28,753	$ 54,711
Denominator for basic net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding	7,141	7,141	7,141	7,141
Denominator for diluted net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution	9,353	9,332	9,348	9,327
Basic net income per share:
Common Stock	$ 2.48	$ 2.75	$ 3.09	$ 5.89
Diluted net income per share:
Common Stock	$ 2.47	$ 2.74	$ 3.08	$ 5.87
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock	$ 543	$ 538	$ 1,624	$ 1,608
Total undistributed earnings – basic	4,854	5,377	5,069	11,033
Total undistributed earnings - diluted	4,923	5,454	5,140	11,191
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share	5,397	5,915	6,693	12,641
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share	$ 5,466	$ 5,992	$ 6,764	$ 12,799
Denominator for basic net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding	2,172	2,151	2,167	2,146
Denominator for diluted net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution	2,212	2,191	2,207	2,186
Basic net income per share:
Common Stock	$ 2.48	$ 2.75	$ 3.09	$ 5.89
Diluted net income per share:
Common Stock	$ 2.47	$ 2.73	$ 3.07	$ 5.85
Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Total undistributed earnings – basic	$ 15,960	$ 17,853	$ 16,704	$ 36,714
Total undistributed earnings - diluted	$ 15,891	$ 17,776	$ 16,633	$ 36,556