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								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Jul. 03, 2016	Apr. 03, 2016	Jan. 03, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2015	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 03, 2016	Dec. 28, 2014
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	$ 21,393	$ 23,142	$ 15,652	$ (10,041)	$ 4,291	$ 25,553	$ 26,934	$ 2,224	$ 50,146	$ 59,002	$ 31,354
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock									7,141	7,141	7,141
Total undistributed earnings – basic									40,839	49,715	22,088
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									40,839	49,715	22,088
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share									38,469	45,364	24,162
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share									$ 50,146	$ 59,002	$ 31,354
Denominator for basic net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding									7,141	7,141	7,141
Denominator for diluted net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution									9,349	9,328	9,307
Basic net income per share:
Common Stock	$ 2.31	$ 2.48	$ 1.68	$ (1.08)	$ 0.46	$ 2.75	$ 2.90	$ 0.24	$ 5.39	$ 6.35	$ 3.38
Diluted net income per share:
Common Stock	2.30	2.47	1.67	(1.08)	0.46	2.74	2.89	0.24	$ 5.36	$ 6.33	$ 3.37
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock									$ 2,166	$ 2,146	$ 2,125
Total undistributed earnings – basic									9,511	11,492	5,067
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									9,645	11,656	5,140
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share									11,677	13,638	7,192
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share									$ 11,811	$ 13,802	$ 7,265
Denominator for basic net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding									2,168	2,147	2,126
Denominator for diluted net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution									2,208	2,187	2,166
Basic net income per share:
Common Stock	2.31	2.48	1.68	(1.08)	0.46	2.75	2.90	0.24	$ 5.39	$ 6.35	$ 3.38
Diluted net income per share:
Common Stock	$ 2.29	$ 2.47	$ 1.67	$ (1.08)	$ 0.46	$ 2.73	$ 2.88	$ 0.23	$ 5.35	$ 6.31	$ 3.35
Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Total undistributed earnings – basic									$ 31,328	$ 38,223	$ 17,021
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									$ 31,194	$ 38,059	$ 16,948