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. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016
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	$ 17,316	$ 23,142	$ 18,613	$ 28,753
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock	1,785	1,785	5,356	5,356
Total undistributed earnings – basic	14,983	20,814	11,618	21,773
Total undistributed earnings - diluted	14,983	20,814	11,618	21,773
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share	13,248	17,745	14,249	22,060
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share	$ 17,316	$ 23,142	$ 18,613	$ 28,753
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 Stock share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution	9,374	9,353	9,369	9,348
Basic net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock	$ 1.86	$ 2.48	$ 2.00	$ 3.09
Diluted net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock	$ 1.85	$ 2.47	$ 1.99	$ 3.08
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock	$ 548	$ 543	$ 1,639	$ 1,624
Total undistributed earnings – basic	3,520	4,854	2,725	5,069
Total undistributed earnings - diluted	3,569	4,923	2,763	5,140
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share	4,068	5,397	4,364	6,693
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share	$ 4,117	$ 5,466	$ 4,402	$ 6,764
Denominator for basic net income per Common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding	2,193	2,172	2,188	2,167
Denominator for diluted net income per Stock share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution	2,233	2,212	2,228	2,207
Basic net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock	$ 1.86	$ 2.48	$ 2.00	$ 3.09
Diluted net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock	$ 1.84	$ 2.47	$ 1.97	$ 3.07
Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Total undistributed earnings – basic	$ 11,463	$ 15,960	$ 8,893	$ 16,704
Total undistributed earnings - diluted	$ 11,414	$ 15,891	$ 8,855	$ 16,633