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
	Dec. 31, 2017	Oct. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2017	Apr. 02, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Jul. 03, 2016	Apr. 03, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 03, 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	$ 77,922	$ 17,316	$ 6,348	$ (5,051)	$ 21,393	$ 23,142	$ 15,652	$ (10,041)	$ 96,535	$ 50,146	$ 59,002
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock									7,141	7,141	7,141
Total undistributed earnings – basic									87,207	40,839	49,715
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									87,207	40,839	49,715
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share									73,895	38,469	45,364
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share									$ 96,535	$ 50,146	$ 59,002
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									9,369	9,349	9,328
Basic net income per share:
Common Stock	$ 8.35	$ 1.86	$ 0.68	$ (0.54)	$ 2.31	$ 2.48	$ 1.68	$ (1.08)	$ 10.35	$ 5.39	$ 6.35
Diluted net income per share:
Common Stock	8.31	1.85	0.68	(0.54)	2.30	2.47	1.67	(1.08)	$ 10.30	$ 5.36	$ 6.33
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock									$ 2,187	$ 2,166	$ 2,146
Total undistributed earnings – basic									20,453	9,511	11,492
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									20,738	9,645	11,656
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share									22,640	11,677	13,638
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share									$ 22,925	$ 11,811	$ 13,802
Denominator for basic net income per Common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding									2,188	2,168	2,147
Denominator for diluted net income per Common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution									2,228	2,208	2,187
Basic net income per share:
Common Stock	8.35	1.86	0.68	(0.54)	2.31	2.48	1.68	(1.08)	$ 10.35	$ 5.39	$ 6.35
Diluted net income per share:
Common Stock	$ 8.32	$ 1.84	$ 0.67	$ (0.54)	$ 2.29	$ 2.47	$ 1.67	$ (1.08)	$ 10.29	$ 5.35	$ 6.31
Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Total undistributed earnings – basic									$ 66,754	$ 31,328	$ 38,223
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									$ 66,469	$ 31,194	$ 38,059