Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Net sales	$ 1,126,149	$ 1,162,526	$ 1,169,291	$ 865,702	$ 841,560	$ 849,028	$ 840,384	$ 625,456	$ 4,323,668	$ 3,156,428	$ 2,306,458
Gross profit	383,424	410,324	415,178	332,021	324,927	327,190	319,707	243,898	1,540,947	1,215,722	901,032
Net income (loss) 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
Common Stock	$ 8.35	$ 1.86	$ 0.68	$ (0.54)	$ 2.31	$ 2.48	$ 1.68	$ (1.08)	$ 10.35	$ 5.39	$ 6.35
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]
Common Stock	8.35	1.86	0.68	(0.54)	2.31	2.48	1.68	(1.08)	10.35	5.39	6.35
Common Stock	$ 8.32	$ 1.84	$ 0.67	$ (0.54)	$ 2.29	$ 2.47	$ 1.67	$ (1.08)	$ 10.29	$ 5.35	$ 6.31