Goodwill and intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2017

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block]

			December 30, 2017	December 31, 2016
			$	$
Goodwill			109,533	223,611
Intangible assets with a finite life at cost, less accumulated
	amortization of $41,036 (December 31, 2016 - $30,989)		172,059	183,524
The following is a summary of changes in goodwill:
		Global Ingredients	Consumer Products	Total
		$	$	$
Balance at January 2, 2016		25,990	215,700	241,690
	Goodwill impairment(1)	(17,540)	-	(17,540)
	Foreign exchange	(195)	(344)	(539)
Balance at December 31, 2016		8,255	215,356	223,611
	Goodwill impairment(2)	-	(115,000)	(115,000)
	Foreign exchange	922	-	922
Balance at December 30, 2017		9,177	100,356	109,533

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

The major components of intangible assets as at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016were as follows:

	December 30, 2017
	Cost	Accumulated amortization	Net book value
	$	$	$
Customer relationships	211,176	39,274	171,902
Patents, trademarks and other	1,919	1,762	157
	213,095	41,036	172,059
	December 31, 2016
	Cost	Accumulated amortization	Net book value
	$	$	$
Customer relationships	212,172	28,914	183,258
Patents, trademarks and other	2,341	2,075	266
	214,513	30,989	183,524

The following is a summary of changes in intangible assets:

		Customer	Patents, trademarks
		relationships	and other	Total
		$	$	$
Balance at January 2, 2016		194,633	375	195,008
	Amortization	(11,166)	(116)	(11,282)
	Foreign exchange	(209)	7	(202)
Balance at December 31, 2016		183,258	266	183,524
	Impairment(1)	(456)	-	(456)
	Amortization	(11,086)	(109)	(11,195)
	Foreign exchange	186	-	186
Balance at December 30, 2017		171,902	157	172,059

(1)Represents impairment of customer relationship intangible asset related to the exited nutrition bar product lines (see note 4).

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

The Company estimates that the aggregate future amortization expense associated with finite-life intangible assets in each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter will be as follows:

	$
2018	11,135
2019	11,021
2020	10,324
2021	10,112
2022	10,112
Thereafter	119,355
	172,059