Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 335,949	$ 305,275
Cost of goods sold	292,229	277,069
Gross profit	43,720	28,206
Selling, general and administrative expenses	27,206	26,248
Intangible asset amortization	2,721	2,742
Other income, net	(1,298)	(43,512)
Foreign exchange loss (gain)	2,334	(1,104)
Earnings before the following	12,757	43,832
Interest expense, net	8,280	8,739
Earnings before income taxes	4,477	35,093
Provision for income taxes	1,130	9,498
Net earnings	3,347	25,595
Loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(14)	(54)
Earnings attributable to SunOpta Inc.	3,361	25,649
Dividends and accretion on Series A Preferred Stock	(2,025)	(1,995)
Earnings attributable to common shareholders	$ 1,336	$ 23,654
Earnings per share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.27
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.26