Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2020	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 27, 2020	Jun. 29, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 310,944	$ 293,004	$ 646,893	$ 598,279
Cost of goods sold	271,252	265,677	563,481	542,746
Gross profit	39,692	27,327	83,412	55,533
Selling, general and administrative expenses	28,299	27,262	55,505	53,510
Intangible asset amortization	2,605	2,692	5,326	5,434
Other expense (income), net	(333)	445	(1,631)	(43,067)
Foreign exchange loss (gain)	(44)	(90)	2,290	(1,194)
Earnings (loss) before the following	9,165	(2,982)	21,922	40,850
Interest expense, net	7,936	8,254	16,216	16,993
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1,229	(11,236)	5,706	23,857
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes	452	(2,324)	1,582	7,174
Net earnings (loss)	777	(8,912)	4,124	16,683
Earnings (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(230)	143	(244)	89
Earnings (loss) attributable to SunOpta Inc.	1,007	(9,055)	4,368	16,594
Dividends and accretion on preferred stock	(2,604)	(2,001)	(4,629)	(3,996)
Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$ (1,597)	$ (11,056)	$ (261)	$ 12,598
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.00)	$ 0.14
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.00)	$ 0.14
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (000s)
Basic	89,089	87,683	88,625	87,579
Diluted	89,089	87,683	88,625	87,743