Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jul. 02, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jul. 02, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 399,400		$ 412,541		$ 792,243		$ 801,011
Cost of sales	267,482		268,904		532,942		516,202
Gross margin	131,918		143,637		259,301		284,809
Selling, general and administrative	107,649		137,134		218,352		258,040
Gain on sale of route businesses, net	(10,882)		(237)		(20,169)		(326)
Other (income)/expense, net	(445)		10,382		(534)		10,510
Income/(loss) before interest and income taxes	35,596		(3,642)		61,652		16,585
Interest expense, net	2,303		2,367		4,566		5,026
Income/(loss) before income taxes	33,293		(6,009)		57,086		11,559
Income tax expense/(benefit)	13,828		(2,303)		23,296		4,222
Net income/(loss)	19,465		(3,706)		33,790		7,337
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	140		142		251		336
Net income/(loss) attributable to Snyder's-Lance, Inc.	$ 19,325		$ (3,848)		$ 33,539		$ 7,001
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.28		$ (0.06)		$ 0.49		$ 0.10
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	68,294		67,365		68,103		67,048
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.28		$ (0.06)		$ 0.49		$ 0.10
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	69,319	[1]	67,365	[1]	69,086	[1]	68,168	[1]
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.32		$ 0.32

[1] Refer to Note 4 for additional information regarding the calculation of diluted shares outstanding.