Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012		Oct. 01, 2011		Sep. 29, 2012		Oct. 01, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 406,565		$ 421,897		$ 1,198,808		$ 1,222,909
Cost of sales	269,626		280,892		802,568		797,095
Gross margin	136,939		141,005		396,240		425,814
Selling, general and administrative	106,512		126,816		324,864		384,856
Gain on sale of route businesses, net	(1,427)		(3,462)		(21,596)		(3,788)
Other expense/(income), net	617		(779)		83		9,730
Income before interest and income taxes	31,237		18,430		92,889		35,016
Interest expense, net	1,692		3,037		6,258		8,064
Income before income taxes	29,545		15,393		86,631		26,952
Income tax expense	11,634		6,608		34,930		10,830
Net income	17,911		8,785		51,701		16,122
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	146		(45)		397		291
Net income attributable to Snyder's-Lance, Inc.	$ 17,765		$ 8,830		$ 51,304		$ 15,831
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.26		$ 0.13		$ 0.75		$ 0.24
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	68,598		67,706		68,268		67,268
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.26		$ 0.13		$ 0.74		$ 0.23
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	69,526	[1]	68,787	[1]	69,190	[1]	68,324	[1]
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.48		$ 0.48

[1]