Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012		Sep. 29, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Oct. 01, 2011		Jul. 02, 2011		Apr. 02, 2011		Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 419,826		$ 406,565		$ 399,400		$ 392,843		$ 412,127		$ 421,897		$ 412,541		$ 388,471		$ 1,618,634	$ 1,635,036	$ 979,835
Cost of sales	277,209	[1]	269,626	[1]	267,482	[1]	265,460	[1]	268,012	[2]	280,892	[2]	268,904	[2]	247,299	[2]	1,079,777	1,065,107	601,015
Gross margin	142,617		136,939		131,918		127,383		144,115		141,005		143,637		141,172		538,857	569,929	378,820
Selling, general and administrative	115,733	[3]	106,512	[3]	107,649	[3]	110,703	[3]	110,412	[4]	126,816	[4]	137,134	[4]	120,905	[4]	440,597	495,267	359,629
Other Asset Impairment Charges	11,655		80		127		0		2,585		0		10,119		0		11,862	12,704	584
Gain on sale of route businesses, net	(739)		(1,427)		(10,882)		(9,287)		(5,652)		(3,462)		(237)		(89)		(22,335)	(9,440)	0
Other (income)/expense, net	(283)		537		(572)		(89)		1,381		(779)		263		128		(407)	993	6,524
Income before interest and income taxes	16,251		31,237		35,596		26,056		35,389		18,430		(3,642)		20,228		109,140	70,405	12,083
Interest expense, net	3,229		1,692		2,303		2,263		2,496		3,037		2,367		2,660		9,487	10,560	3,921
Income before income taxes	13,022		29,545		33,293		23,793		32,893		15,393		(6,009)		17,568		99,653	59,845	8,162
Income tax expense	5,212		11,634		13,828		9,469		10,274		6,608		(2,303)		6,525		40,143	21,104	5,631
Net income	7,810		17,911		19,465		14,324		22,619		8,785		(3,706)		11,043		59,510	38,741	2,531
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income tax of $263, $322 and $4, respectively	28		146		140		111		192		(45)		142		194		425	483	19
Net income attributable to Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.	$ 7,782		$ 17,765		$ 19,325		$ 14,213		$ 22,427		$ 8,830		$ (3,848)		$ 10,849		$ 59,085	$ 38,258	$ 2,512
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11		$ 0.26		$ 0.28		$ 0.21		$ 0.33		$ 0.13		$ (0.06)		$ 0.16		$ 0.86	$ 0.57	$ 0.07
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic (in shares)	68,725		68,598		68,294		67,912		67,798		67,706		67,365		66,732		68,382	67,400	34,128
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11		$ 0.26		$ 0.28		$ 0.21		$ 0.33		$ 0.13		$ (0.06)		$ 0.16		$ 0.85	$ 0.56	$ 0.07
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted (in shares)	69,586		69,526		69,319		69,053		68,882		68,787		67,365		68,060		69,215	68,478	34,348
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.16		$ 0.64	$ 0.64	$ 4.39

[1] During the fourth quarter, we incurred severance costs and professional fees related to Merger and integration activities of $0.3 million. The fourth quarter also includes $2.3 million of severance expense related to the closing of our Cambridge, Ontario manufacturing facility. We also incurred expenses related to the closing of our Corsicana, Texas manufacturing facility of $1.4 million and $0.6 million in the first and second quarters, respectively.

[2] We incurred severance costs and professional fees related to Merger and integration activities of $1.1 million in the fourth quarter. Additionally, during the fourth quarter, we recorded a $4.9 million reduction in expense related to our transition to a standard vacation plan for the merged company.

[3] We incurred severance costs and professional fees related to Merger and integration activities of $1.5 million, $0.2 million, $0.2 million and $1.6 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. The third quarter also includes $0.6 million in severance related to the closing of our Greenville, TX distribution facility. We also incurred expenses associated with the acquisition of Snack Factory of $0.5 million and $1.3 million in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.

[4] We incurred severance costs and professional fees related to Merger and integration activities of $1.6 million, $13.2 million, $3.4 million and $0.3 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. During the fourth quarter, we also recorded a $5.0 million reduction in expense related to our transition to a standard vacation plan for the merged company.