Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 462,765	$ 402,341
Cost of sales	320,611	262,979
Gross margin	142,154	139,362
Selling, general and administrative	124,189	121,924
Transaction-related expenses	49,306	0
Impairment charges	374	0
Gain on sale of route businesses, net	(536)	(793)
Other income, net	(297)	(736)
(Loss)/income before interest and income taxes	(30,882)	18,967
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	4,749	0
Interest expense, net	4,729	2,467
(Loss)/income before income taxes	(40,360)	16,500
Income tax (benefit)/expense	(14,966)	5,918
Net (loss)/income	(25,394)	10,582
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	37	(54)
Net (loss)/income attributable to Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.	$ (25,431)	$ 10,636
Basic (loss)/earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.32)	$ 0.15
Weighted average basic shares outstanding (in shares)	79,953	70,259
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.32)	$ 0.15
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	79,953	71,002
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.16