Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 04, 2015	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 04, 2015
Basic EPS:
Net income/(loss) attributable to Snyder's-Lance, Inc.	$ 19,681	$ 17,329	$ (5,750)	$ 27,965
Less: Income allocated to participating securities	54	49	0	68
Income/(loss) allocated to common shares	$ 19,627	$ 17,280	$ (5,750)	$ 27,897
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic (in shares)	95,679	70,426	87,816	70,342
Earnings/(loss) per share – Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.25	$ (0.07)	$ 0.40
Diluted EPS:
Effect of dilutive stock options, restricted units and performance-based restricted units on shares outstanding (in shares)	987	745	0	732
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted (in shares)	96,666	71,171	87,816	71,074
Earnings/(loss) per share – Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.24	$ (0.07)	$ 0.39