Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss) (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 579,595	$ 561,292	$ 1,111,096	$ 1,009,161
Cost of sales	369,308	349,736	716,043	654,515
Gross profit	210,287	211,556	395,053	354,646
Selling, general and administrative expenses	179,239	160,121	338,702	281,676
Transaction and integration related expenses	478	9,945	1,585	58,923
Impairment charges	7,920	489	7,920	863
Other operating expense/(income), net	205	(914)	475	(1,419)
Operating income	22,445	41,915	46,371	14,603
Other income, net	(218)	(227)	(1,234)	(555)
Income before interest and income taxes	22,663	42,142	47,605	15,158
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	4,749
Interest expense, net	9,492	9,361	18,446	14,090
Income/(loss) before income taxes	13,171	32,781	29,159	(3,681)
Income tax expense/(benefit)	8,270	12,381	12,932	(1,233)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations	4,901	20,400	16,227	(2,448)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(341)	(783)	(341)	(3,329)
Net income/(loss)	4,560	19,617	15,886	(5,777)
Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	590	(64)	754	(27)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.	3,970	19,681	15,132	(5,750)
Amounts attributable to Snyder's-Lance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	4,311	20,464	15,473	(2,421)
Discontinued operations	(341)	(783)	(341)	(3,329)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Snyder's-Lance, Inc.	$ 3,970	$ 19,681	$ 15,132	$ (5,750)
Basic earnings/(loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.21	$ 0.16	$ (0.03)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	(0.04)
Total basic earnings/(loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.21	$ 0.16	$ (0.07)
Weighted average basic shares outstanding (in shares)	96,448	95,679	96,321	87,816
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.21	$ 0.16	$ (0.03)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	(0.01)	0.00	(0.04)
Total diluted earnings/(loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.20	$ 0.16	$ (0.07)
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	97,704	96,666	97,629	87,816
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.32	$ 0.32