Condensed Consolidated Statements of (Loss)/Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 564,184	$ 543,903	$ 1,675,280	$ 1,553,064
Cost of sales	357,993	344,807	1,074,036	999,322
Gross profit	206,191	199,096	601,244	553,742
Selling, general and administrative expenses	154,811	152,980	493,513	434,656
Transaction and integration related expenses	276	3,656	1,861	62,579
Impairment charges	105,230	507	113,150	1,370
Other operating (income)/expense, net	(279)	(3,776)	196	(5,195)
Operating (loss)/income	(53,847)	45,729	(7,476)	60,332
Other (income)/expense, net	(227)	305	(1,461)	(250)
(Loss)/income before interest and income taxes	(53,620)	45,424	(6,015)	60,582
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	4,749
Interest expense, net	10,141	9,215	28,587	23,305
(Loss)/income before income taxes	(63,761)	36,209	(34,602)	32,528
Income tax (benefit)/expense	(6,043)	10,663	6,889	9,430
(Loss)/income from continuing operations	(57,718)	25,546	(41,491)	23,098
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	1,473	3,655	1,132	326
Net (loss)/income	(56,245)	29,201	(40,359)	23,424
Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	18	(114)	772	(141)
Net (loss)/income attributable to Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.	(56,263)	29,315	(41,131)	23,565
Amounts attributable to Snyder's-Lance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	(57,736)	25,660	(42,263)	23,239
Discontinued operations	1,473	3,655	1,132	326
Net (loss)/income attributable to Snyder's-Lance, Inc.	$ (56,263)	$ 29,315	$ (41,131)	$ 23,565
Basic (loss)/earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ 0.26	$ (0.44)	$ 0.26
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.02	0.04	0.01	0.00
Total basic (loss)/earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.58)	$ 0.30	$ (0.43)	$ 0.26
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic (in shares)	96,642	95,881	96,428	90,504
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ 0.26	$ (0.44)	$ 0.26
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.02	0.04	0.01	0.00
Total diluted (loss)/earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.58)	$ 0.30	$ (0.43)	$ 0.26
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted (in shares)	96,642	97,012	96,428	91,493
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.48	$ 0.48