OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Total comprehensive income attributable to Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.	$ (49,856)	$ 22,882	$ (26,155)	$ (1,910)

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=d3e557-108580

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration