PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ 136,400,000us-gaap_Depreciation	$ 135,500,000us-gaap_Depreciation	$ 131,500,000us-gaap_Depreciation
Proceeds from property disposals	11,108,000	31,337,000	29,400,000
Gain (loss) on property disposals	1,400,000	(2,400,000)
Expenditures for capital projects	171,443,000	116,223,000	90,327,000
Completed projects transferred from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets	110,100,000
Idled assets property, plant and equipment, net	69,300,000
Idled asset property, plant and equipment gross	181,300,000
Idled asset accumulated depreciation	112,000,000ppc_IdledAssetAccumulatedDepreciation
Assets held for sale	$ 1,419,000	$ 7,033,000

Amount representing the idle assets accumulated depreciation as of the reporting date.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Amount representing idle assets property, plant and equipment as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ppc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount representing net idle assets of property plant and equipment as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppc_IdledAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Namespace Prefix:	ppc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount classified as assets attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of, expected to be disposed of within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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- Definition

The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

Amount of reclassification, impairment, donation, or other change to long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230

+ Details

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