CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2018	Jun. 25, 2017	Jul. 01, 2018	Jun. 25, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,836,713	$ 2,752,286	$ 5,583,391	$ 5,231,626
Cost of sales	2,562,491	2,277,454	5,021,504	4,500,410
Gross profit	274,222	474,832	561,887	731,216
Selling, general and administrative expense	87,975	92,148	173,258	181,808
Administrative restructuring charges	1,135	4,349	1,924	4,349
Operating income	185,112	378,335	386,705	545,059
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	40,267	22,567	90,567	41,679
Interest income	(4,834)	(1,104)	(6,424)	(1,472)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	5,630	(2,303)	3,909	(1,612)
Miscellaneous, net	(817)	(1,272)	(2,434)	(4,115)
Income before income taxes	144,866	360,447	301,087	510,579
Income tax expense	38,522	115,256	75,519	164,650
Net income	106,344	245,191	225,568	345,929
Less: Net income from Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	0	11,118	0	17,393
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(197)	432	(391)	974
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 106,541	$ 233,641	$ 225,959	$ 327,562
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	248,981	248,753	248,909	248,722
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	76	220	116	228
Diluted (in shares)	249,057	248,973	249,025	248,950
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.94	$ 0.91	$ 1.32
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.94	$ 0.91	$ 1.32