RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Schedule of Related Party Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016	Apr. 01, 2016	Mar. 07, 2016	Mar. 06, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	$ 21,158	$ 46,723	$ 31,616
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	155,408	127,101	163,398
Expenditures paid by related parties	62,222	44,154	48,644
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	9,407	5,393	10,747
Other related party transactions:
Total other related party transactions	(525)	5,558	5,240
Accounts receivable from related parties	1,331	2,951
Accounts payable to related parties	7,269	2,889
Letter of credit fees
Other related party transactions:
Letter of credit fees	0	0	202
Tax sharing agreement
Other related party transactions:
Capital contribution (distribution) under tax sharing agreement	(525)	5,558	5,038
JBS USA Food Company
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	13,843	15,289	16,534
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	117,596	101,685	139,476
Expenditures paid by related parties	62,189	40,313	40,519
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	9,192	5,376	10,586
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	1,236	2,826
Accounts payable to related parties	5,121	440
Letter of credit, terminated				$ 16,500	$ 40,000
Interest paid	200
Goods in transit	1,100
JBS USA Food Company | Letter of credit
Other related party transactions:
Agreed reimbursement of debt, up to						$ 56,500
JBS Five Rivers
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	7,096	31,004	14,126
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	0	44	122
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	21	0	0
JBS Chile Ltda.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	60	178	615
Expenditures paid by related parties	33	0	0
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	0	108
Accounts payable to related parties	6	0
J&F Investimentos Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	0	104	69
Combo, Mercado de Congelados
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	159	0	0
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	79	0
JBS S.A.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	1,123	0	0
Expenditures paid by related parties	0	3,777	8,125
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	170	5	86
Seara International Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	0	104	4
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	11,236	2,746
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	45	0	72
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	16	15
JBS Toledo NV
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	0	0	143
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	445	231	123
Other related party transactions:
Accounts payable to related parties	0	39
Rigamonti Salumificio S.P.A.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	0	0	3
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	0	15
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	0	3
Seara Meats B.V.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	36,223	13,949	21,038
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	12	0
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	0	2
Accounts payable to related parties	2,142	2,410
Seara Alimentos
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenditures paid by related parties	$ 0	$ 64	$ 0