CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 10,937,784	$ 10,767,863	$ 9,878,564
Cost of sales	10,094,308	9,296,249	8,774,581
Gross profit	843,476	1,471,614	1,103,983
Selling, general and administrative expense	343,025	389,517	310,832
Administrative restructuring charges	4,765	9,775	1,069
Operating income	495,686	1,072,322	792,082
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	162,812	107,183	75,636
Interest income	(13,811)	(7,730)	(2,301)
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	17,160	(2,659)	4,055
Miscellaneous, net	(2,702)	(6,538)	(9,344)
Income before income taxes	332,227	982,066	724,036
Income tax expense	85,423	263,899	243,919
Net income	246,804	718,167	480,117
Less: Net income from Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	0	23,486	40,388
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,141)	102	(803)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 247,945	$ 694,579	$ 440,532
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	248,945	248,738	253,669
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	204	233	457
Diluted (in shares)	249,149	248,971	254,126
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 2.79	$ 1.74
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 2.79	$ 1.73