LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS - Schedule of Long-term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands					3 Months Ended
	Dec. 14, 2018	Dec. 03, 2018	Jun. 02, 2018	Jun. 30, 2009	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 30, 2018	Sep. 29, 2017	Mar. 11, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Finance lease obligations					$ 152
Finance lease obligations						$ 3,707
Long-term debt					2,357,655	2,352,605
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt					(27,637)	(30,405)
Long-term debt, less current maturities					2,330,018	2,322,200
Less: Capitalized financing costs					(26,283)	(27,010)
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of capitalized financing costs:					2,303,735	2,295,190
Credit facility | Term note payable at 3.65%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					493,750	500,000
Credit facility | Revolving note payable at 5.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					0	0
Credit facility | Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					14,471	0
Credit facility | Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | LIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate			1.25%
Credit facility | Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate			2.00%
Credit facility | Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					0	2,277
Credit facility | Moy Park Credit Agricole Bank Overdraft with notes payable at EURIBOR plus 1.50%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					0	88
Credit facility | Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE plus 0.95%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					$ 0	0
Credit facility | Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE plus 0.95% | TIIE Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate	1.50%
Senior notes | Senior notes payable, net of premium and discount at 5.75%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.75%			5.75%
Long-term debt					$ 1,002,396	1,002,497
Senior notes | Senior notes payable, net of discount at 5.875%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.875%		5.875%
Long-term debt					$ 843,896	843,717
Credit facility | Credit facility | Term note payable at 3.65%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					3.65%
Credit facility | Credit facility | Revolving note payable at 5.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.25%
Credit facility | Credit facility | Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | LIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate					1.25%
Credit facility | Credit facility | Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate					2.00%
Credit facility | Credit facility | Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8% | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate				0.80%	0.80%
Credit facility | Credit facility | Moy Park Credit Agricole Bank Overdraft with notes payable at EURIBOR plus 1.50%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					$ 0
Credit facility | Credit facility | Moy Park Credit Agricole Bank Overdraft with notes payable at EURIBOR plus 1.50% | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		1.50%			1.50%
Credit facility | Credit facility | Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE plus 0.95% | TIIE Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate					0.95%
Secured loans with payables at weighted average of 3.80%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate					3.80%
Long-term debt					$ 2,990	$ 319