FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 24, 2012

Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]

Schedule Of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values Of Investments In Available For Sale Securities [Table Text Block]

 The asset (liability) amounts recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (carrying amounts) and the estimated fair values of financial instruments at June24,2012and December25,2011consisted of the following:

	June 24, 2012						December 25, 2011
	Carrying			Fair			Carrying			Fair			Note
	Amount			Value			Amount			Value			Reference
	(In thousands)
Short-term investments in available-for-sale
securities	$	156		$	156		$	157		$	157		6
Commodity derivative assets(a):													7
Futures		5,123			5,123			2,870			2,870
Options		2,348			2,348			—			—
Long-term investments in available-for-sale
securities		474			474			497			497		6
Commodity derivative liabilities(b):													7
Futures		(1,353	)		(1,353	)		(2,120	)		(2,120	)
Options		—			—			(603	)		(603	)
Long-term debt and other borrowing
arrangements(c)		(1,230,236	)		(1,261,818	)		(1,423,612	)		(1,421,517	)	10
Note payable to JBS USA		—			—			(50,000	)		(50,077	)	10,14

(a)	Commodity derivative assets are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b)	Commodity derivative liabilities are included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(c)	The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements were estimated by calculating the net present value of future payments for each debt obligation or borrowing by: (i) using a risk-free rate applicable for an instrument with a life similar to the remaining life of each debt obligation or borrowing plus the current estimated credit risk spread for the Company or (ii) using the quoted market price at June24,2012or December25,2011, as applicable.

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

  The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June24,2012:

	Level 1			Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities	$	—		$	156	$	—	$	156
Commodity derivative assets:
Futures		5,123			—		—		5,123
Options		—			2,348		—		2,348
Long-term investments in available-for-sale securities		—			474		—		474
Commodity derivative liabilities:
Futures		(1,353	)		—		—		(1,353	)

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

  The following table presents activity for the twenty-six weeks ended June24,2012and June26,2011, respectively, related to the Company’s investment in a fund-of-funds asset that is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level3inputs:

	Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
	June 24, 2012			June 26, 2011
	(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	59		$	1,190
Included in other comprehensive income		—			51
Sale of securities		(59	)		—
Balance at end of period	$	—		$	1,241