QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2015	Sep. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,960,780	$ 2,112,529	$ 2,053,876	$ 2,052,919	$ 2,110,435	$ 2,268,048	$ 2,186,817	$ 2,018,065	$ 2,047,285	$ 2,142,816	$ 2,184,118	$ 2,036,929	$ 8,180,104	$ 8,583,365	$ 8,411,148
Gross profit	160,693	284,544	432,020	377,120	379,148	450,265	349,476	215,106	207,925	236,573	282,507	118,434	1,254,377	1,393,995	845,439
Net income attributable to PPC common stockholders	$ 63,148	$ 137,062	$ 241,489	$ 204,215	$ 167,188	$ 255,983	$ 190,360	$ 98,117	$ 143,352	$ 160,917	$ 190,704	$ 54,582	$ 645,914	$ 711,648	$ 549,555
Net income per share amounts - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.53	$ 0.93	$ 0.79	$ 0.65	$ 0.99	$ 0.74	$ 0.38					$ 2.50	$ 2.75	$ 2.12
Net income per share amounts - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.53	$ 0.93	$ 0.79	$ 0.64	$ 0.99	$ 0.73	$ 0.38					$ 2.50	$ 2.74	2.12
Net income per share amounts - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)									$ 0.55	$ 0.62	$ 0.74	$ 0.21			$ 2.12
Number of days in quarter	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	364 days	364 days	364 days
Impairment charges, plants held for sale			$ 4,800
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total exit or disposal costs									$ 500
Asset impairment charges									$ 500				$ 4,813	$ 0	$ 4,004
Tyson Mexico [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales of acquiree since acquisition date	$ 121,700	$ 128,900											250,600
Net loss of acquiree since acquisition date	$ 10,800	$ 2,900											$ (13,700)