Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			7 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 boe	Jan. 01, 2011	Jan. 02, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Jan. 21, 2011 Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Jan. 21, 2011 Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC Joint Venture [Member] Valero Energy Corporation [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint Venture Potential Barrels Of Fuel Per Day	9,300
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage						50.00%	50.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Term				14 years
Term loan facility				$ 221,300,000	$ 221,300,000
Equity method investment committed contribution amount				93,200,000	93,200,000
Equity method investment estimated aggregate cost of completion of facility				407,700,000	407,700,000
Equity Method Investment Percentage Required to Pay for Cost Overruns				50.00%	50.00%
Investment in the joint venture	21,733,000	0		21,700,000	21,700,000
Loss from equity method investments	$ 1,572,000	$ 0	$ 0		$ 1,600,000