Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 29, 2012 Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Sep. 29, 2012 Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC Joint Venture [Member] boe	Oct. 01, 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]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage									50.00%	50.00%
Joint Venture Potential Barrels Of Fuel Per Day							9,300
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%
Joint Venture Estimated Project Scope Changes						9,900,000
Investment in the joint venture	54,424,000		54,424,000		21,733,000	54,400,000	54,400,000
Loss from equity method investments	$ 833,000	$ 170,000	$ 1,725,000	$ 1,344,000			$ 1,700,000	$ 1,300,000