Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Net sales	$ 779,641	$ 874,694
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	598,893	684,521
Selling, general and administrative expenses	81,469	86,631
Acquisition and integration costs	331	5,319
Depreciation and amortization	72,256	66,398
Total costs and expenses	752,949	842,869
Operating income	26,692	31,825
Interest expense	(23,901)	(23,109)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	(2,603)	(2,460)
Other expense, net	(1,305)	(509)
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	5,643	(1,808)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Income before income taxes	4,526	3,939
Income tax expense	1,863	2,115
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,584)	(1,715)
Net income attributable to Darling	1,079	109
Parent [Member]
Net sales	108,371	125,794
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	89,483	103,616
Selling, general and administrative expenses	35,893	33,130
Acquisition and integration costs	0	1,973
Depreciation and amortization	11,425	8,171
Total costs and expenses	136,801	146,890
Operating income	(28,430)	(21,096)
Interest expense	(15,522)	(15,160)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	(31)	(11)
Other expense, net	(3,325)	(1,181)
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(97)	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	28,971	17,449
Income before income taxes	(18,434)	(19,999)
Income tax expense	(19,513)	(20,108)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to Darling	1,079	109
Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	303,765	358,707
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	236,336	284,503
Selling, general and administrative expenses	13,136	14,868
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	26,808	23,599
Total costs and expenses	276,280	322,970
Operating income	27,485	35,737
Interest expense	4,377	4,848
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	165	(304)
Other expense, net	(5)	211
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Income before income taxes	32,022	40,492
Income tax expense	13,181	21,742
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to Darling	18,841	18,750
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net sales	411,037	448,843
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	316,606	355,052
Selling, general and administrative expenses	32,440	38,633
Acquisition and integration costs	331	3,346
Depreciation and amortization	34,023	34,628
Total costs and expenses	383,400	431,659
Operating income	27,637	17,184
Interest expense	(12,756)	(12,797)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	(2,737)	(2,145)
Other expense, net	2,025	461
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	5,740	(1,808)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Income before income taxes	19,909	895
Income tax expense	8,195	481
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,584)	(1,715)
Net income attributable to Darling	10,130	(1,301)
Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(43,532)	(58,650)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	(43,532)	(58,650)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(43,532)	(58,650)
Operating income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	0	0
Other expense, net	0	0
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	(28,971)	(17,449)
Income before income taxes	(28,971)	(17,449)
Income tax expense	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to Darling	$ (28,971)	$ (17,449)