Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jul. 01, 2017	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Oct. 01, 2016	Jul. 02, 2016	Apr. 02, 2016	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 02, 2016
Net Sales	$ 952,549	$ 936,262	$ 894,930	$ 878,510	$ 885,758	$ 852,018	$ 875,777	$ 778,375	$ 3,662,251	$ 3,391,928	$ 3,391,255
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses									2,875,851	2,635,547	2,654,025
Selling, general and administrative expense									347,487	314,005	316,383
Depreciation and amortization									302,100	289,908	269,904
Acquisition and integration costs									0	401	8,299
Total costs and expenses									3,525,438	3,239,861	3,248,611
Operating income	35,026	33,310	37,063	31,414	35,380	35,528	54,467	26,692	136,813	152,067	142,644
Other expense:
Interest expense									(88,926)	(94,187)	(105,530)
Foreign currency losses									(6,898)	(1,854)	(4,911)
Other expense, net									(5,293)	(3,866)	(6,839)
Total other expense									(101,117)	(99,907)	(117,280)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries									28,504	70,379	73,416
Income from operations before income taxes	21,934	14,980	18,070	9,216	47,893	28,146	41,974	4,526	64,200	122,539	98,780
Income tax expense/(benefit)									(69,154)	15,315	13,501
Net income	106,944	8,684	10,328	7,398	41,680	28,890	33,991	2,663	133,354	107,224	85,279
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,215)	(923)	(1,179)	(1,569)	(1,139)	(196)	(1,992)	(1,584)	(4,886)	(4,911)	(6,748)
Net income attributable to Darling	$ 105,729	$ 7,761	$ 9,149	$ 5,829	$ 40,541	$ 28,694	$ 31,999	$ 1,079	$ 128,468	$ 102,313	$ 78,531
Net income per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ 0.04	$ 0.25	$ 0.17	$ 0.19	$ 0.01	$ 0.78	$ 0.62	$ 0.48
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.63	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.04	$ 0.25	$ 0.17	$ 0.19	$ 0.01	$ 0.77	$ 0.62	$ 0.48