Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2022	Apr. 03, 2021	Jan. 01, 2022
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,366,334	$ 1,046,716
Cost of sales and operating expenses	1,020,577	772,784
Gain on sale of assets	389	64
Selling, general and administrative expenses	102,032	97,398
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	0	778
Acquisition and integration costs	3,773	0
Depreciation and amortization	79,246	78,534
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	71,804	102,225
Operating income	232,899	199,511
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,360	612
Total other expense	(17,445)	(17,997)
Income before income taxes	216,814	182,126
Segment Assets	6,615,616		$ 6,133,728
Feed Ingredients
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	879,438	651,444
Cost of sales and operating expenses	645,523	474,581
Gross Margin	233,915	176,863
Gain on sale of assets	(341)	(139)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	56,209	52,620
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		0
Acquisition and integration costs	0
Depreciation and amortization	54,350	54,609
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	0	0
Operating income	123,697	69,773
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,360	612
Segment income/(loss)	125,057	70,385
Segment Assets	2,751,078		2,714,528
Food Ingredients
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	354,814	298,065
Cost of sales and operating expenses	270,312	226,413
Gross Margin	84,502	71,652
Gain on sale of assets	(9)	55
Selling, general and administrative expenses	26,844	25,191
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		0
Acquisition and integration costs	0
Depreciation and amortization	15,450	14,883
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	0	0
Operating income	42,217	31,523
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Segment income/(loss)	42,217	31,523
Segment Assets	1,262,887		1,205,217
Fuel Ingredients
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	132,082	97,207
Cost of sales and operating expenses	104,742	71,790
Gross Margin	27,340	25,417
Gain on sale of assets	(39)	20
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3,920	4,867
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		778
Acquisition and integration costs	0
Depreciation and amortization	6,674	6,155
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	71,804	102,225
Operating income	88,589	115,822
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Segment income/(loss)	88,589	115,822
Segment Assets	1,982,190		1,658,892
Corporate
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0
Cost of sales and operating expenses	0	0
Gross Margin	0	0
Gain on sale of assets	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	15,059	14,720
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		0
Acquisition and integration costs	3,773
Depreciation and amortization	2,772	2,887
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	0	0
Operating income	(21,604)	(17,607)
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Segment income/(loss)	(21,604)	(17,607)
Segment Assets	619,461		555,091
Total
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	1,366,334	1,046,716
Cost of sales and operating expenses	1,020,577	772,784
Gross Margin	345,757	273,932
Gain on sale of assets	(389)	(64)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	102,032	97,398
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		778
Acquisition and integration costs	3,773
Depreciation and amortization	79,246	78,534
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	71,804	102,225
Operating income	232,899	199,511
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,360	612
Segment income/(loss)	234,259	$ 200,123
Segment Assets	$ 6,615,616		$ 6,133,728