Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 03, 2021	Apr. 03, 2021	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 03, 2021	Jan. 01, 2022
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,650,188	$ 1,198,669		$ 3,016,522	$ 2,245,385
Cost of sales and operating expenses	1,231,507	878,073		2,252,084	1,650,857
Gain on sale of assets	1,055	228		1,444	292
Selling, general and administrative expenses	107,776	99,132		209,808	196,530
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	8,557	0	$ 800	8,557	778
Acquisition and integration costs	5,358	0		9,131	0
Depreciation and amortization	93,113	79,222		172,359	157,756
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	73,680	125,788		145,484	228,013
Operating income	278,612	268,258		511,511	467,769
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	2,272	1,940		3,632	2,552
Total other expense	(28,722)	(17,150)		(46,167)	(35,147)
Income before income taxes	252,162	253,048		468,976	435,174
Segment Assets	8,026,686			8,026,686		$ 6,133,728
Feed Ingredients
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	1,170,347	771,932		2,049,785	1,423,376
Cost of sales and operating expenses	864,306	556,424		1,509,829	1,031,005
Gross Margin	306,041	215,508		539,956	392,371
Gain on sale of assets	(964)	(122)		(1,305)	(261)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	64,863	54,977		121,072	107,597
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	8,557			8,557	0
Acquisition and integration costs	0			0
Depreciation and amortization	68,938	53,971		123,288	108,580
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	0	0		0	0
Operating income	164,647	106,682		288,344	176,455
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	2,272	1,940		3,632	2,552
Segment income/(loss)	166,919	108,622		291,976	179,007
Segment Assets	4,036,660			4,036,660		2,714,528
Food Ingredients
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	369,181	317,031		723,995	615,096
Cost of sales and operating expenses	280,964	238,539		551,276	464,952
Gross Margin	88,217	78,492		172,719	150,144
Gain on sale of assets	(73)	(48)		(82)	7
Selling, general and administrative expenses	22,855	25,542		49,699	50,733
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	0			0	0
Acquisition and integration costs	0			0
Depreciation and amortization	14,449	15,850		29,899	30,733
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	0	0		0	0
Operating income	50,986	37,148		93,203	68,671
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0		0	0
Segment income/(loss)	50,986	37,148		93,203	68,671
Segment Assets	1,189,677			1,189,677		1,205,217
Fuel Ingredients
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	110,660	109,706		242,742	206,913
Cost of sales and operating expenses	86,237	83,110		190,979	154,900
Gross Margin	24,423	26,596		51,763	52,013
Gain on sale of assets	(18)	(58)		(57)	(38)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	4,277	4,474		8,197	9,341
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	0			0	778
Acquisition and integration costs	0			0
Depreciation and amortization	6,936	6,698		13,610	12,853
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	73,680	125,788		145,484	228,013
Operating income	86,908	141,270		175,497	257,092
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0		0	0
Segment income/(loss)	86,908	141,270		175,497	257,092
Segment Assets	2,144,238			2,144,238		1,658,892
Corporate
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0		0	0
Cost of sales and operating expenses	0	0		0	0
Gross Margin	0	0		0	0
Gain on sale of assets	0	0		0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	15,781	14,139		30,840	28,859
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	0			0	0
Acquisition and integration costs	5,358			9,131
Depreciation and amortization	2,790	2,703		5,562	5,590
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	0	0		0	0
Operating income	(23,929)	(16,842)		(45,533)	(34,449)
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0		0	0
Segment income/(loss)	(23,929)	(16,842)		(45,533)	(34,449)
Segment Assets	656,111			656,111		555,091
Total
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	1,650,188	1,198,669		3,016,522	2,245,385
Cost of sales and operating expenses	1,231,507	878,073		2,252,084	1,650,857
Gross Margin	418,681	320,596		764,438	594,528
Gain on sale of assets	(1,055)	(228)		(1,444)	(292)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	107,776	99,132		209,808	196,530
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	8,557			8,557	778
Acquisition and integration costs	5,358			9,131
Depreciation and amortization	93,113	79,222		172,359	157,756
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	73,680	125,788		145,484	228,013
Operating income	278,612	268,258		511,511	467,769
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	2,272	1,940		3,632	2,552
Segment income/(loss)	280,884	$ 270,198		515,143	$ 470,321
Segment Assets	$ 8,026,686			$ 8,026,686		$ 6,133,728