Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 27, 2025	Dec. 28, 2024
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 91,494	$ 75,973
Restricted cash	15,559	37,579
Inventories	622,315	576,837
Prepaid expenses	89,030	81,286
Income taxes refundable	22,854	35,063
Other current assets	40,201	42,114
Total current assets	1,502,678	1,439,436
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $2,937,309 at September 27, 2025 and $2,579,770 at December 28, 2024	2,786,142	2,713,669
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization of $610,173 at September 27, 2025 and $567,135 at December 28, 2024	881,448	898,412
Goodwill	2,499,229	2,322,593
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	2,324,936	2,263,709
Operating lease right-of-use assets	232,337	210,692
Other assets	209,766	199,594
Deferred income taxes	15,803	22,368
Total assets	10,452,339	10,070,473
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	76,911	133,020
Accounts payable, principally trade	374,801	348,705
Income taxes payable	15,507	9,723
Current operating lease liabilities	67,237	62,761
Accrued expenses	475,494	489,295
Total current liabilities	1,009,950	1,043,504
Long-term debt, net of current portion	4,026,727	3,908,978
Long-term operating lease liabilities	169,447	152,327
Other non-current liabilities	206,193	208,350
Deferred income taxes	270,892	293,022
Total liabilities	5,683,209	5,606,181
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 175,625,898 and 174,965,834 shares issued at September 27, 2025 and December 28, 2024, respectively	1,756	1,750
Additional paid-in capital	1,732,760	1,720,877
Treasury stock, at cost; 17,439,816 and 16,068,364 shares at        September 27, 2025 and December 28, 2024, respectively	(718,928)	(672,710)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(344,742)	(684,241)
Retained earnings	4,017,998	4,012,134
Total Darling's stockholders’ equity	4,688,844	4,377,810
Noncontrolling interests	80,286	86,482
Total stockholders' equity	4,769,130	4,464,292
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	10,452,339	10,070,473
Nonrelated Party
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	615,241	581,108
Related Party
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	$ 5,984	$ 9,476