v2.4.0.8

Bank indebtedness and Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified |  |  | 5 Months Ended | 7 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 7 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 11 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended |  |  | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 7 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 7 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended |  |
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Dec. 28, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 29, 2012 USD ($) | May 18, 2012 Opta Minerals Inc [Member] | Jul. 24, 2012 Opta Minerals Inc [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Opta Minerals Inc [Member] | Jul. 24, 2012 Opta Minerals Inc [Member] Cad Line Of Credit [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Opta Minerals Inc [Member] Maximum [Member] | Oct. 31, 2013 Opta Minerals Inc [Member] Maximum [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Opta Minerals Inc [Member] Minimum [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 29, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] USD ($) | Jul. 18, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Equipment [Member] | Mar. 26, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Equipment [Member] EUR (€) | Jun. 18, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Equipment [Member] USD ($) | Jun. 18, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Equipment [Member] EUR (€) | Dec. 29, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Equipment [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 29, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Equipment [Member] EUR (€) | May 22, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] Bulgaria [Member] EUR (€) | Apr. 30, 2014 Organic Corporation [Member] Bulgaria [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] Bulgaria [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 28, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] Bulgaria [Member] EUR (€) | Oct. 01, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Lease [Member] EUR (€) | Dec. 28, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Lease [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 28, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Lease [Member] EUR (€) | Dec. 29, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Lease [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 29, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] Cocoa Lease [Member] EUR (€) | Sep. 25, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] European Revolving Credit Facility [Member] EUR (€) | Jan. 06, 2014 Organic Corporation [Member] European Revolving Credit Facility [Member] EUR (€) | Dec. 28, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] European Revolving Credit Facility [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 28, 2013 Organic Corporation [Member] European Revolving Credit Facility [Member] EUR (€) | Dec. 29, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] European Revolving Credit Facility [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 29, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] European Revolving Credit Facility [Member] EUR (€) | Sep. 25, 2012 Organic Corporation [Member] Pre Settlement Facility [Member] EUR (€) | Jul. 27, 2012 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] | Jul. 27, 2012 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] Cad Line Of Credit [Member] CAD | Dec. 28, 2013 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] U S Line Of Credit [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 29, 2012 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] U S Line Of Credit [Member] USD ($) | Jul. 27, 2012 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] U S Line Of Credit [Member] USD ($) | Jul. 27, 2012 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] Accordion Option [Member] USD ($) | Dec. 28, 2013 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] Maximum [Member] U S Line Of Credit [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Syndicate Lending Group [Member] Minimum [Member] U S Line Of Credit [Member] | Nov. 22, 2013 Non Revolving Term Credit Facility [Member] Opta Minerals Inc [Member] | Jul. 24, 2012 Non Revolving Term Credit Facility [Member] Opta Minerals Inc [Member] CAD | Oct. 31, 2013 Revolving Acquisition Facility [Member] Opta Minerals Inc [Member] Cad Line Of Credit [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Revolving Acquisition Facility [Member] Opta Minerals Inc [Member] Cad Line Of Credit [Member] CAD | Jul. 24, 2012 Revolving Acquisition Facility [Member] Opta Minerals Inc [Member] Cad Line Of Credit [Member] CAD | Sep. 25, 2012 Revolving Acquisition Facility [Member] Organic Corporation [Member] Maximum [Member] | Sep. 25, 2012 Revolving Acquisition Facility [Member] Organic Corporation [Member] Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility, Initiation Date |  |  | May 18, 2012 | Jul. 24, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Mar. 26, 2012 |  |  |  |  | May 22, 2013 |  |  |  | Oct. 01, 2012 |  |  |  |  | Sep. 25, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Jul. 27, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Nov. 22, 2013 |  | Oct. 31, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2013 |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | € 4,990 |  |  |  |  | € 4,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | € 45,000 | € 51,000 |  |  |  |  | € 3,000 |  |  | 10,000 |  |  | $ 165,000 | $ 50,000 |  |  |  | 52,500 |  | 20,000 | 15,000 |  |
Debt Instrument Variable Rate Portion |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.17% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Jul. 18, 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Apr. 30, 2014 |  |  | Oct. 01, 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Jul. 27, 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Aug. 14, 2014 |  |  |
Line Of Credit Facility Collateral |  |  |  |  |  | The credit facilities are collateralized by a first priority security interest on substantially all of the assets of Opta Minerals, and are without recourse to SunOpta Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | The facilities are collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding Opta Minerals and The Organic Corporation (“TOC”). |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding | 141,853 | 131,061 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 61,892 | 44,611 |  |  | 6,495 | 4,990 | 4,616 | 3,493 |  |  | 3,276 | 2,385 |  | 5,829 | 4,242 | 6,403 | 4,845 |  |  | 58,616 | 42,661 | 39,995 | 30,262 |  |  |  |  | 64,382 | 75,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | quarterly |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 73 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,312 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% | 3.50% | 2.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.50% | 1.75% |  |  |  |  |  | 1.85% | 1.75%
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis |  |  |  |  | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate |  |  |  |  | 5.52% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.80% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.17% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | May 18, 2017 |  |  |  |  |
Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.75% |  |  |  | 5.90% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Lease Obligations | $ 6,444 | $ 7,219 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | € 4,990 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737 + Details
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- Definition Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Discussion of whether the borrowings under the credit facility are secured or unsecured and, if secured, a description of collateral (for example, accounts receivable less than 120 days old, finished goods inventory). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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