v2.4.0.8

Commitments and contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 28, 2013 | Dec. 29, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 28, 2013 SunOpta Foods [Member] | Dec. 29, 2012 SunOpta Foods [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Purchase Commitment [Member] SunOpta Foods [Member] | Dec. 29, 2012 Purchase Commitment [Member] SunOpta Foods [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Purchase Commitment [Member] Consumer Products [Member] | Dec. 29, 2012 Purchase Commitment [Member] Consumer Products [Member] | Jun. 18, 2013 Colorado Sun Oil Processing [Member] | Dec. 28, 2013 Colorado Sun Oil Processing [Member] | Jul. 13, 2012 Colorado Sun Oil Processing [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Lawsuit Filing Date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2010-03-16 |
Loss Contingency, Name of Defendant |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | SunOpta Grains and Foods Inc. |
Loss Contingency, Name of Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Colorado Mills |
Loss Contingency Judgement Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,816 |
Litigation Settlement Accrued Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 430 |
Loss Contingency Judgement Date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2013-06-18 | 2012-01-04 |
Loss Contingency Bond Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,875
Loss Contingency Bond Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 125.00%
Grain Held For Benefit Of Others |  |  |  | 3,112 | 6,879 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase Commitment, Remaining Minimum Amount Committed |  |  |  |  |  | 66,527 | 70,295 | 17,466 | 12,384 |  |  |
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount | 3,944 | 4,998 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Minimum Rentals | $ 12,091 | $ 10,704 | $ 10,211 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition The Company is liable for any deficiencies of grade or shortage of quantity that may arise. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the accrued interest on the gross amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation occurring during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the monetary amount of the bond stated as a percentage of the judgement amount. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the gross amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation occurring during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition States the date the complaint was formally filed in a court of law, in arbitration or mediation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
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- Definition Identifies the named defendant in a lawsuit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
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- Definition The effective date of a duly executed litigation settlement agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the payments that the lessee is obligated to make or can be required to make in connection with a property under the terms of an agreement classified as an operating lease, excluding contingent rentals and a guarantee by the lessee of the lessor's debt and the lessee's obligation to pay (apart from the rental payments) executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 13 -Paragraph 122 -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 840 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41499-112717 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph c -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 40 -Subparagraph (Note 3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584154&loc=d3e38371-112697 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7661868&loc=d3e34039-112682 + Details
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- Definition The floor amount as of the balance sheet date that the entity must expend to satisfy the terms of disclosed arrangements (excluding long-term commitments) in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services from one or more suppliers, other than under a long-term purchase commitment or an unconditional purchase obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 25 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 19 -Article 7 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 17 -Article 9 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a)(19)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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