v2.4.0.8
Segment reporting (Table) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 29, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues $ 1,181,929 $ 1,091,064 $ 1,019,871
Segment operating income (loss) 47,472 52,973 42,535
Other expense (income), net 7,049 2,194 (2,832)
Goodwill impairment 3,552 0 0
Interest Expense 7,860 9,333 8,839
Impairment of investments 21,495 0 0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (874) 35,445 27,762
Assets 705,935 707,310  
Property, Plant and Equipment 158,073 140,579  
Goodwill 53,673 57,414 49,387
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditures for Additions to Long-Lived Assets 32,091 24,548 19,914
US
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues 903,349 851,172 767,887
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 13,462 15,416 17,136
Property, Plant and Equipment 121,083 114,614  
CA
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues 61,264 59,613 48,771
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (15,945) 9,070 (1,559)
Property, Plant and Equipment 11,896 13,326  
Europe And Other [Member]
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues 217,316 180,279 203,213
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 1,609 10,959 12,185
Property, Plant and Equipment 25,094 12,639  
SunOpta Foods [Member]
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues 1,040,494 964,413 926,751
Segment operating income (loss) 40,741 42,911 34,958
Assets 537,271 515,175  
Amortization 15,341 13,677 12,827
Goodwill 42,214 42,497  
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditures for Additions to Long-Lived Assets 28,417 21,232 14,377
Opta Minerals Inc Segment [Member]
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues 141,435 126,651 93,120
Segment operating income (loss) 6,731 10,062 7,577
Assets 137,106 141,418  
Amortization 6,257 5,731 4,207
Goodwill 11,459 14,917  
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditures for Additions to Long-Lived Assets 3,100 2,504 4,901
Corporate Segment [Member]
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Assets 31,558 50,717  
Amortization 801 818 775
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditures for Additions to Long-Lived Assets 574 812 636
Global Sourcing and Supply [Member]
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues 529,888 499,454 490,611
Segment operating income (loss) 7,622 14,137 11,480
Assets 304,826 307,372  
Amortization 6,091 5,115 4,867
Goodwill 27,822 27,533  
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditures for Additions to Long-Lived Assets 13,362 10,227 3,105
Value Added Ingredients [Member]
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues 131,157 123,551 133,429
Segment operating income (loss) 7,895 7,975 10,205
Assets 64,855 61,098  
Amortization 2,775 2,613 2,454
Goodwill 12,030 12,030  
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditures for Additions to Long-Lived Assets 3,666 2,114 1,985
Consumer Products [Member]
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Revenues 379,449 341,408 302,711
Segment operating income (loss) 25,224 20,799 13,273
Assets 167,590 146,705  
Amortization 6,475 5,949 5,506
Goodwill 2,362 2,934  
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditures for Additions to Long-Lived Assets 11,389 8,891 9,287
Segment Total [Member]
      
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]      
Assets 674,377 656,593  
Amortization 21,598 19,408 17,034
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditures for Additions to Long-Lived Assets $ 31,517 $ 23,736 $ 19,278