The percentage of ownership of common stock in investee accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Duration of a fiscal period, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Includes, but not limited to, weeks in a year or quarter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	stkl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Year the entity was founded, in CCYY format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Description of business and significant accounting policies (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Basis Of Presentation Fiscal Year End And New Accounting Pronouncements Disclosure [Abstract]
Year Founded		1973
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Fiscal Period Duration	371 days	364 days
Maximum [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life		25 years
Maximum [Member] \| Patents And Trademarks [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life		15 years
Maximum [Member] \| Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life		15 years
Minimum [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life		2 years
Minimum [Member] \| Patents And Trademarks [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life		7 years
Minimum [Member] \| Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life		3 years
Buildings [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life		40 years
Buildings [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life		20 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life		20 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life		10 years
Enterprise Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life		5 years
Office Furniture and Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life		7 years
Office Furniture and Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life		3 years
Vehicles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life		5 years
Opta Minerals Inc [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent		66.00%
Mascoma [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Cost Method Investments Percentage		19.00%