Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements - Additional Information (Details) $ in Millions	Jan. 02, 2016 USD ($)
Prospective Adoption Of New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Decrease in other noncurrent assets, total long term debt and capital lease obligations	$ 3.9
Decrease in current and noncurrent deferred income tax asset and liabilities	$ 37.2

New accounting pronouncement or change in accounting principle retrospective effect of change in current deferred income tax asset and long term deferred income tax liability.

No definition available.

Name:	flo_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleRetrospectiveEffectOfChangeInCurrentDeferredIncomeTaxAssetAndLongTermDeferredIncomeTaxLiability
Namespace Prefix:	flo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant