Net Income Per Share - Computation of Basic Net Income Per Share and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Jan. 03, 2016	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Numerator for basic and diluted net income per Common Stock and Class B Common Stock share:
Net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated	$ 4,291	$ 25,553	$ 26,934	$ 2,224	$ 2,990	$ 12,132	$ 13,783	$ 2,449	$ 59,002	$ 31,354	$ 27,675
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock									7,141	7,141	7,141
Total undistributed earnings – basic									49,715	22,088	18,430
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									49,715	22,088	18,430
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share									45,364	24,162	21,375
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share									$ 59,002	$ 31,354	$ 27,675
Denominator for basic net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding									7,141	7,141	7,141
Denominator for diluted net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution									9,328	9,307	9,286
Basic net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock	$ 0.46	$ 2.75	$ 2.90	$ 0.24	$ 0.32	$ 1.31	$ 1.49	$ 0.26	$ 6.35	$ 3.38	$ 2.99
Diluted net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock	0.46	2.74	2.89	0.24	0.32	1.30	1.48	0.26	$ 6.33	$ 3.37	$ 2.98
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Dividends on Common Stock									$ 2,146	$ 2,125	$ 2,104
Total undistributed earnings – basic									11,492	5,067	4,196
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									11,656	5,140	4,257
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share									13,638	7,192	6,300
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:
Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share									$ 13,802	$ 7,265	$ 6,361
Denominator for basic net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding									2,147	2,126	2,105
Denominator for diluted net income per common share:
Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution									2,187	2,166	2,145
Basic net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock	0.46	2.75	2.90	0.24	0.32	1.31	1.49	0.26	$ 6.35	$ 3.38	$ 2.99
Diluted net income per share based on net income attributable to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:
Common Stock	$ 0.46	$ 2.73	$ 2.88	$ 0.23	$ 0.32	$ 1.30	$ 1.48	$ 0.26	$ 6.31	$ 3.35	$ 2.97
Common Stock [Member]
Less dividends:
Total undistributed earnings – basic									$ 38,223	$ 17,021	$ 14,234
Total undistributed earnings - diluted									$ 38,059	$ 16,948	$ 14,173