Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Class B Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Class B Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Class B Common Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Treasury Stock - Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock - Common Stock [Member] Class B Common Stock [Member]	Total Equity of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated [Member]	Total Equity of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated [Member] Class B Common Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 28, 2014	$ 256,943		$ 10,204	$ 2,756	$ 110,860	$ 210,957		$ (89,914)	$ (60,845)	$ (409)	$ 183,609		$ 73,334
Net income	65,044					59,002					59,002		6,042
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	7,507							7,507			7,507
Cash dividends paid Common ($1.00 per share)	(7,141)	$ (2,146)				(7,141)	$ (2,146)				(7,141)	$ (2,146)
Issuance of shares of Class B Common Stock	2,225			21	2,204						2,225
Ending Balance at Jan. 03, 2016	322,432		10,204	2,777	113,064	260,672		(82,407)	(60,845)	(409)	243,056		79,376
Net income	56,663					50,146					50,146		6,517
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10,490)							(10,490)			(10,490)
Cash dividends paid Common ($1.00 per share)	(7,141)	(2,166)				(7,141)	(2,166)				(7,141)	(2,166)
Issuance of shares of Class B Common Stock	3,726			21	3,705						3,726
Ending Balance at Jan. 01, 2017	363,024		10,204	2,798	116,769	301,511		(92,897)	(60,845)	(409)	277,131		85,893
Net income	102,847					96,535					96,535		6,312
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,305)							(1,305)			(1,305)
Cash dividends paid Common ($1.00 per share)	(7,141)	$ (2,187)				(7,141)	$ (2,187)				(7,141)	$ (2,187)
Issuance of shares of Class B Common Stock	3,669			21	3,648						3,669
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 458,907		$ 10,204	$ 2,819	$ 120,417	$ 388,718		$ (94,202)	$ (60,845)	$ (409)	$ 366,702		$ 92,205