No definition available.

Name:	stkl_ConsultingAgreementContractAmount
Namespace Prefix:	stkl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Costs of sales and operating expenses for the period incurred from transactions with related parties.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Receivables to be collected from (obligations owed to) related parties, net as of the balance sheet date where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionDueFromToRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchases during the period (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionPurchasesFromRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Related Parties
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16382449

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=stkl_AgronomyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=stkl_MinorityPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=stkl_TraboccaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=stkl_FormerChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	stkl_FuturePaymentScheduleAxis=stkl_YearOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	stkl_FuturePaymentScheduleAxis=stkl_YearTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	stkl_FuturePaymentScheduleAxis=stkl_YearThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=stkl_RentFromAffiliatedCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=stkl_ConsultingContractFormerExecutiveOfficerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Related party transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	$ 2,340	$ 1,106	$ 4,447
Agronomy [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties	906	276	412
Minority Partner [Member] \| Trabocca [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties	1,395	1,274	879
Former Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Due from (to) Related Party	93	114	163
Former Chief Executive Officer [Member] \| January 3, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Consulting Agreement, Contract Amount	300
Former Chief Executive Officer [Member] \| January 2, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Consulting Agreement, Contract Amount	200
Former Chief Executive Officer [Member] \| December 31, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Consulting Agreement, Contract Amount	100
Rent From An Affiliated Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Costs and Expenses, Related Party	1,002	396	475
Consulting Contract, Former Executive Officer [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Costs and Expenses, Related Party	$ 150	$ 275	$ 0