Represents the acquisition accounting adjustment on inventory sold during the reporting period

No definition available.

Name:	stkl_AcquisitionAccountingAdjustmentOnInventorySold
Namespace Prefix:	stkl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to accounts payable and accrued expenses of the acquired entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

For inventories acquired in a business combination, this element represents the acquisition accounting adjustment to record inventories at estimated fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	stkl_BusinessCombinationInventoryAdjustmentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	stkl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	stkl_BusinessCombinationNarrativeDisclosureForSunriseAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	stkl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For property, plant and equipment acquired in a business combination, this element represents the acquisition accounting adjustment to record property, plant and equipment at estimated fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	stkl_BusinessCombinationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAdjustmentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	stkl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

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

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

For receivables acquired in a business combination, excluding certain loans and debt securities acquired in a transfer (as defined), this element represents the best estimate at the acquisition date of the contractual cash flows not expected to be collected, by major class of receivable, such as loans, direct finance leases (as defined), and any other class of receivables.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquiredReceivablesEstimatedUncollectible
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For receivables acquired in a business combination, excluding certain loans and debt securities acquired in a transfer (as defined), this element represents the gross contractual amounts receivable, by major class of receivable, such as loans, direct finance leases (as defined), and any other class of receivables.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the fair value of the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionOfLessThan100PercentNoncontrollingInterestFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, acquired at the acquisition date. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients for goods or services, including trade receivables, that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, and amounts due from others, including related parties expected to be converted to cash, sold or exchanged within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of inventory recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 37
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744172&loc=d3e2207-128464

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the identifiable assets acquired in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 37
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744172&loc=d3e2207-128464

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of property, plant, and equipment recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stkl_SunriseGrowersIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis=us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=stkl_MexicanSubsidiaryMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Business Acquisition (Citrusource, Niagara, Sunrise - Sunrise Holdings Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Oct. 09, 2015	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 241,690		$ 241,690	$ 29,082	$ 30,668
Business Combination, Narrative Disclosure for Sunrise [Abstract]
Business Combination, Inventory Adjustment Fair Value		$ 19,000
Acquisition accounting adjustment on inventory sold			$ 4,000	$ 0	$ 0
Sunrise Growers Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		1,728
Accounts receivable		26,090
Inventories		124,829
Income taxes recoverable		12,025
Property, plant and equipment		46,068
Intangible Assets		170,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(24,169)
Total consideration/Net identifiable assets acquired (liabilities assumed)		277,740
Goodwill		196,709
Non-controlling interest		(1,781)
Business Combination, Acquired Receivables [Abstract]
Gross amount of receivables acquired		26,200
Estimated Uncollectible		200
Business Combination, Narrative Disclosure for Sunrise [Abstract]
Acquisition accounting adjustment on inventory sold	$ 4,000
Business Combination, Property, Plant and Equipment Adjustment Fair Value		$ 3,700
Sunrise Growers Inc [Member] \| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Combination, Narrative Disclosure for Sunrise [Abstract]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		23 years
Sunrise Growers Inc [Member] \| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] \| Income Approach Valuation Technique [Member]
Business Combination, Narrative Disclosure for Sunrise [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Discount Rate		12.00%
Sunrise Growers Inc [Member] \| Mexican Subsidiary [Member]
Business Combination, Narrative Disclosure for Sunrise [Abstract]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent		75.00%