Segment reporting (Table) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Jan. 02, 2016
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment revenues from external customers	$ 1,279,593		$ 1,346,731		$ 1,145,134
Segment operating income (loss)	31,856		27,993		31,392
Other expense, net	23,660		28,292		12,151
Goodwill impairment	115,000		17,540		0
Interest expense, net	32,504		43,275		15,669
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(170,397)		(74,361)		(6,522)
Assets	982,173		1,129,558
Property, Plant and Equipment	163,624		162,239
Amortization	32,824		34,150		21,007
Goodwill	109,533		223,611		241,690
Capital expenditures	41,139		22,560		31,186
US
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment revenues from external customers	1,001,417		1,084,199		893,637
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(178,033)		(93,941)		(20,028)
Property, Plant and Equipment	128,367		133,335
CA
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment revenues from external customers	27,929		30,959		33,291
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(3,286)		9,811		6,038
Property, Plant and Equipment	3,094		3,346
Europe And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment revenues from external customers	250,247		231,573		218,206
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	10,922		9,769		7,468
Property, Plant and Equipment	32,163		25,558
Global Ingredients [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment revenues from external customers	550,527		574,295		610,890
Segment operating income (loss)	21,951		26,787		28,184
Goodwill impairment	0		17,540	[1]
Assets	347,971		304,149
Amortization	6,464		6,406		6,352
Goodwill	9,177		8,255		25,990
Capital expenditures	9,060		4,767		5,872
Consumer Products [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment revenues from external customers	729,066		772,436		534,244
Segment operating income (loss)	9,905		1,206		3,208
Goodwill impairment	115,000	[2]	0
Assets	588,542		776,405
Amortization	23,666		25,532		12,814
Goodwill	100,356		215,356		215,700
Capital expenditures	27,054		14,586		21,529
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment operating income (loss)	(31,089)		(13,247)		(10,094)
Assets	45,660		49,004
Amortization	2,694		2,212		1,841
Capital expenditures	5,025		3,207		3,785
Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	936,513		1,080,554
Amortization	30,130		31,938		19,166
Capital expenditures	36,114		19,353		$ 27,401
Assets Held for Sale [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Based on the results of the annual impairment test performed for the year ended December 31, 2016 , the Company determined that the carrying value of the goodwill associated with the Sunflower reporting unit of the Raw Material Sourcing and Supply operating segment exceeded its implied fair value, reflecting lower anticipated sales demand and higher ex pected production and capital costs as a result of the sunflower recall. As a result, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $17.5 mi llion in 2016.

[2] Based on the results of the annual impairment test performed for the year ended December 30, 2017 , the Company determined that the carrying value of the Healthy Fruit reporting unit of the Consumer Products operating segment exceeded its fair value, reflecting lower-than-expected sales and operating performance for frozen fruit since the Sunr ise Acquisition, and uncertainty of future sales due to lost customer volumes and declining consumer consumption trends in 2017. As a result, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $115.0 million in 2017.