Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,924	$ 3,228
Accounts receivable	143,420	125,152
Inventories	334,481	354,978
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	38,379	33,213
Current income taxes recoverable	9,078	12,006
Assets, Current, Total	528,282	528,577
Property, Plant and Equipment	164,518	163,624
Goodwill	109,729	109,533
Intangible Assets	169,317	172,059
Deferred income taxes	363	363
Other assets	7,678	8,017
Assets, Total	979,887	982,173
Current liabilities
Bank indebtedness	236,637	234,090
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	162,682	161,364
Customer and other deposits	3,499	4,901
Income taxes payable	1,854	1,351
Other current liabilities	628	818
Current portion of long-term debt	2,190	2,228
Current portion of long-term liabilities	8,904	5,300
Liabilities, Current, Total	416,394	410,052
Long-term debt	225,570	225,805
Long-term liabilities	2,367	8,352
Deferred income taxes	14,867	15,850
Liabilities, Total	659,198	660,059
Preferred shares of a subsidiary company held for sale	80,460	80,193
Sunopta Inc Shareholders Equity [Abstract]
Common Stock, Value, Outstanding	309,575	308,899
Additional paid in capital	29,650	28,006
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(95,367)	(89,291)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,225)	(7,268)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total	238,633	240,346
Non-controlling interest	1,596	1,575
Total Equity	240,229	241,921
Liabilities and Equity, Total	$ 979,887	$ 982,173