Summary of the Results of Operations for Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2011		Jul. 03, 2010		Jul. 02, 2011		Jul. 03, 2010		Jan. 01, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 210,855	[1]	$ 173,412	[1]	$ 393,427	[1]	$ 334,095	[1]
Income from operations	35,248	[1]	29,729	[1]	66,612	[1]	56,164	[1]
Depreciation and amortization expense	5,286	[1]	3,891	[1]	9,333	[1]	7,807	[1]
Net capital expenditures	1,448	[1]	1,004	[1]	3,151	[1]	2,405	[1]
Total assets	1,019,086	[1]	823,857	[1]	1,019,086	[1]	823,857	[1]	873,172
Long-lived assets	707,708	[1]	590,490	[1]	707,708	[1]	590,490	[1]
Commercial Foodservice Equipment Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	178,271	[1]	153,418	[1]	332,004	[1]	293,955	[1]
Income from operations	43,408	[1]	37,705	[1]	79,243	[1]	69,040	[1]
Depreciation and amortization expense	4,568	[1]	3,381	[1]	7,891	[1]	6,783	[1]
Net capital expenditures	1,261	[1]	753	[1]	2,794	[1]	2,092	[1]
Total assets	857,058	[1]	702,588	[1]	857,058	[1]	702,588	[1]
Long-lived assets	617,454	[1]	519,969	[1]	617,454	[1]	519,969	[1]
Food Processing Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	32,584	[1]	19,994	[1]	61,423	[1]	40,140	[1]
Income from operations	6,435	[1]	3,664	[1]	11,222	[1]	8,036	[1]
Depreciation and amortization expense	550	[1]	354	[1]	1,101	[1]	712	[1]
Net capital expenditures	113	[1]	40	[1]	139	[1]	102	[1]
Total assets	98,793	[1]	74,070	[1]	98,793	[1]	74,070	[1]
Long-lived assets	56,659	[1]	43,106	[1]	56,659	[1]	43,106	[1]
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	(14,595)	[1],[2]	(11,640)	[1],[2]	(23,853)	[1],[2]	(20,912)	[1],[2]
Depreciation and amortization expense	168	[1],[2]	156	[1],[2]	341	[1],[2]	312	[1],[2]
Net capital expenditures	74	[1],[2]	211	[1],[2]	218	[1],[2]	211	[1],[2]
Total assets	63,235	[1],[2]	47,199	[1],[2]	63,235	[1],[2]	47,199	[1],[2]
Long-lived assets	$ 33,595	[1],[2]	$ 27,415	[1],[2]	$ 33,595	[1],[2]	$ 27,415	[1],[2]

[1] Non-operating expenses are not allocated to the operating segments. Non-operating expenses consist of interest expense and deferred financing amortization, foreign exchange gains and losses and other income and expense items outside of income from operations.

[2] Includes corporate and other general company assets and operations.