Summary of Results of Operations for Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jul. 02, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jul. 02, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 260,040	[1]	$ 210,855	[1]	$ 488,863	[1]	$ 393,427	[1]
Income from operations	45,338	[1]	35,248	[1]	81,998	[1]	66,612	[1]
Depreciation and amortization expense	6,542	[1]	5,286	[1]	13,589	[1]	9,333	[1]
Net capital expenditures	1,513	[1]	1,448	[1]	3,097	[1]	3,151	[1]
Total assets	1,141,014	[1]	1,019,086	[1]	1,141,014	[1]	1,019,086	[1]	1,146,512
Long-lived assets	777,691	[1]	707,708	[1]	777,691	[1]	707,708	[1]
Commercial Foodservice
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	196,546	[1]	178,271	[1]	374,816	[1]	332,004	[1]
Income from operations	49,657	[1]	43,408	[1]	89,403	[1]	79,243	[1]
Depreciation and amortization expense	4,291	[1]	4,568	[1]	9,207	[1]	7,891	[1]
Net capital expenditures	1,025	[1]	1,261	[1]	2,329	[1]	2,794	[1]
Total assets	842,585	[1]	857,058	[1]	842,585	[1]	857,058	[1]
Long-lived assets	608,770	[1]	617,454	[1]	608,770	[1]	617,454	[1]
Food Processing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	63,494	[1]	32,584	[1]	114,047	[1]	61,423	[1]
Income from operations	9,658	[1]	6,435	[1]	15,878	[1]	11,222	[1]
Depreciation and amortization expense	2,021	[1]	550	[1]	3,932	[1]	1,101	[1]
Net capital expenditures	468	[1]	113	[1]	723	[1]	139	[1]
Total assets	239,714	[1]	98,793	[1]	239,714	[1]	98,793	[1]
Long-lived assets	150,561	[1]	56,659	[1]	150,561	[1]	56,659	[1]
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Income from operations	(13,977)	[1],[2]	(14,595)	[1],[2]	(23,283)	[1],[2]	(23,853)	[1],[2]
Depreciation and amortization expense	230	[1],[2]	168	[1],[2]	450	[1],[2]	341	[1],[2]
Net capital expenditures	20	[1],[2]	74	[1],[2]	45	[1],[2]	218	[1],[2]
Total assets	58,715	[1],[2]	63,235	[1],[2]	58,715	[1],[2]	63,235	[1],[2]
Long-lived assets	$ 18,360	[1],[2]	$ 33,595	[1],[2]	$ 18,360	[1],[2]	$ 33,595	[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.