SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation Organization Smithfield Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries ("Smithfield," "the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), is the largest hog producer and pork processor in the world. We produce and market a wide variety of fresh meat and packaged meats products both domestically and internationally. We conduct our operations through four reportable segments: Pork, Hog Production, International and Corporate, each of which is comprised of a number of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments. On September 26, 2013 (the Merger Date), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 28, 2013 (the Merger Agreement) with WH Group Limited, formerly Shuanghui International Holdings Limited, a corporation formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands hereinafter referred to as WH Group, the Company merged with Sun Merger Sub, Inc., a Virginia corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of WH Group (the Merger Sub), in a transaction hereinafter referred to as the Merger. As a result of the Merger, the Company survived as a wholly owned subsidiary of WH Group. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. You should read these statements in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the eight months ended December 29, 2013. The information reflects all normal recurring adjustments which we believe are necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for all periods included. The Merger was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. WH Group's cost of acquiring the Company has been pushed-down to establish a new accounting basis for the Company. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "Successor" refer to Smithfield Foods, Inc. and all its subsidiaries for the period subsequent to the Merger. All references to “Predecessor” refer to Smithfield Foods, Inc. and all its subsidiaries for all periods prior to the Merger. Purchase price allocations resulting from the Merger affect the comparability of results of operations for the Successor and Predecessor periods. The consolidated condensed balance sheets, as of March 30, 2014 and December 29, 2013, reflect various preliminary fair value estimates and analyses resulting from applying the acquisition method of accounting as of the Merger Date, including preliminary work performed by third-party valuation specialists, which are subject to change within the measurement period as valuations are finalized. The Company expects to continue to obtain information to assist in determining the fair value of the net assets acquired at the Merger Date during the measurement period. Measurement period adjustments that the Company determines to be material will be applied retrospectively to the Merger Date. Change in Fiscal Year End On January 16, 2014, the Company elected to change its fiscal year end from the 52 or 53 week period which previously ended on the Sunday nearest April 30 to the 52 or 53 week period which ends on the Sunday nearest December 31. The change in fiscal year was made effective as of December 29, 2013. Therefore, the three months ended March 30, 2014 correspond to the first quarter of 2014 and the three months ended March 31, 2013 represents the comparable period for 2013. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit when a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (ASU 2013-11). This update does not have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheet.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

Organization

Smithfield Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries ("Smithfield," "the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), is the largest hog producer and pork processor in the world. We produce and market a wide variety of fresh meat and packaged meats products both domestically and internationally. We conduct our operations through four reportable segments: Pork, Hog Production, International and Corporate, each of which is comprised of a number of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments.

On September 26, 2013 (the Merger Date), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 28, 2013 (the Merger Agreement) with WH Group Limited, formerly Shuanghui International Holdings Limited, a corporation formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands hereinafter referred to as WH Group, the Company merged with Sun Merger Sub, Inc., a Virginia corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of WH Group (the Merger Sub), in a transaction hereinafter referred to as the Merger. As a result of the Merger, the Company survived as a wholly owned subsidiary of WH Group.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. You should read these statements in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the eight months ended December 29, 2013. The information reflects all normal recurring adjustments which we believe are necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for all periods included.

The Merger was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. WH Group's cost of acquiring the Company has been pushed-down to establish a new accounting basis for the Company. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "Successor" refer to Smithfield Foods, Inc. and all its subsidiaries for the period subsequent to the Merger. All references to “Predecessor” refer to Smithfield Foods, Inc. and all its subsidiaries for all periods prior to the Merger. Purchase price allocations resulting from the Merger affect the comparability of results of operations for the Successor and Predecessor periods.

The consolidated condensed balance sheets, as of March 30, 2014 and December 29, 2013, reflect various preliminary fair value estimates and analyses resulting from applying the acquisition method of accounting as of the Merger Date, including preliminary work performed by third-party valuation specialists, which are subject to change within the measurement period as valuations are finalized. The Company expects to continue to obtain information to assist in determining the fair value of the net assets acquired at the Merger Date during the measurement period. Measurement period adjustments that the Company determines to be material will be applied retrospectively to the Merger Date.

Change in Fiscal Year End

On January 16, 2014, the Company elected to change its fiscal year end from the 52 or 53 week period which previously ended on the Sunday nearest April 30 to the 52 or 53 week period which ends on the Sunday nearest December 31. The change in fiscal year was made effective as of December 29, 2013. Therefore, the three months ended March 30, 2014 correspond to the first quarter of 2014 and the three months ended March 31, 2013 represents the comparable period for 2013.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit when a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (ASU 2013-11). This update does not have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheet.