Debt - Credit Facilities (Detail)		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) entity	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	May 31, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2012 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of wholly-owned entities | entity		2
Unamortized debt issuance costs		$ 6,800,000	$ 7,900,000
Proceeds from receivables securitization facility		945,000,000	685,000,000	$ 2,656,000,000
Payments for receivables securitization facility		(905,000,000)	(920,000,000)	$ (2,634,000,000)
Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		550,000,000
Line of credit, current borrowing capacity		457,500,000
Total receivables sold		609,000,000
Line of credit, amount outstanding		117,200,000
Line of credit facility outstanding, remaining borrowing capacity		300,300,000
Average daily balance under facility		13,800,000
Issuance of standby letter of credit		0				$ 80,000,000
Modified receivables securitization facility | Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		350,000,000			$ 300,000,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs		700,000
Subsidiary debt obligations | Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding		40,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Dean Foods Company
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding		$ 9,100,000	$ 0
Subsequent Event | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Total net leverage ratio	4.25
Subsequent Event | Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 450,000,000
Subsequent Event | Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Maximum | Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	1.05%
Unused capacity fee percentage	0.55%
Subsequent Event | Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Minimum | Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	0.90%
Unused capacity fee percentage	0.40%
LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.00%
LIBOR | Subsequent Event | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%
LIBOR | Subsequent Event | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.75%
Alternate Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.00%
Alternate Base Rate | Subsequent Event | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.50%
Alternate Base Rate | Subsequent Event | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.75%