Debt - Senior Secured Credit Facility (Details)		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs			$ 6,500,000
Write-off of financing costs			1,080,000	$ 0
Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility		$ 450,000,000
Total net leverage ratio		3.5
Percentage of guarantor's first-tier foreign subsidiaries		65.00%
Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility		$ 75,000,000
Line of credit, amount outstanding			0
Credit Agreement | Swing Line Loan | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility		$ 100,000,000
Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Total net leverage ratio	4.25
Debt issuance costs	$ 700,000
Unamortized debt issuance fees	300,000
Write-off of financing costs	$ 900,000
Old Credit Facility and New Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Average daily balance of borrowings outstanding			$ 1,500,000
Minimum | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Consolidated interest coverage ratio		2.25
Maximum | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Additional borrowing capacity		$ 200,000,000
Consolidated interest coverage ratio		4.25
LIBOR | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Effective rate during period			2.00%
LIBOR | Minimum | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate basis spread	1.75%
LIBOR | Maximum | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate basis spread	2.50%
Alternate Base Rate | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Effective rate during period			1.00%
Alternate Base Rate | Minimum | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate basis spread	0.75%
Alternate Base Rate | Maximum | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate basis spread	1.50%
Dean Foods Company | Senior secured revolving credit facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding			$ 4,400,000		$ 9,100,000