Guarantor and Nonguarantor Statements Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2015
Mar. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 70,997 $ 93,939
Cash flows from investing activities    
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 0 0
Capital expenditures (27,024) (22,406)
Net cash used in investing activities (27,024) (22,406)
Cash flows from financing activities    
Repayments of long-term obligations (2,208) (5,388)
Proceeds from short-term borrowing 963 960
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 0 0
Repayment of capital lease obligations (730) (674)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent 0  
Equity contributions 508 73
Net cash used in financing activities (31,424) (30,317)
Excess tax benefits on equity-based compensation 802 0
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (2,374) 0
Dividends paid (27,289) (24,310)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (459) 81
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 12,090 41,297
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 38,477 116,739
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 50,567 158,036
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:    
Interest paid 15,710 18,594
Interest received 153 26
Income taxes paid (refunded) 8,319 957
Non-cash investing and financing activities:    
New capital leases 0 282
Repayments of short-term borrowings (1,096) (978)
Dividends payable 27,924 25,415
Pinnacle Foods Finance LLC    
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 0 0
Cash flows from investing activities    
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 0 0
Investment in Subsidiary 28,353  
Capital expenditures 0 0
Net cash used in investing activities 28,353 0
Cash flows from financing activities    
Repayments of long-term obligations 0 0
Proceeds from short-term borrowing 0 0
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 0 (73)
Repayment of capital lease obligations 0 0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent 0  
Equity contributions 508 73
Net cash used in financing activities (28,353) 0
Excess tax benefits on equity-based compensation 802  
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (2,374)  
Dividends paid (27,289) 0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 0 0
Non-cash investing and financing activities:    
Repayments of short-term borrowings 0 0
Debt Issuing Company [Member]    
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 3,978 (4,503)
Cash flows from investing activities    
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable (2,666) 9,891
Capital expenditures 0 0
Net cash used in investing activities (2,666) 9,891
Cash flows from financing activities    
Repayments of long-term obligations (1,312) (5,388)
Proceeds from short-term borrowing 0 0
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 0 0
Repayment of capital lease obligations 0 0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent 0  
Equity contributions 0 0
Net cash used in financing activities (1,312) (5,388)
Excess tax benefits on equity-based compensation 0  
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards 0  
Dividends paid 0 0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 0 0
Non-cash investing and financing activities:    
Repayments of short-term borrowings 0 0
Guarantor Subsidiaries    
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 72,661 98,937
Cash flows from investing activities    
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable (13,713) 0
Capital expenditures (27,024) (22,406)
Net cash used in investing activities (40,737) (22,406)
Cash flows from financing activities    
Repayments of long-term obligations (896) 0
Proceeds from short-term borrowing 963 960
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 2,666 (9,818)
Repayment of capital lease obligations (730) (674)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent (28,353)  
Equity contributions 0 0
Net cash used in financing activities (27,446) (34,820)
Excess tax benefits on equity-based compensation 0  
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards 0  
Dividends paid 0 (24,310)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 4,478 41,711
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 32,942 104,345
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 37,420 146,056
Non-cash investing and financing activities:    
Repayments of short-term borrowings (1,096) (978)
Nonguarantor Subsidiaries    
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (5,642) (495)
Cash flows from investing activities    
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 0 0
Capital expenditures 0 0
Net cash used in investing activities 0 0
Cash flows from financing activities    
Repayments of long-term obligations 0 0
Proceeds from short-term borrowing 0 0
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 13,713   
Repayment of capital lease obligations 0 0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent     
Equity contributions 0 0
Net cash used in financing activities 13,713 0
Excess tax benefits on equity-based compensation 0  
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards 0  
Dividends paid 0 0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (459) 81
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 7,612 (414)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 5,535 12,394
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 13,147 11,980
Non-cash investing and financing activities:    
Repayments of short-term borrowings 0 0
Eliminations and Reclassifications    
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 0 0
Cash flows from investing activities    
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable 16,379 (9,891)
Investment in Subsidiary (28,353)  
Capital expenditures 0 0
Net cash used in investing activities (11,974) (9,891)
Cash flows from financing activities    
Repayments of long-term obligations 0 0
Proceeds from short-term borrowing 0 0
Intercompany accounts receivable/payable (16,379) 9,891
Repayment of capital lease obligations 0 0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent 28,353  
Equity contributions 0 0
Net cash used in financing activities 11,974 9,891
Excess tax benefits on equity-based compensation 0  
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards 0  
Dividends paid 0 0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 0 0
Non-cash investing and financing activities:    
Repayments of short-term borrowings $ 0 $ 0