Commitments and contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 30, 2017
Text Block [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and contingencies (a) Lease commitments The Company is party to various leases for property, including land and buildings, leased automobiles, and office equipment under noncancelable operating and capital lease arrangements (see note 11). (b) Supply chain guarantees The Company has various supply chain agreements that provide for purchase commitments, the majority of which result in the Company being contingently liable upon early termination of the agreement. As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company was contingently liable under such supply chain agreements for approximately $116.7 million and $136.2 million, respectively. For certain supply chain commitments, as product is purchased by the Company’s franchisees over the term of the agreement, the amount of the guarantee is reduced. The Company assesses the risk of performing under each of these guarantees on a quarterly basis, and, based on various factors including internal forecasts, prior history, and ability to extend contract terms, we accrued an immaterial amount of reserves related to supply chain commitments as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, which are included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. (c) Letters of credit At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had standby letters of credit outstanding for a total of $32.3 million and $25.9 million, respectively. There were no amounts drawn down on these letters of credit. (d) Legal matters In May 2003, a group of Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees from Quebec, Canada filed a lawsuit against the Company on a variety of claims, including but not limited to, alleging that the Company breached its franchise agreements and provided inadequate management and support to Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in Quebec (the “Bertico litigation”). In June 2012, the Quebec Superior Court found for the plaintiffs and issued a judgment against the Company in the amount of approximately C$16.4 million, plus costs and interest, representing loss in value of the franchises and lost profits. The Company appealed the decision, and in April 2015, the Quebec Court of Appeals (Montreal) ruled to reduce the damages to approximately C$10.9 million, plus costs and interest. Similar claims have also been made against the Company by other former Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in Canada. As a result of the Bertico litigation appellate ruling and assessment of similar claims, the Company reduced its aggregate legal reserves for the Bertico litigation and similar claims by approximately $2.8 million during fiscal year 2015, which is recorded within general and administrative expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations. During fiscal year 2016, the Company reached a final agreement on costs and interest with the plaintiffs in the Bertico litigation, and paid approximately C$17.4 million with respect to this matter, which represented the full amounts owed to the plaintiffs. Additionally, the Company is engaged in several matters of litigation arising in the ordinary course of its business as a franchisor. Such matters include disputes related to compliance with the terms of franchise and development agreements, including claims or threats of claims of breach of contract, negligence, and other alleged violations by the Company. At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, contingent liabilities totaling $3.6 million and $5.6 million, respectively, were included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets to reflect the Company’s estimate of the probable losses which may be incurred in connection with all outstanding litigation.

Commitments and contingencies

(a) Lease commitments

The Company is party to various leases for property, including land and buildings, leased automobiles, and office equipment under noncancelable operating and capital lease arrangements (see note 11).

(b) Supply chain guarantees

The Company has various supply chain agreements that provide for purchase commitments, the majority of which result in the Company being contingently liable upon early termination of the agreement. As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company was contingently liable under such supply chain agreements for approximately $116.7 million and $136.2 million, respectively. For certain supply chain commitments, as product is purchased by the Company’s franchisees over the term of the agreement, the amount of the guarantee is reduced. The Company assesses the risk of performing under each of these guarantees on a quarterly basis, and, based on various factors including internal forecasts, prior history, and ability to extend contract terms, we accrued an immaterial amount of reserves related to supply chain commitments as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, which are included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had standby letters of credit outstanding for a total of $32.3 million and $25.9 million, respectively. There were no amounts drawn down on these letters of credit.

(d) Legal matters

In May 2003, a group of Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees from Quebec, Canada filed a lawsuit against the Company on a variety of claims, including but not limited to, alleging that the Company breached its franchise agreements and provided inadequate management and support to Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in Quebec (the “Bertico litigation”). In June 2012, the Quebec Superior Court found for the plaintiffs and issued a judgment against the Company in the amount of approximately C$16.4 million, plus costs and interest, representing loss in value of the franchises and lost profits. The Company appealed the decision, and in April 2015, the Quebec Court of Appeals (Montreal) ruled to reduce the damages to approximately C$10.9 million, plus costs and interest. Similar claims have also been made against the Company by other former Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in Canada. As a result of the Bertico litigation appellate ruling and assessment of similar claims, the Company reduced its aggregate legal reserves for the Bertico litigation and similar claims by approximately $2.8 million during fiscal year 2015, which is recorded within general and administrative expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations. During fiscal year 2016, the Company reached a final agreement on costs and interest with the plaintiffs in the Bertico litigation, and paid approximately C$17.4 million with respect to this matter, which represented the full amounts owed to the plaintiffs.

Additionally, the Company is engaged in several matters of litigation arising in the ordinary course of its business as a franchisor. Such matters include disputes related to compliance with the terms of franchise and development agreements, including claims or threats of claims of breach of contract, negligence, and other alleged violations by the Company. At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, contingent liabilities totaling $3.6 million and $5.6 million, respectively, were included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets to reflect the Company’s estimate of the probable losses which may be incurred in connection with all outstanding litigation.