Segment information - Segment Profit by Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segments	$ 350,909	$ 195,576	$ 105,229
Corporate and other	(112,015)	(112,899)	(161,934)
Interest expense, net	(101,110)	(100,270)	(96,341)
Depreciation and amortization	(21,335)	(22,079)	(24,688)
Long-lived asset impairment charges	(1,617)	(149)	(623)
Loss on debt extinguishment and refinancing transactions	(6,996)	0	(20,554)
Other gains, net	391	(1,195)	(1,084)
Income before income taxes	339,287	313,249	201,588
Operating segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segments	581,969	549,841	506,812
Operating segments | Dunkin Donuts | United States
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segments	501,451	466,976	431,065
Operating segments | Dunkin Donuts | International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segments	6,970	9,658	10,240
Operating segments | Baskin Robbins | United States
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segments	34,212	34,240	29,289
Operating segments | Baskin Robbins | International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segments	$ 39,336	$ 38,967	$ 36,218