Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 323,144	$ 319,091
Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	304,050	301,094
Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	19,094	17,997
United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	151,790	149,745
United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	10,844	10,277
United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	108,631	108,642
International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,483	6,851
International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	27,302	25,579
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	13,819	12,804
Rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	28,932	29,028
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	36,119	36,408
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	28,932	29,028
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	7,187	7,380
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	27,923	27,848
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	783	960
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	226	220
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Advertising fees and related income
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	7,187	7,380
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Advertising fees and related income | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Advertising fees and related income | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	7,187	7,380
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Advertising fees and related income | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Advertising fees and related income | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Advertising fees and related income | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Advertising fees and related income | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Advertising fees and related income | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	28,932	29,028
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Rental income | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	28,932	29,028
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Rental income | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Rental income | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	27,923	27,848
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Rental income | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	783	960
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Rental income | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Rental income | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Rental income | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	226	220
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	287,025	282,683
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	275,118	272,066
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	11,907	10,617
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	123,867	121,897
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	10,061	9,317
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	108,631	108,642
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,483	6,851
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	27,076	25,359
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	262,395	261,081
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	247,994	247,698
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	14,401	13,383
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	123,498	121,433
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	8,608	8,578
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	108,631	108,642
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,428	6,782
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,829	2,263
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Royalty income
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	133,739	134,167
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Royalty income | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	130,836	131,018
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Royalty income | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	2,903	3,149
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Royalty income | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	117,855	117,097
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Royalty income | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	6,237	6,103
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Royalty income | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Royalty income | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,046	5,913
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Royalty income | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,698	1,905
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,737	5,161
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Franchise fees | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,711	5,161
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Franchise fees | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	26	0
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Franchise fees | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	4,887	3,626
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Franchise fees | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	355	312
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Franchise fees | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Franchise fees | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	337	865
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Franchise fees | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	132	358
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Advertising fees and related income
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	109,783	109,818
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Advertising fees and related income | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	108,631	108,642
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Advertising fees and related income | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,152	1,176
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Advertising fees and related income | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Advertising fees and related income | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Advertising fees and related income | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	108,631	108,642
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Advertising fees and related income | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Advertising fees and related income | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	13,136	11,935
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	2,816	2,877
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	10,320	9,058
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	756	710
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	2,016	2,163
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	45	4
Revenues recognized over time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(1)	0
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	24,630	21,602
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	27,124	24,368
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(2,494)	(2,766)
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	369	464
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,453	739
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	55	69
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	25,247	23,096
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	683	869
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	458	622
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	225	247
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	369	464
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	44	68
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	55	69
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Other revenues | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(10)	21
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Sales of ice cream and other products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	23,947	20,733
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Sales of ice cream and other products | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	26,666	23,746
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Sales of ice cream and other products | Operating Segments | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(2,719)	(3,013)
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Sales of ice cream and other products | United States | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Sales of ice cream and other products | United States | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,409	671
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Sales of ice cream and other products | United States | Operating Segments | U.S. Advertising Funds
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Sales of ice cream and other products | International | Operating Segments | Dunkin' Donuts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Revenues recognized at a point in time: | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Sales of ice cream and other products | International | Operating Segments | Baskin-Robbins
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 25,257	$ 23,075