Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Statements of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2014	Mar. 26, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	$ 296,253	$ 278,969
Total costs and expenses	281,856	253,118
Operating income	14,397	25,851
Interest expense	10,162	10,240
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0
Income before income taxes	4,235	15,611
Income tax expense	1,279	2,367
Net income	2,956	13,244
Parent Guarantor: Holdings
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0
Operating income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	2,965	13,244
Income before income taxes	2,965	13,244
Income tax expense	0	0
Net income	2,965	13,244
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	266,368	278,969
Total costs and expenses	251,970	253,118
Operating income	14,398	25,851
Interest expense	10,162	10,240
Equity in net income of subsidiary	(9)	0
Income before income taxes	4,227	15,611
Income tax expense	1,271	2,367
Net income	2,956	13,244
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	29,885	0
Total costs and expenses	29,886	0
Operating income	(1)	0
Interest expense	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0
Income before income taxes	(1)	0
Income tax expense	8	0
Net income	(9)	0
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPC Op Co B
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0
Operating income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Net income	0	0
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0
Operating income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	(2,956)	(13,244)
Income before income taxes	(2,956)	(13,244)
Income tax expense	0	0
Net income	$ (2,956)	$ (13,244)