Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Statements of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 24, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 24, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	$ 299,599	$ 260,805	$ 881,758	$ 801,732
Total costs and expenses	292,626	248,522	854,085	742,684
Operating income	6,973	12,283	27,673	59,048
Interest expense	10,344	10,243	30,548	30,720
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0	0	0
(Loss) income before income taxes	(3,371)	2,040	(2,875)	28,328
Income tax (benefit) expense	(3,533)	(522)	(4,619)	4,434
Net income	162	2,562	1,744	23,894
Parent Guarantor: Holdings
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	162	2,562	1,744	23,894
(Loss) income before income taxes	162	2,562	1,744	23,894
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Net income	162	2,562	1,744	23,894
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	251,827	252,798	771,042	793,725
Total costs and expenses	245,803	240,103	745,553	734,265
Operating income	6,024	12,695	25,489	59,460
Interest expense	10,344	10,243	30,548	30,720
Equity in net income of subsidiary	303	0	1,091	0
(Loss) income before income taxes	(4,017)	2,452	(3,968)	28,740
Income tax (benefit) expense	(4,179)	(427)	(5,712)	4,529
Net income	162	2,879	1,744	24,211
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	47,772	8,007	110,716	8,007
Total costs and expenses	46,823	8,419	108,532	8,419
Operating income	949	(412)	2,184	(412)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0	0	0
(Loss) income before income taxes	949	(412)	2,184	(412)
Income tax (benefit) expense	646	(95)	1,093	(95)
Net income	303	(317)	1,091	(317)
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPC Op Co B
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0	0	0
(Loss) income before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Net income	0	0	0	0
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	(465)	(2,562)	(2,835)	(23,894)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(465)	(2,562)	(2,835)	(23,894)
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Net income	$ (465)	$ (2,562)	$ (2,835)	$ (23,894)