Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 29, 2015	Dec. 30, 2014
Assets
Current assets	$ 72,884	$ 61,910
Facilities and equipment, net	204,355	198,122
Franchise rights, net	625,109	639,045
Goodwill	294,626	294,626
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	37,634	42,652
Total assets	1,234,608	1,236,355
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	110,826	107,141
Long-term debt	588,144	591,263
Other liabilities and deferred items	60,640	60,203
Deferred income taxes	205,042	210,723
Member’s equity	269,956	267,025
Total liabilities and member’s equity	1,234,608	1,236,355
Parent Guarantor: Holdings
Assets
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	269,956	267,025
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	269,956	267,025
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	269,956	267,025
Total liabilities and member’s equity	269,956	267,025
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Assets
Current assets	66,244	51,700
Facilities and equipment, net	160,629	162,248
Franchise rights, net	580,995	592,633
Goodwill	290,502	290,502
Investment in subsidiary	74,677	75,902
Other assets, net	35,820	40,794
Total assets	1,208,867	1,213,779
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	93,571	90,701
Long-term debt	588,144	591,263
Other liabilities and deferred items	54,716	55,467
Deferred income taxes	202,480	209,323
Member’s equity	269,956	267,025
Total liabilities and member’s equity	1,208,867	1,213,779
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Assets
Current assets	6,640	10,210
Facilities and equipment, net	43,726	35,874
Franchise rights, net	44,114	46,412
Goodwill	4,124	4,124
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	1,814	1,858
Total assets	100,418	98,478
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	17,255	16,440
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	5,924	4,736
Deferred income taxes	2,562	1,400
Member’s equity	74,677	75,902
Total liabilities and member’s equity	100,418	98,478
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPC Op Co B
Assets
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	0	0
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	0	0
Total liabilities and member’s equity	0	0
Eliminations
Assets
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	(344,633)	(342,927)
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	(344,633)	(342,927)
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	(344,633)	(342,927)
Total liabilities and member’s equity	$ (344,633)	$ (342,927)