Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Statements of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2015	Dec. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	$ 1,223,299	$ 1,179,897	$ 1,094,032
Total costs and expenses	1,180,571	1,145,570	1,014,107
Operating income	42,728	34,327	79,925
Interest expense	41,784	41,101	42,016
Net facility impairment and closure costs	7,469	980	727
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	944	(6,774)	37,909
Income tax (benefit) expense	(5,768)	(8,446)	8,167
Net income	6,712	1,672	29,742
Parent Guarantor: Holdings
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	6,712	1,672	29,855
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,712	1,672	29,855
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0
Net income	6,712	1,672	29,855
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	1,020,006	1,020,101	1,068,651
Total costs and expenses	984,526	988,819	988,544
Operating income	35,480	31,282	80,107
Interest expense	41,784	41,101	42,016
Equity in net income of subsidiary	4,978	1,640	(113)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,326)	(8,179)	37,978
Income tax (benefit) expense	(8,038)	(9,851)	8,236
Net income	6,712	1,672	29,742
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	203,293	159,796	25,381
Total costs and expenses	196,045	156,751	25,563
Operating income	7,248	3,045	(182)
Interest expense	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	7,248	3,045	(182)
Income tax (benefit) expense	2,270	1,405	(69)
Net income	4,978	1,640	(113)
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPC Op Co B
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0	0
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0
Net income	0	0	0
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiary	(11,690)	(3,312)	(29,742)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(11,690)	(3,312)	(29,742)
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0
Net income	$ (11,690)	$ (3,312)	$ (29,742)