Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2016	Sep. 29, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	$ 319,534		$ 309,208
Total costs and expenses	301,767		293,021
Operating income	17,767		16,187
Interest expense	11,337		10,465
Equity in net income of subsidiary	0		0
Income before income taxes	6,430		5,722
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,229)		747
Net income	7,659		4,975
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	7,659		4,975
Income before income taxes	7,659		4,975
Income tax (benefit) expense		0	0
Net income	7,659		4,975
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	268,594		260,567
Total costs and expenses	253,357		245,852
Operating income	15,237		14,715
Interest expense	11,337		10,465
Equity in net income of subsidiary	2,965		1,280
Income before income taxes	6,865		5,530
Income tax (benefit) expense	(794)		555
Net income	7,659		4,975
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Total sales	50,940		48,641
Total costs and expenses	48,410		47,169
Operating income	2,530		1,472
Interest expense	0		0
Equity in net income of subsidiary		0	0
Income before income taxes	2,530		1,472
Income tax (benefit) expense	(435)		192
Net income	2,965		1,280
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 (benefit) 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	(10,624)		(6,255)
Income before income taxes	(10,624)		(6,255)
Income tax (benefit) expense		$ 0	0
Net income	$ (10,624)		$ (6,255)