Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	$ 28,608	$ 24,450
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(10,973)	(11,018)
Investment in NPCQB	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	(7,963)	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	4,338	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	164	296
Net cash used in investing activities	(14,434)	(10,722)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	(1,040)	(2,079)
Distribution from parent	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,040)	(2,079)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	13,134	11,649
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	32,717	12,063
Ending cash and cash equivalents	45,851	23,712
Parent Guarantor: Holdings
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investment in NPCQB	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	0	0
Distribution from parent	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Ending cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	22,512	20,689
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(8,513)	(7,127)
Investment in NPCQB	(844)	(110)
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	828
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	162	258
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,367)	(6,979)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	(1,040)	(2,079)
Distribution from parent	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,040)	(2,079)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	13,105	11,631
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	31,918	11,278
Ending cash and cash equivalents	45,023	22,909
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	6,096	3,761
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(2,460)	(3,891)
Investment in NPCQB	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	(7,963)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	3,510
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	2	38
Net cash used in investing activities	(6,911)	(3,853)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	0
Distribution from parent	844	110
Net cash used in financing activities	844	110
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	29	18
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	799	785
Ending cash and cash equivalents	828	803
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPC Op Co B
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investment in NPCQB	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	0	0
Distribution from parent	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Ending cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Eliminations
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investment in NPCQB	844	110
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	844	110
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	0
Distribution from parent	(844)	(110)
Net cash used in financing activities	(844)	(110)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Ending cash and cash equivalents	$ 0	$ 0