Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	$ 52,343	$ 49,049
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(25,393)	(26,466)
Return of investment in subsidiary	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	(7,963)	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	7,155	1,408
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	947	548
Net cash used in investing activities	(25,254)	(24,510)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	(4,326)	(3,119)
Distribution to parent	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(4,326)	(3,119)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	22,763	21,420
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	32,717	12,063
Ending cash and cash equivalents	55,480	33,483
Eliminations
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Return of investment in subsidiary	(6,043)	(5,713)
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	0	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(6,043)	(5,713)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	0
Distribution to parent	6,043	5,713
Net cash used in financing activities	6,043	5,713
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Ending cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Parent Guarantor: Holdings
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Return of investment in subsidiary	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	0	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 to 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	38,283	37,079
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(18,948)	(20,214)
Return of investment in subsidiary	6,043	5,713
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	828	1,408
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	887	499
Net cash used in investing activities	(11,190)	(12,594)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	(4,326)	(3,119)
Distribution to parent	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(4,326)	(3,119)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	22,767	21,366
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	31,918	11,278
Ending cash and cash equivalents	54,685	32,644
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	14,060	11,970
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(6,445)	(6,252)
Return of investment in subsidiary	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	(7,963)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	6,327	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	60	49
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,021)	(6,203)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	0
Distribution to parent	(6,043)	(5,713)
Net cash used in financing activities	(6,043)	(5,713)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(4)	54
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	799	785
Ending cash and cash equivalents	795	839
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPC Op Co B
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Return of investment in subsidiary	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	0	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 to 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