Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2016	Sep. 29, 2015
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	$ 69,351	$ 63,270
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(45,313)	(41,997)
Return of investment in subsidiary	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	(44,783)	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	7,155	1,408
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	1,252	521
Net cash used in investing activities	(81,689)	(40,068)
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	(16,664)	20,083
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	32,717	12,063
Ending cash and cash equivalents	16,053	32,146
Eliminations
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	44,276
Return of investment in subsidiary	(14,232)	(4,708)
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	30,044	(4,708)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	0
Investment from parent	(44,276)
Distribution to parent	14,232	4,708
Net cash used in financing activities	(30,044)	4,708
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
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	47,822	47,405
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(32,040)	(30,678)
Investment in subsidiary	(44,276)
Return of investment in subsidiary	14,232	4,708
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	897	371
Net cash used in investing activities	(60,359)	(24,191)
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	(16,863)	20,095
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	31,918	11,278
Ending cash and cash equivalents	15,055	31,373
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Operating activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	21,529	15,865
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(13,273)	(11,319)
Return of investment in subsidiary	0	0
Acquisition of Wendy’s business, net of cash acquired	(44,783)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	6,327	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	355	150
Net cash used in investing activities	(51,374)	(11,169)
Financing activities
Net payments on debt	0
Investment from parent	44,276
Distribution to parent	(14,232)	(4,708)
Net cash used in financing activities	30,044	(4,708)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	199	(12)
Beginning cash and cash equivalents	799	785
Ending cash and cash equivalents	998	773
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