Business Segment Information Business Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2015	Sep. 29, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jul. 01, 2014	Apr. 01, 2014	Dec. 29, 2015	Dec. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 25, 2012
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net	$ 691,765	$ 664,654	$ 676,657	$ 648,504	$ 672,497	$ 619,890	$ 631,055	$ 605,753	$ 2,681,580	$ 2,529,195	$ 2,385,002
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									523,871	540,903	541,162
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									135,398	124,109	106,523
General and Administrative Expense									142,904	138,060	123,335
Pre-opening expenses									9,089	8,707	7,794
Interest Expense									3,830	1,824	1,053
Other (income) expense, net									1,192	(3,175)	(4,017)
Income before income taxes									236,572	277,294	312,720
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									223,932	224,217	192,010
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	241,886				196,493				241,886	196,493	125,245	$ 297,141
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	38,211				36,584				38,211	36,584
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	776,248				787,294				776,248	787,294
Assets	1,475,318				1,390,686				1,475,318	1,390,686
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
General and Administrative Expense									137,790	132,144	117,089
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	241,886				196,493				241,886	196,493
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	2,968				3,104				2,968	3,104
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	107,333				84,224				107,333	84,224
Deposits and other	6,660				3,575				6,660	3,575
Other Assets	74,071				71,030				74,071	71,030
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									2,358,794	2,230,370	2,108,908
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									138,563	123,686	112,641
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									(197,887)	(194,865)	(184,469)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	1,042,400				1,032,260				1,042,400	1,032,260
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									20,496	12,257	7,412
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									37,124	44,183	26,965
Operating Segments [Member] | Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									2,358,794	2,230,370	2,108,908
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									366,905	400,261	413,474
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									105,535	103,239	90,872
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									174,633	167,856	153,584
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	953,717				953,896				953,717	953,896
Operating Segments [Member] | Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									138,563	123,686	112,641
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									133,449	117,770	106,395
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	13,049				13,145				13,049	13,145
Operating Segments [Member] | Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									382,110	370,004	347,922
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									23,517	22,872	21,293
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									9,367	8,613	8,239
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									12,175	12,178	$ 11,461
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	$ 75,634				$ 65,219				$ 75,634	$ 65,219