Business Segment Information Business Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2016	Sep. 27, 2016	Jun. 28, 2016	Mar. 29, 2016	Dec. 29, 2015	Sep. 29, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 27, 2016	Dec. 29, 2015	Dec. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Refranchising loss									$ 9,072,000	$ 17,108,000	$ 0
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 727,106,000	$ 684,206,000	$ 698,900,000	$ 685,153,000	$ 691,765,000	$ 664,654,000	$ 676,657,000	$ 648,504,000	2,795,365,000	2,681,580,000	2,529,195,000
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									575,745,000	523,871,000	540,903,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									154,355,000	135,398,000	124,109,000
General and Administrative Expense									179,876,000	142,904,000	138,060,000
Pre-opening expenses									6,899,000	9,089,000	8,707,000
Interest Expense									8,884,000	3,830,000	1,824,000
Other (income) expense, net									1,380,000	1,192,000	(3,175,000)
Income before income taxes									229,499,000	236,572,000	277,294,000
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									200,063,000	223,932,000	224,217,000
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	105,529,000				241,886,000				105,529,000	241,886,000	196,493,000	$ 125,245,000
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	53,519,000				38,211,000				53,519,000	38,211,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	802,759,000				776,248,000				802,759,000	776,248,000
Assets	1,301,611,000				1,440,839,000				1,301,611,000	1,440,839,000
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
General and Administrative Expense									174,728,000	137,790,000	132,144,000
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	105,529,000				241,886,000				105,529,000	241,886,000
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	6,691,000				2,968,000				6,691,000	2,968,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	117,178,000				107,333,000				117,178,000	107,333,000
Deposits and other	5,285,000				6,660,000				5,285,000	6,660,000
Other Assets	18,775,000				39,592,000				18,775,000	39,592,000
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Total revenue									2,433,945,000	2,358,794,000	2,230,370,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Total revenue									155,271,000	138,563,000	123,686,000
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Total revenue									(201,495,000)	(197,887,000)	(194,865,000)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	1,048,153,000				1,042,400,000				1,048,153,000	1,042,400,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									29,008,000	20,496,000	12,257,000
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									39,079,000	37,124,000	44,183,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Total revenue									2,433,945,000	2,358,794,000	2,230,370,000
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									398,058,000	366,905,000	400,261,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									115,579,000	105,535,000	103,239,000
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									147,191,000	174,633,000	167,856,000
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	942,653,000				953,717,000				942,653,000	953,717,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Total revenue									155,271,000	138,563,000	123,686,000
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									150,123,000	133,449,000	117,770,000
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	18,301,000				13,049,000				18,301,000	13,049,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Total revenue									407,644,000	382,110,000	370,004,000
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									27,564,000	23,517,000	22,872,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									9,768,000	9,367,000	8,613,000
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									13,793,000	12,175,000	$ 12,178,000
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	$ 87,199,000				$ 75,634,000				$ 87,199,000	$ 75,634,000