Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (Detail) - Number of Stores	Aug. 31, 2012
Company-owned stores	380
Company-Owned Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	7
Company-Owned Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	7
Company-Owned Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Company-Owned Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Sold, Not Yet Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	4
Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	228
Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	232
Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Sold, Not Yet Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	4
Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	5
Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]
Company-owned stores	9
Franchise Stores - Domestic Kiosks [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Franchise Stores - Domestic Kiosks [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Franchise Units - International [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	60
Franchise Units - International [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	60
Cold Stone Creamery - Co-Branded [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Sold, Not Yet Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	3
Cold Stone Creamery - Co-Branded [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	53
Cold Stone Creamery - Co-Branded [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	56
Sold, Not Yet Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	11
Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	369