Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (Detail) - Number of Stores	Nov. 30, 2012
Company-owned stores	385
Sold, Not Yet Open [Member] | Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	3
Sold, Not Yet Open [Member] | Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]
Company-owned stores	4
Sold, Not Yet Open [Member] | Cold Stone Creamery - Co-Branded [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	1
Sold, Not Yet Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Open [Member] | Company-Owned Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	7
Open [Member] | Company-Owned Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Open [Member] | Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	227
Open [Member] | Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Open [Member] | Franchise Stores - Domestic Kiosks [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Open [Member] | Franchise Units - International [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	64
Open [Member] | Cold Stone Creamery - Co-Branded [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	55
Open [Member]
Company-owned stores	377
Company-Owned Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	7
Company-Owned Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	230
Franchise Stores - Domestic Stores [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]
Company-owned stores	12
Franchise Stores - Domestic Kiosks [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	8
Franchise Units - International [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	64
Cold Stone Creamery - Co-Branded [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Company-owned stores	56