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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Note 18.     Commitments and Contingencies
 
As of December 28, 2011, we had converted 123 former Flying J restaurant sites to Denny's, 23 of which operate as company restaurants and 100 of which operate as franchise restaurants, thus completing the Flying J conversions. We are not party to the individual leases or debt agreements related to the restaurants operated by franchisees. However, we have guaranteed up to $2.0 million of lease payments to Pilot Flying J during the first five years of the related leases. Additionally, we have guaranteed a limited amount of debt payments to lenders under certain loan pools through the term of the related loan, which is generally five years. As of December 28, 2011, there were $15.5 million of loans outstanding under the loan pools. Payments under these guarantees would result from the inability of a franchisee to fund required payments when due. Through December 28, 2011, no events had occurred that caused us to make payments under the guarantees. As of December 28, 2011, the maximum amounts payable under the lease guarantee and loan guarantees were $2.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively. As a result of these guarantees, we have recorded liabilities of approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million, as of December 28, 2011 and December 29, 2010, respectively, which are included as a component of other noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits in our Consolidated Balance Sheet and other nonoperating expense in our Consolidated Statement of Income.
 
In December 2011, we announced a new loan program to support domestic growth. This program will provide up to $100 million in loans to new and existing franchisees that open new restaurants in under-penetrated markets. We will guarantee up to the lesser of $12 million or 12% of the total outstanding loans under the program. Payments under this guarantee would result from the inability of a franchisee to fund required payments when due. As of December 28, 2011, there were no loans outstanding under this program.
 
There are various claims and pending legal actions against or indirectly involving us incidental to and arising out of the ordinary course of the business. In the opinion of management, based upon information currently available, the ultimate liability with respect to these proceedings and claims will not materially affect the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position. We record legal settlement costs as other operating expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income as those costs are incurred.
 
We have amounts payable under purchase contracts for food and non-food products. Many of these agreements do not obligate us to purchase any specific volumes and include provisions that would allow us to cancel such agreements with appropriate notice. Our future commitments at December 28, 2011 under these contracts consist of the following:
 
   
Purchase Obligations
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Payments due by period:
       
 Less than 1 year
 
$
150,246
 
 1-2 years
   
26,687
 
 3-4 years
   
9,914
 
 5 years and thereafter
   
-
 
 Total
 
$
186,847
 
 
For agreements with cancellation provisions, amounts included in the table above represent our estimate of purchase obligations during the periods presented if we were to cancel these contracts with appropriate notice. We would likely take delivery of goods under such circumstances.