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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
 
Through 2011, we converted a total of 123 former Flying J restaurant sites to Denny's. 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 loans, which is generally five years. There were $7.2 million and $15.5 million of loans outstanding under the loan pools as of December 26, 2012 and December 28, 2011, respectively. Payments under these guarantees would result from the inability of a franchisee to fund required payments when due. Through December 26, 2012, no events had occurred that caused us to make payments under the guarantees. As of December 26, 2012, the maximum amounts payable under the lease guarantee and loan guarantees were $2.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively. As a result of these guarantees, we have recorded liabilities of approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, as of December 26, 2012 and December 28, 2011, 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.
 
We have arranged a new loan program to support domestic growth. This program provides 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. There were no loans outstanding under this program as of December 26, 2012 and December 28, 2011, respectively.
 
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 for both company and franchise restaurants at December 26, 2012 under these contracts consist of the following:
 
 
Purchase Obligations
 
(In thousands)
 Payments due by period:
 
Less than 1 year
$
164,443

1-2 years
10,225

3-4 years
3,834

5 years and thereafter
—

Total
$
178,502


 
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.