(5) Investment in Joint Ventures (Details) (Subsidiaries [Member]) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2010 USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 Tim Horton's, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 Tim Horton's, Inc. [Member] CAD	Oct. 03, 2010 Tim Horton's, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2010 Tim Horton's, Inc. [Member] CAD	Oct. 02, 2011 Japan JV [Member] USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage			50.00%	50.00%			49.00%
Investment in Joint Venture with Partner [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period (a)			$ 98,631		$ 97,476
Equity in earnings (loss) for the period			10,258		9,309		(271)
Amortization of purchase price adjustments			(2,170)		(2,182)
Equity in earnings for the period, net of amortization of purchase price adjustment	7,817	7,127	8,088		7,127
Distributions	(10,784)	(9,718)	(10,784)		(9,718)
Currency translation adjustment included in Comprehensive income			(5,050)		3,465
Balance at end of period (a)			90,885		98,350		912
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Assets [Abstract]
Properties				76,158		80,011
Cash and Cash Equivalents				2,644		2,315
Accounts Receivable				4,418		3,941
Other Assets				2,628		3,011
Assets				85,848		89,278
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabillities				1,541		1,418
Other Liabilities				8,975		8,844
Equity or Capital				75,332		79,016
Liabilities and Equity				85,848		89,278
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues				29,131		28,620
Income before income taxes and net income				20,404		19,064