Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Income before income taxes attributable to joint ventures
Noncontrolling interests	$ 887	$ 602	$ 3,208	$ 2,510
Total income before income taxes	24,218	21,263	81,864	78,168
Joint ventures
Income before income taxes attributable to joint ventures
Papa John's International, Inc.	1,387	805	4,979	3,597
Noncontrolling interests	887	602	3,208	2,510
Total income before income taxes	$ 2,274	$ 1,407	$ 8,187	$ 6,107

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 940

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35710027&loc=d3e41242-110953

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 5

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