WW International (WW) 10-Q6 Nov 132013 Q3 Quarterly reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information	Sep. 28, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	28-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'WTW	'
Entity Registrant Name	'WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000105319	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-28	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	56,398,333

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2013		Dec. 29, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013		Dec. 29, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$181,255		$70,215
Receivables (net of allowances: September 28, 2013 - $3,185 and December 29, 2012 - $3,447)	34,312		37,363
Inventories (net of allowances: September 28, 2013 - $5,486 and December 29, 2012 - $5,469)	33,562		46,846
Prepaid income taxes	4,842		6,087
Deferred income taxes	21,617		21,757
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	28,824		35,699
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS	304,412		217,967
Property and equipment, net	89,353		71,768
Franchise rights acquired	841,433		787,007
Goodwill	75,924		59,414
Trademarks and other intangible assets, net	50,174		52,480
Deferred financing costs, net	44,003		26,571
Other noncurrent assets	2,937		3,400
TOTAL ASSETS	1,408,236		1,218,607
CURRENT LIABILITIES	'		'
Portion of long-term debt due within one year	24,000		114,695
Accounts payable	40,910		49,349
Dividend payable	10,028		289
Derivative payable	18,036		13,871
Accrued marketing and advertising	17,010		27,437
Other accrued liabilities	155,056		154,785
Income taxes payable	27,122		1,268
Deferred revenue	92,016		86,161
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	384,178		447,855
Long-term debt	2,370,000		2,291,669
Deferred income taxes	146,204		129,431
Other	17,248		15,111
TOTAL LIABILITIES	2,917,630		2,884,066
TOTAL DEFICIT	'		'
Common stock, $0 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 111,988 shares issued	0		0
Treasury stock, at cost, 55,592 shares at September 28, 2013 and 56,234 shares at December 29, 2012	-3,257,555		-3,281,831
Retained earnings	1,742,505		1,603,513
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,656	[1]	12,859	[1]
TOTAL DEFICIT	-1,509,394		-1,665,459
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND TOTAL DEFICIT	$1,408,236		$1,218,607

[1]	Amounts in parentheses indicate debits

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Receivables, allowances	$3,185	$3,447
Inventories, allowances	$5,486	$5,469
Common stock, par value	$0	$0
Common stock, shares authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	111,988	111,988
Treasury stock, shares	55,592	56,234

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_NET

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Meeting fees, net	$198,661	$223,209	$665,811	$724,215
Product sales and other, net	69,696	83,157	269,322	307,899
Internet revenues	125,541	124,244	410,822	386,783
Revenues, net	393,898	430,610	1,345,955	1,418,897
Cost of meetings, products and other	146,497	159,056	503,340	533,469
Cost of Internet revenues	17,442	15,721	54,262	47,706
Cost of revenues	163,939	174,777	557,602	581,175
Gross profit	229,959	255,833	788,353	837,722
Marketing expenses	46,359	65,886	230,830	279,981
Selling, general and administrative expenses	59,080	57,963	175,908	169,475
Operating income	124,520	131,984	381,615	388,266
Interest expense	26,892	23,225	76,298	60,149
Other (income) expense, net	-352	-756	802	2,531
Early extinguishment of debt	0	0	21,685	1,328
Income before income taxes	97,980	109,515	282,830	324,258
Provision for income taxes	37,722	42,151	108,903	124,827
Net income	$60,258	$67,364	$173,927	$199,431
Earnings per share	'	'	'	'
Basic	$1.07	$1.21	$3.10	$3.23
Diluted	$1.07	$1.20	$3.09	$3.19
Weighted average common shares outstanding	'	'	'	'
Basic	56,321	55,635	56,056	61,828
Diluted	56,504	56,122	56,348	62,486
Dividends declared per common share	$0.18	$0.18	$0.53	$0.53

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013		Sep. 29, 2012
Net income	$60,258	$67,364	$173,927		$199,431
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'		'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	3,486	2,038	-4,727		1,669
Income tax effect on foreign currency translation adjustments	-1,360	-795	1,824		-651
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes	2,126	1,243	-2,903		1,018
Changes in loss on derivatives	-12,132	1,913	-7,049		7,977
Income tax effect on changes in loss on derivatives	4,732	-746	2,749		-3,111
Changes in loss on derivatives, net of taxes	-7,400	1,167	-4,300		4,866
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	-5,274	2,410	-7,203	[1]	5,884
Comprehensive income	$54,984	$69,774	$166,724		$205,315

[1]	Amounts in parentheses indicate debits

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$173,927	$199,431
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	33,115	26,681
Amortization of deferred financing costs	5,715	5,178
Share-based compensation expense	2,515	5,905
Deferred tax provision	21,516	22,621
Allowance for doubtful accounts	-64	-430
Reserve for inventory obsolescence, other	7,358	8,245
Foreign currency exchange rate loss (gain)	837	-189
Loss on disposal of assets	1,390	574
Loss on investment	0	2,697
Early extinguishment of debt	21,685	1,328
Changes in cash due to:	'	'
Receivables	2,841	8,291
Inventories	7,240	6,710
Prepaid expenses	7,243	2,834
Accounts payable	-8,105	-10,173
UK self-employment liability	-7,272	-30,018
Accrued liabilities	5,520	19,374
Deferred revenue	5,280	19,870
Income taxes	20,696	2,014
Cash provided by operating activities	301,437	290,943
Investing activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-37,656	-35,585
Capitalized software expenditures	-15,686	-18,955
Cash paid for acquisitions	-78,354	-17,000
Other items, net	270	-81
Cash used for investing activities	-131,426	-71,621
Financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from new term loans	2,400,000	1,449,397
Payments on long-term debt	-2,412,364	-86,603
Payment of dividends	-19,701	-32,465
Payments to acquire treasury stock	0	-1,504,208
Deferred financing costs	-44,817	-25,542
Proceeds from stock options exercised	15,655	10,863
Tax benefit of restricted stock units vested and stock options exercised	2,128	3,021
Cash used for financing activities	-59,099	-185,537
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and other	128	625
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	111,040	34,410
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	70,215	53,199
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$181,255	$87,609

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Basis of Presentation	'
	1	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries. The term “Company” as used throughout these notes is used to indicate Weight Watchers International, Inc. and all of its businesses consolidated for purposes of its financial statements. The term “WWI” as used throughout these notes is used to indicate Weight Watchers International, Inc. and all of the Company’s businesses other than WW.com. The term “WW.com” as used throughout these notes is used to indicate WeightWatchers.com, Inc. and all of the Company’s Internet-based businesses.
	The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. While all available information has been considered, actual amounts could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments including those of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair statement of the interim results presented.
	These statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2012, which includes additional information about the Company, its results of operations, its financial position and its cash flows.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	2	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:
	In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued updated guidance on the reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. This guidance requires companies to present either parenthetically on the face of the financial statements or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. An entity would not need to show the income statement line item affected for certain components that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, and such adoption did not affect the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
	Reclassification:
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
	Revisions:
	As disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2012, prior to fiscal year ended December 29, 2012, the Company had included certain amounts due from third-party credit card companies within accounts receivable and other amounts within cash. The consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 has been corrected to consistently include all such amounts within cash. The result of the revision on the previously reported amounts was to increase cash provided by operating activities by $1,288 and increase cash and cash equivalents beginning of period by $5,730. Separately, the Company identified a correction in the statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 as it relates to foreign currency activity, resulting in a reclassification between accrued liabilities and effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and other in the amount of $11,510, which decreased cash provided by operating activities by a corresponding amount. These adjustments were not considered to be material individually or in the aggregate to previously issued financial statements. However, because of the significance of these adjustments, the Company revised its consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 29, 2012. These revisions had no impact on the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of income or consolidated statements of comprehensive income included in this report.

	For a discussion of the Company’s other significant accounting policies, see “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2012.

Acquisitions_of_Franchisees

Acquisitions of Franchisees	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Acquisitions of Franchisees	'
	3	Acquisitions of Franchisees
	The acquisitions of franchisees have been accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, earnings of acquired franchisees have been included in the consolidated operating results of the Company since the applicable date of acquisition. During the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2012 and the first nine months of fiscal 2013, the Company acquired certain assets of its franchisees as outlined below.
	The acquisitions resulted in goodwill related to, among other things, expected synergies in operations. The Company expects that the majority of goodwill recorded in connection with the below acquisitions will be deductible for tax purposes. The effect of these franchise acquisitions was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or operating cash flows in the periods presented.
	On September 10, 2012, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of its Southeastern Ontario and Ottawa, Canada franchisee, Slengora Limited, for a net purchase price of $16,755 plus assumed liabilities of $245. The total purchase price has been allocated to franchise rights acquired ($9,871), goodwill ($6,779), customer relationship value ($180), fixed assets ($81), inventory ($66) and prepaid expenses ($23).
	On November 2, 2012, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of its Adirondacks franchisee, Weight Watchers of the Adirondacks, Inc., for a purchase price of $3,400. The total purchase price has been allocated to franchise rights acquired ($2,216), goodwill ($1,156), customer relationship value ($37), inventory ($29) and prepaid expenses ($10) offset by deferred revenue of $48.
	On December 20, 2012, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of its Memphis, Tennessee franchisee, Weight Watchers of the Mid-South, Inc., for a purchase price of $10,000. The total purchase price has been allocated to franchise rights acquired ($8,396), goodwill ($1,461), customer relationship value ($209), inventory ($35), receivables ($9) and fixed assets ($4) offset by deferred revenue of $114.
	On March 4, 2013, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of its Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada franchisees, Weight Watchers of Alberta Ltd. and Weight Watchers of Saskatchewan Ltd., for an aggregate purchase price of $35,000. The total purchase price has been allocated to franchise rights acquired ($30,633), goodwill ($4,626), customer relationship value ($473), inventory ($218), fixed assets ($182) and prepaid expenses ($3) offset by deferred revenue of $1,135.
	On July 15, 2013, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of its West Virginia franchisee, Weight Watchers of West Virginia, Inc., for a net purchase price of $16,028 less assumed assets, plus assumed liabilities, net of $28. The total purchase price has been preliminarily allocated to franchise rights acquired ($9,938), goodwill ($5,400), customer relationship value ($453) and fixed assets ($209).
	On July 22, 2013, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of its Columbus, Ohio franchisee, Weight Watchers of Columbus, Inc., for a net purchase price of $23,357 plus assumed liabilities of $143 and its Reno, Nevada franchisee, Weight Watchers of Northern Nevada, Inc., for a net purchase price of $3,969 plus assumed liabilities of $31. The aggregate total purchase price has been preliminarily allocated to franchise rights acquired ($19,419), goodwill ($6,833), customer relationship value ($568), fixed assets ($363), inventory ($316) and prepaid expenses ($1).
	After the end of the Company’s third quarter of fiscal 2013, on October 28, 2013, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of its Manitoba, Canada franchisee, Weight Watchers of Manitoba Ltd., for a net purchase price of $5,197 plus assumed liabilities of $28, and its Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties, New York franchisee, Weight Watchers of Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties Inc., for a net purchase price of $274 plus assumed liabilities of $1. Due to the timing of these acquisitions, the Company has not yet completed the respective purchase price allocations. The Company anticipates that, consistent with the above acquisitions, the purchase price for these acquisitions will be allocated primarily to franchise rights acquired and goodwill.

Franchise_Rights_Acquired_Good

Franchise Rights Acquired, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Franchise Rights Acquired, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	'
	4	Franchise Rights Acquired, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	Franchise rights acquired are due to acquisitions of the Company’s franchised territories. The franchise rights acquired allocated to the WW.com reporting segment relate to the acquisition of franchise promotion agreements and other factors associated with the acquired franchise territories. For the nine months ended September 28, 2013, the change in the carrying value of franchise rights acquired is due to the Company’s acquisitions of certain of its franchisees during fiscal 2013, as described in Note 3, and the effect of exchange rate changes as follows:


			WWI			WW.com
			Segment			Segment			Total
	Balance as of December 29, 2012		$	777,826		$	9,181		$	787,007
	Franchise rights acquired during the period			30,867			29,123			59,990
	Effect of exchange rate changes			(5,257	)		(307	)		(5,564	)

	Balance as of September 28, 2013		$	803,436		$	37,997		$	841,433

	Goodwill is due to the acquisition of the Company by H.J. Heinz Company (“Heinz”) in 1978, the acquisition of WW.com in 2005 and the acquisitions of the Company’s franchised territories. For the nine months ended September 28, 2013, the change in the carrying amount of goodwill is due to the Company’s acquisitions of certain of its franchisees during fiscal 2013, as described in Note 3, and the effect of exchange rate changes as follows:


			WWI			WW.com
			Segment			Segment			Total
	Balance as of December 29, 2012		$	28,721		$	30,693		$	59,414
	Goodwill acquired during the period			9,556			7,303			16,859
	Effect of exchange rate changes			(200	)		(149	)		(349	)

	Balance as of September 28, 2013		$	38,077		$	37,847		$	75,924

	Aggregate amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets was recorded in the amounts of $6,413 and $18,076 for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013, respectively. Aggregate amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets was recorded in the amounts of $4,323 and $12,791 for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012, respectively.
	The carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets as of September 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 was as follows:


			September 28, 2013						December 29, 2012
			Gross						Gross
			Carrying			Accumulated			Carrying			Accumulated
			Amount			Amortization			Amount			Amortization
	Capitalized software costs		$	89,972		$	63,252		$	86,857		$	54,134
	Trademarks			10,623			9,880			10,342			9,615
	Website development costs			68,048			45,637			57,042			38,357
	Other			7,025			6,725			7,034			6,689

			$	175,668		$	125,494		$	161,275		$	108,795


	Estimated amortization expense of existing finite-lived intangible assets for the next five fiscal years is as follows:


	Remainder of fiscal 2013		$	5,557
	Fiscal 2014		$	21,477
	Fiscal 2015		$	15,295
	Fiscal 2016		$	6,206
	Fiscal 2017 and thereafter		$	1,639

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	9 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt	Sep. 28, 2013
Long-Term Debt	'
	5	Long-Term Debt
	The components of the Company’s long-term debt are as follows:


			September 28, 2013					December 29, 2012
					Effective					Effective
			Balance		Rate			Balance		Rate
	Revolving Facility due April 2, 2018		$	0		0	%	$	0		0	%
	Tranche B-1 Term Facility due April 2, 2016			299,250		2.99	%		0		0	%
	Tranche B-2 Term Facility due April 2, 2020			2,094,750		3.75	%		0		0	%
	Revolver A-1 due June 30, 2014			0		0	%		6,374		3.12	%
	Revolver A-2 due March 15, 2017			0		0	%		23,626		2.56	%
	Term A-1 Loan due January 26, 2013			0		0	%		38,226		1.53	%
	Term B Loan due January 26, 2014			0		0	%		129,445		1.9	%
	Term C Loan due June 30, 2015			0		0	%		113,808		2.72	%
	Term D Loan due June 30, 2016			0		0	%		118,217		2.77	%
	Term E Loan due March 15, 2017			0		0	%		1,154,651		2.53	%
	Term F Loan due March 15, 2019			0		0	%		822,017		3.92	%

	Total Debt			2,394,000		3.43	%		2,406,364		2.91	%
	Less Current Portion			24,000					114,695

	Total Long-Term Debt		$	2,370,000				$	2,291,669

	The Company’s credit facilities at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2013 consisted of the following term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities: a tranche A-1 loan (“Term A-1 Loan”), a tranche B loan (“Term B Loan”), a tranche C loan (“Term C Loan”), a tranche D loan (“Term D Loan”), a tranche E loan (“Term E Loan”), a tranche F loan (“Term F Loan”), revolving credit facility A-1 (“Revolver A-1” ) and revolving credit facility A-2 (“Revolver A-2”).
	On April 2, 2013, the Company refinanced its credit facilities pursuant to a Credit Agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and an issuing bank, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as revolving agent, swingline lender and an issuing bank, and the other parties thereto. The New Credit Agreement provides for (a) a revolving credit facility (including swing line loans and letters of credit) in an initial aggregate principal amount of $250,000 that will mature on April 2, 2018 (the “Revolving Facility”), (b) an initial term B-1 loan credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000 that will mature on April 2, 2016 (the “Tranche B-1 Term Facility”) and (c) an initial term B-2 loan credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $2,100,000 that will mature on April 2, 2020 (the “Tranche B-2 Term Facility”, and together with the Tranche B-1 Term Facility, the “Term Facilities”; the Term Facilities and Revolving Facility collectively, the “WWI Credit Facility”). In connection with this refinancing, the Company used the proceeds from borrowings under the Term Facilities to pay off a total of $2,399,904 of outstanding loans, consisting of $128,759 of Term B Loans, $110,602 of Term C Loans, $117,612 of Term D Loans, $1,125,044 of Term E Loans, $817,887 of Term F Loans, $21,247 of loans under the Revolver A-1 and $78,753 of loans under the Revolver A-2. Following the refinancing of a total of $2,399,904 of loans, at April 2, 2013, the Company had $2,400,000 debt outstanding under the Term Facilities and $248,848 of availability under the Revolving Facility. The Company incurred fees of approximately $45,000 during the second quarter of fiscal 2013 in connection with this refinancing. In the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company wrote-off fees associated with this refinancing which resulted in the Company recording a charge of $21,685 in early extinguishment of debt.
	At September 28, 2013, the Company had $2,394,000 outstanding under the WWI Credit Facility, consisting entirely of term loans and there were no loans outstanding under the Revolving Facility. In addition, at September 28, 2013, the Revolving Facility had $1,152 in issued but undrawn letters of credit outstanding thereunder and $248,848 in available unused commitments thereunder. The proceeds from borrowings under the Revolving Facility (including swing line loans and letters of credit) will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
	Borrowings under the New Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option, LIBOR plus an applicable margin or a base rate plus an applicable margin. LIBOR under the Tranche B-2 Term Facility is subject to a minimum interest rate of 0.75% and the base rate under the Tranche B-2 Term Facility is subject to a minimum interest rate of 1.75%. The applicable margin relating to both of the Term Facilities will increase by 25 basis points in the event that the Company receives a corporate rating of BB- (or lower) from S&P and a corporate rating of Ba3 (or lower) from Moody’s. The applicable margin relating to the Revolving Facility will fluctuate depending upon the Company’s total leverage ratio. At September 28, 2013, borrowings under the Tranche B-1 Term Facility bore interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 2.75% and borrowings under the Tranche B-2 Term Facility bore interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 3.00%. At the Company’s total leverage ratio as of September 28, 2013, had there been any borrowings under the Revolving Facility, it would have borne interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 2.25% or base rate plus an applicable margin of 1.25%. On a quarterly basis, the Company will pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the Revolving Facility in respect of unutilized commitments thereunder, which commitment fee will fluctuate depending upon the Company’s total leverage ratio. At the Company’s total leverage ratio as of September 28, 2013, the commitment fee was 0.40% per annum. The Company also will pay customary letter of credit fees and fronting fees under the Revolving Facility.
	The New Credit Agreement contains customary covenants including covenants that, in certain circumstances, restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends on and redeem capital stock, make other payments, including investments, sell its assets and enter into consolidations, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of its assets. The Revolving Facility also requires the Company to maintain the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the New Credit Agreement), but only if borrowings under the Revolving Facility exceed 20.0% of revolving commitments. The Term Facilities do not require the Company to maintain any financial ratios. The WWI Credit Facility is guaranteed by certain of the Company’s existing and future subsidiaries. Substantially all of the Company’s assets secure the WWI Credit Facility.
	At September 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the Company’s debt consisted entirely of variable-rate instruments. Interest rate swaps were entered into to hedge a portion of the cash flow exposure associated with the Company’s variable-rate borrowings. The average interest rate on the Company’s debt, exclusive of the impact of swaps, was approximately 3.65% and 2.99% per annum at September 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share	Sep. 28, 2013
Earnings Per Share	'
	6	Earnings Per Share
	Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) are calculated utilizing the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted EPS is calculated utilizing the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented adjusted for the effect of dilutive common stock equivalents.

	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS:


			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 28,		September 29,		September 28,		September 29,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Net income		$	60,258	$	67,364	$	173,927	$	199,431

	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding			56,321		55,635		56,056		61,828
	Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents			183		487		292		658

	Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding			56,504		56,122		56,348		62,486

	Earnings per share
	Basic		$	1.07	$	1.21	$	3.1	$	3.23

	Diluted		$	1.07	$	1.2	$	3.09	$	3.19

	The number of anti-dilutive common stock equivalents excluded from the calculation of the weighted average number of common shares for diluted EPS was 1,355 and 766 for the three months ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively, and 1,294 and 462 for the nine months ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.

Stock_Plans

Stock Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Stock Plans	'
	7	Stock Plans
	On May 6, 2008 and May 12, 2004, respectively, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”) and the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan” and together with the 2008 Plan, the “Stock Plans”). These plans are designed to promote the long-term financial interests and growth of the Company by attracting, motivating and retaining employees with the ability to contribute to the success of the business and to align compensation for the Company’s employees over a multi-year period directly with the interests of the shareholders of the Company. The Company’s Board of Directors or a committee thereof administers the Stock Plans.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Income Taxes	'
	8	Income Taxes
	The effective tax rate for both the three months and nine months ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012 was 38.5%. For both the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, the primary differences between the US federal statutory tax rate and the Company’s consolidated effective tax rate were state income taxes and increases in valuation allowances, offset by lower rates in certain foreign jurisdictions.

Legal

Legal	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Legal	'
	9	Legal
	Due to the nature of the Company’s activities, it is also, at times, subject to pending and threatened legal actions that arise out of the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, based in part upon advice of legal counsel, the disposition of any such matters is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed

Derivative Instruments and Hedging	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging	'
	10	Derivative Instruments and Hedging
	As of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, the Company had in effect an interest rate swap with a notional amount totaling $467,500 and $640,500, respectively. In January 2009, the Company entered into this forward-starting interest rate swap with an effective date of January 4, 2010 and a termination date of January 27, 2014. During the remaining term of this forward-starting interest rate swap, the notional amount will fluctuate, but will be no higher than the amount outstanding as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2013. The initial notional amount of this swap was $425,000 and the highest notional amount since its effective date was $755,000. Effective April 2, 2013, due to the Company’s debt refinancing, the Company ceased the application of hedge accounting for this swap. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of this swap have been recorded in earnings subsequent to April 2, 2013 and were immaterial for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013.
	On July 26, 2013, in order to hedge an additional portion of its variable rate debt, the Company entered into a forward-starting interest rate swap with an effective date of March 31, 2014 and a termination date of April 2, 2020. The initial notional amount of this swap is $1,500,000. During the term of this swap, the notional amount will decrease and the highest notional amount will be $1,500,000. This swap qualifies for hedge accounting and, therefore, changes in the fair value of this swap have been recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
	As of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, cumulative unrealized losses for qualifying hedges were reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the amounts of $10,902 ($17,873 before taxes) and $8,456 ($13,863 before taxes), respectively.
	The Company expects approximately $9,104 ($14,924 before taxes) of derivative losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income at September 28, 2013, based on current market rates, will be reclassified into earnings within the next twelve months.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements	Sep. 28, 2013
Fair Value Measurements	'
	11	Fair Value Measurements
	Accounting guidance on fair value measurements for certain financial assets and liabilities requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

		•		Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

		•		Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

		•		Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
	When measuring fair value, the Company is required to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The Company’s significant financial instruments include long-term debt and interest rate swap agreements.
	The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is determined by utilizing average bid prices on or near the end of each fiscal quarter (Level 2 input). As of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was approximately $2,355,846 and $2,390,017, respectively.
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	The fair values for the Company’s derivative financial instruments are determined using observable current market information such as the prevailing LIBOR interest rate and LIBOR yield curve rates and include consideration of counterparty credit risk. See Note 10 for disclosures related to derivative financial instruments.

	The following table presents the aggregate fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments:


					Fair Value Measurements Using:
					Quoted Prices in				Significant
			Total		Active Markets		Significant Other		Unobservable
			Fair		for Identical Assets		Observable Inputs		Inputs
			Value		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Interest rate swap asset at September 28, 2013		$	0	$	0	$	0	$	0
	Interest rate swap asset at December 29, 2012		$	0	$	0	$	0	$	0
	Interest rate swap liability at September 28, 2013		$	18,036	$	0	$	18,036	$	0
	Interest rate swap liability at December 29, 2012		$	13,871	$	0	$	13,871	$	0

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	9 Months Ended
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Sep. 28, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	12	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:
	Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component ^(a)


			Nine Months Ended September 28, 2013
			Loss on			Foreign			Total
			Qualifying			Currency
			Hedges			Translation
						Adjustments
	Beginning Balance at December 29, 2012		$	(6,602	)	$	19,461		$	12,859

	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax			(8,922	)		(2,903	)		(11,825	)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax ^(b)			4,622			0			4,622

	Net current period other comprehensive loss			(4,300	)		(2,903	)		(7,203	)

	Ending Balance at September 28, 2013		$	(10,902	)	$	16,558		$	5,656


		(a)	Amounts in parentheses indicate debits
		(b)	See separate table below for details about these reclassifications

	Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ^(a)


			Amounts Reclassified from
			Accumulated Other Comprehensive
			Income
	Details about Other		Three Months			Nine Months			Affected Line Item in the
	Comprehensive Income		Ended			Ended			Statement Where Net Income is
	Components		September 28,			September 28,			Presented
			2013			2013
	Loss on Qualifying Hedges
	Interest rate contracts		$	(2,460	)	$	(7,577	)	Interest expense

				(2,460	)		(7,577	)	Income before income taxes
				960			2,955		Provision for income taxes

			$	(1,500	)	$	(4,622	)	Net income

	(a) Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to profit / loss

Segment_Data

Segment Data	9 Months Ended
Segment Data	Sep. 28, 2013
Segment Data	'
	13	Segment Data
	The Company has two reportable segments: WWI and WW.com. WWI has multiple operating segments which have been aggregated into one reportable segment. WWI and WW.com are two separate and distinct businesses for which discrete financial information is available. This discrete financial information is maintained and managed separately and is reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision maker.
	Information about the Company’s reportable segments is as follows:


			Three Months Ended September 28, 2013
			WWI			WW.com			Consolidated
	Total revenue		$	267,327		$	126,571		$	393,898


	Depreciation and amortization		$	10,739		$	2,815		$	13,554


	Operating income		$	41,919		$	82,601		$	124,520

	Interest expense									26,892
	Other income, net									(352	)
	Provision for taxes									37,722

	Net income								$	60,258



			Three Months Ended September 29, 2012
			WWI			WW.com			Consolidated
	Total revenue		$	305,657		$	124,953		$	430,610


	Depreciation and amortization		$	8,660		$	2,363		$	11,023


	Operating income		$	60,476		$	71,508		$	131,984

	Interest expense									23,225
	Other income, net									(756	)
	Provision for taxes									42,151

	Net income								$	67,364



			Nine Months Ended September 28, 2013
			WWI			WW.com			Consolidated
	Total revenue		$	931,437		$	414,518		$	1,345,955


	Depreciation and amortization		$	30,543		$	8,287		$	38,830


	Operating income		$	143,500		$	238,115		$	381,615

	Interest expense									76,298
	Other expense, net									802
	Early extinguishment of debt									21,685
	Provision for taxes									108,903

	Net income								$	173,927



			Nine Months Ended September 29, 2012
			WWI			WW.com			Consolidated
	Total revenue		$	1,029,524		$	389,373		$	1,418,897


Depreciation and amortization		$	24,597		$	7,262		$	31,859


Operating income		$	199,461		$	188,805		$	388,266

Interest expense									60,149
Other expense, net									2,531
Early extinguishment of debt									1,328
Provision for taxes									124,827

Net income								$	199,431

There has not been a material change in total assets from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2012.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 28, 2013
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:
	In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued updated guidance on the reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. This guidance requires companies to present either parenthetically on the face of the financial statements or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. An entity would not need to show the income statement line item affected for certain components that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, and such adoption did not affect the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
Reclassification	'
	Reclassification:
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Franchise_Rights_Acquired_Good1

Franchise Rights Acquired, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
Changes in Carrying Value of Franchise Rights Acquired	'
	For the nine months ended September 28, 2013, the change in the carrying value of franchise rights acquired is due to the Company’s acquisitions of certain of its franchisees during fiscal 2013, as described in Note 3, and the effect of exchange rate changes as follows:


		WWI			WW.com
		Segment			Segment			Total
	Balance as of December 29, 2012	$	777,826		$	9,181		$	787,007
	Franchise rights acquired during the period		30,867			29,123			59,990
	Effect of exchange rate changes		(5,257	)		(307	)		(5,564	)

	Balance as of September 28, 2013	$	803,436		$	37,997		$	841,433

Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill	'
	For the nine months ended September 28, 2013, the change in the carrying amount of goodwill is due to the Company’s acquisitions of certain of its franchisees during fiscal 2013, as described in Note 3, and the effect of exchange rate changes as follows:


		WWI			WW.com
		Segment			Segment			Total
	Balance as of December 29, 2012	$	28,721		$	30,693		$	59,414
	Goodwill acquired during the period		9,556			7,303			16,859
	Effect of exchange rate changes		(200	)		(149	)		(349	)

	Balance as of September 28, 2013	$	38,077		$	37,847		$	75,924

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class	'
	The carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets as of September 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 was as follows:


		September 28, 2013						December 29, 2012
		Gross						Gross
		Carrying			Accumulated			Carrying			Accumulated
		Amount			Amortization			Amount			Amortization
	Capitalized software costs	$	89,972		$	63,252		$	86,857		$	54,134
	Trademarks		10,623			9,880			10,342			9,615
	Website development costs		68,048			45,637			57,042			38,357
	Other		7,025			6,725			7,034			6,689

		$	175,668		$	125,494		$	161,275		$	108,795

Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense	'
	Estimated amortization expense of existing finite-lived intangible assets for the next five fiscal years is as follows:


	Remainder of fiscal 2013	$	5,557
	Fiscal 2014	$	21,477
	Fiscal 2015	$	15,295
	Fiscal 2016	$	6,206
	Fiscal 2017 and thereafter	$	1,639

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt (Tables)	Sep. 28, 2013
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments	'
	The components of the Company’s long-term debt are as follows:


		September 28, 2013					December 29, 2012
				Effective					Effective
		Balance		Rate			Balance		Rate
	Revolving Facility due April 2, 2018	$	0		0	%	$	0		0	%
	Tranche B-1 Term Facility due April 2, 2016		299,250		2.99	%		0		0	%
	Tranche B-2 Term Facility due April 2, 2020		2,094,750		3.75	%		0		0	%
	Revolver A-1 due June 30, 2014		0		0	%		6,374		3.12	%
	Revolver A-2 due March 15, 2017		0		0	%		23,626		2.56	%
	Term A-1 Loan due January 26, 2013		0		0	%		38,226		1.53	%
	Term B Loan due January 26, 2014		0		0	%		129,445		1.9	%
	Term C Loan due June 30, 2015		0		0	%		113,808		2.72	%
	Term D Loan due June 30, 2016		0		0	%		118,217		2.77	%
	Term E Loan due March 15, 2017		0		0	%		1,154,651		2.53	%
	Term F Loan due March 15, 2019		0		0	%		822,017		3.92	%

	Total Debt		2,394,000		3.43	%		2,406,364		2.91	%
	Less Current Portion		24,000					114,695

	Total Long-Term Debt	$	2,370,000				$	2,291,669

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share (Tables)	Sep. 28, 2013
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS:


		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 28,		September 29,		September 28,		September 29,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Net income	$	60,258	$	67,364	$	173,927	$	199,431

	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		56,321		55,635		56,056		61,828
	Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents		183		487		292		658

	Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		56,504		56,122		56,348		62,486

	Earnings per share
	Basic	$	1.07	$	1.21	$	3.1	$	3.23

	Diluted	$	1.07	$	1.2	$	3.09	$	3.19

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	Sep. 28, 2013
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	The following table presents the aggregate fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments:


				Fair Value Measurements Using:
				Quoted Prices in				Significant
		Total		Active Markets		Significant Other		Unobservable
		Fair		for Identical Assets		Observable Inputs		Inputs
		Value		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Interest rate swap asset at September 28, 2013	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	0
	Interest rate swap asset at December 29, 2012	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	0
	Interest rate swap liability at September 28, 2013	$	18,036	$	0	$	18,036	$	0
	Interest rate swap liability at December 29, 2012	$	13,871	$	0	$	13,871	$	0

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	Sep. 28, 2013
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component	'
	Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component ^(a)


			Nine Months Ended September 28, 2013
			Loss on			Foreign			Total
			Qualifying			Currency
			Hedges			Translation
						Adjustments
	Beginning Balance at December 29, 2012		$	(6,602	)	$	19,461		$	12,859

	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax			(8,922	)		(2,903	)		(11,825	)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax ^(b)			4,622			0			4,622

	Net current period other comprehensive loss			(4,300	)		(2,903	)		(7,203	)

	Ending Balance at September 28, 2013		$	(10,902	)	$	16,558		$	5,656


		(a)	Amounts in parentheses indicate debits
		(b)	See separate table below for details about these reclassifications
Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ^(a)


			Amounts Reclassified from
			Accumulated Other Comprehensive
			Income
	Details about Other		Three Months			Nine Months			Affected Line Item in the
	Comprehensive Income		Ended			Ended			Statement Where Net Income is
	Components		September 28,			September 28,			Presented
			2013			2013
	Loss on Qualifying Hedges
	Interest rate contracts		$	(2,460	)	$	(7,577	)	Interest expense

				(2,460	)		(7,577	)	Income before income taxes
				960			2,955		Provision for income taxes

			$	(1,500	)	$	(4,622	)	Net income

	(a) Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to profit / loss

Segment_Data_Tables

Segment Data (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Segment Data (Tables)	Sep. 28, 2013
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment	'
	Information about the Company’s reportable segments is as follows:


			Three Months Ended September 28, 2013
			WWI			WW.com			Consolidated
	Total revenue		$	267,327		$	126,571		$	393,898


	Depreciation and amortization		$	10,739		$	2,815		$	13,554


	Operating income		$	41,919		$	82,601		$	124,520

	Interest expense									26,892
	Other income, net									(352	)
	Provision for taxes									37,722

	Net income								$	60,258



			Three Months Ended September 29, 2012
			WWI			WW.com			Consolidated
	Total revenue		$	305,657		$	124,953		$	430,610


	Depreciation and amortization		$	8,660		$	2,363		$	11,023


	Operating income		$	60,476		$	71,508		$	131,984

	Interest expense									23,225
	Other income, net									(756	)
	Provision for taxes									42,151

	Net income								$	67,364



			Nine Months Ended September 28, 2013
			WWI			WW.com			Consolidated
	Total revenue		$	931,437		$	414,518		$	1,345,955


	Depreciation and amortization		$	30,543		$	8,287		$	38,830


	Operating income		$	143,500		$	238,115		$	381,615

	Interest expense									76,298
	Other expense, net									802
	Early extinguishment of debt									21,685
	Provision for taxes									108,903

	Net income								$	173,927



			Nine Months Ended September 29, 2012
			WWI			WW.com			Consolidated
	Total revenue		$	1,029,524		$	389,373		$	1,418,897


Depreciation and amortization		$	24,597		$	7,262		$	31,859


Operating income		$	199,461		$	188,805		$	388,266

Interest expense									60,149
Other expense, net									2,531
Early extinguishment of debt									1,328
Provision for taxes									124,827

Net income								$	199,431

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2012
Cash provided by operating activities	'
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Statement Adjustment	$1,288
Cash provided by operating activities \| Foreign Currency	'
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Statement Adjustment	11,510
Cash and cash equivalents	'
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Statement Adjustment	$5,730

Acquisitions_of_Franchisees_Ad

Acquisitions of Franchisees - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

Sep. 28, 2013

Dec. 29, 2012

Sep. 10, 2012

Nov. 02, 2012

Dec. 20, 2012

Mar. 04, 2013

Jul. 15, 2013

Jul. 22, 2013

Oct. 28, 2013

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Slengora Limited

Adirondacks Inc

Mid South Inc

Alberta Ltd and Saskatchewan Ltd

West Virginia, Inc.

Columbus, Inc.

Northern Nevada, Inc.

Columbus, Inc. and Northern Nevada, Inc.

Manitoba Ltd

Franklin and St Lawrence Counties Inc

Customer Relationships

Franchise Rights

Customer Relationships

Franchise Rights

Customer Relationships

Franchise Rights

Preliminary Allocation

Subsequent Event

Customer Relationships

Franchise Rights

Customer Relationships

Franchise Rights

Customer Relationships

Franchise Rights

Business Acquisition

Business acquisition, net purchase price

$16,755

$3,400

$10,000

$35,000

$16,028

$23,357

$3,969

$5,197

$274

Business acquisition, assumed liabilities

245

143

Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, intangible assets

180

9,871

2,216

209

8,396

473

30,633

453

9,938

568

19,419

Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, goodwill

75,924

59,414

6,779

1,156

1,461

4,626

5,400

6,833

Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, inventory

218

316

Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, fixed assets

182

209

363

Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, prepaid expenses and other current assets

Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, deferred revenue

114

1,135

Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, receivables

Business acquisition, assets and liabilities assumed

$28

Changes_in_Carrying_Value_of_F

Changes in Carrying Value of Franchise Rights Acquired (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013
Franchise Rights Acquired [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	$787,007
Franchise rights acquired during the period	59,990
Effect of exchange rate changes	-5,564
Ending balance	841,433
WWI	'
Franchise Rights Acquired [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	777,826
Franchise rights acquired during the period	30,867
Effect of exchange rate changes	-5,257
Ending balance	803,436
WW.com	'
Franchise Rights Acquired [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	9,181
Franchise rights acquired during the period	29,123
Effect of exchange rate changes	-307
Ending balance	$37,997

Changes_in_Carrying_Amount_of_

Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	$59,414
Goodwill acquired during the period	16,859
Effect of exchange rate changes	-349
Ending balance	75,924
WWI	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	28,721
Goodwill acquired during the period	9,556
Effect of exchange rate changes	-200
Ending balance	38,077
WW.com	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	30,693
Goodwill acquired during the period	7,303
Effect of exchange rate changes	-149
Ending balance	$37,847

Franchise_Rights_Acquired_Good2

Franchise Rights Acquired, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure	'	'	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, aggregate amortization expense	$6,413	$4,323	$18,076	$12,791

Carrying_Amount_of_FiniteLived

Carrying Amount of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	$175,668	$161,275
Accumulated Amortization	125,494	108,795
Capitalized software costs	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	89,972	86,857
Accumulated Amortization	63,252	54,134
Trademarks	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	10,623	10,342
Accumulated Amortization	9,880	9,615
Website development costs	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	68,048	57,042
Accumulated Amortization	45,637	38,357
Other	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	7,025	7,034
Accumulated Amortization	$6,725	$6,689

Estimated_Amortization_Expense

Estimated Amortization Expense of Existing Finite-Lived Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013
Expected Amortization Expense	'
Remainder of fiscal 2013	$5,557
Fiscal 2014	21,477
Fiscal 2015	15,295
Fiscal 2016	6,206
Fiscal 2017 and thereafter	$1,639

Components_of_LongTerm_Debt_De

Components of Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	$2,394,000	$2,406,364
Less Current Portion	24,000	114,695
Effective Interest Rate	3.43%	2.91%
Total Long-Term Debt	2,370,000	2,291,669
Revolving Facility due April 2, 2018	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	0	0
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Tranche B-1 Term Facility due April 2, 2016	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	299,250	0
Effective Interest Rate	2.99%	0.00%
Tranche B-2 Term Facility due April 2, 2020	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	2,094,750	0
Effective Interest Rate	3.75%	0.00%
Revolver A-1 Loan due June 30, 2014	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	0	6,374
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	3.12%
Revolver A-2 Loan due March 15, 2017	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	0	23,626
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	2.56%
Term A-1 Loan due January 26, 2013	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	0	38,226
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	1.53%
Term B Loan due January 26, 2014	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	0	129,445
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	1.90%
Term C Loan due June 30, 2015	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	0	113,808
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	2.72%
Term D Loan due June 30, 2016	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	0	118,217
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	2.77%
Term E Loan due March 15, 2017	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	0	1,154,651
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	2.53%
Term F Loan due March 15, 2019	'	'
Debt Instrument	'	'
Total Debt	$0	$822,017
Effective Interest Rate	0.00%	3.92%

LongTerm_Debt_Additional_Infor

Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Apr. 30, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Jun. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 29, 2012

Dec. 29, 2012

Apr. 02, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Apr. 02, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Apr. 02, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Apr. 30, 2013

Apr. 02, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Tranche B-2 Term Facility due April 2, 2020

Tranche B-1 Term Facility due April 2, 2016

Revolving Facility due April 2, 2018

Term B Loan due January 26, 2014

Term C Loan due June 30, 2015

Term D Loan due June 30, 2016

Term E Loan due March 15, 2017

Term F Loan due March 15, 2019

Revolver A-1 Loan due June 30, 2014

Revolver A-2 Loan due March 15, 2017

Term Loan Facility

WWI Credit Facility

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

Base Rate Plus

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

Base Rate Plus

Debt Instrument

WWI Credit Facility, maximum borrowing capacity

$2,100,000

$300,000

$250,000

Fees incurred in connection with debt refinancing

45,000

Payments of term loan

2,399,904

2,412,364

86,603

128,759

110,602

117,612

1,125,044

817,887

21,247

78,753

Early extinguishment of debt charge

21,685

1,328

Credit facility available amount

248,848

Debt outstanding amount

2,400,000

Line of credit facility, aggregate principal amount outstanding

2,394,000

Line of credit facility, issued but undrawn letters of credit

$1,152

WWI Credit Facility, minimum interest rate

0.75%

1.75%

WWI Credit Facility, additional interest rate

3.00%

2.75%

2.25%

1.25%

Additional applicable margin in the event the Company receives a corporate rating of BB- from S&P (or lower) and a corporate rating of Ba3 from Moody's (or lower)

0.25%

Revolving credit facility, commitment fee on unused commitments

0.40%

Credit agreement customary covenants, percentage by which borrowings under Revolving Facility to exceed revolving commitments to require maintenance of specified financial ratio

20.00%

Average interest rate on debt

3.65%

2.99%

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut

Computation of Basic and Diluted EPS (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Numerator:	'	'	'	'
Net income	$60,258	$67,364	$173,927	$199,431
Denominator:	'	'	'	'
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding	56,321	55,635	56,056	61,828
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents	183	487	292	658
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding	56,504	56,122	56,348	62,486
Earnings per share	'	'	'	'
Basic	$1.07	$1.21	$3.10	$3.23
Diluted	$1.07	$1.20	$3.09	$3.19

Earnings_Per_Share_Additional_

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS	1,355	766	1,294	462

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Income Taxes	'	'	'	'
Effective income tax rate	38.50%	38.50%	38.50%	38.50%

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed1

Derivative Instruments and Hedging - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Jan. 01, 2011	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Jul. 26, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Jul. 26, 2013	Jan. 01, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified		Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap	Interest Rate Swap
						Cash Flow Hedging	Cash Flow Hedging	Cash Flow Hedging	Cash Flow Hedging	Cash Flow Hedging	Cash Flow Hedging
									Maximum	Forward starting swaps	Forward starting swaps
											Maximum
Derivative	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Notional amount	'	'	'	'	'	$467,500	$1,500,000	$640,500	$1,500,000	$425,000	$755,000
Forward starting interest rate swap, termination date	'	2-Apr-20	27-Jan-14	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Forward-starting interest rate swap, effective date	'	31-Mar-14	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cumulative losses for qualifying hedges reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	'	'	'	10,902	8,456	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cumulative losses for qualifying hedges reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), before tax	'	'	'	17,873	13,863	'	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) that are expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months, net of tax	9,104	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) that are expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months, before tax	$14,924	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure	'	'
Fair value of long-term debt	$2,355,846	$2,390,017

Aggregate_Fair_Value_of_Deriva

Aggregate Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, Interest Rate Swap, USD $)	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'	'
Interest rate swap asset	$0	$0
Interest rate swap liability	18,036	13,871
Fair Value Measurements Using Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'	'
Interest rate swap asset	0	0
Interest rate swap liability	0	0
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'	'
Interest rate swap asset	0	0
Interest rate swap liability	18,036	13,871
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'	'
Interest rate swap asset	0	0
Interest rate swap liability	$0	$0

Changes_in_Accumulated_Other_C

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013		Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013		Sep. 29, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Beginning Balance	'		'	$12,859	[1]	'
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax	'		'	-11,825	[1]	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	'		'	4,622	[1],[2]	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	-5,274		2,410	-7,203	[1]	5,884
Ending Balance	5,656	[1]	'	5,656	[1]	'
Loss on Qualifying Hedges	'		'	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Beginning Balance	'		'	-6,602	[1]	'
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax	'		'	-8,922	[1]	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	'		'	4,622	[1],[2]	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	'		'	-4,300	[1]	'
Ending Balance	-10,902	[1]	'	-10,902	[1]	'
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	'		'	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Beginning Balance	'		'	19,461	[1]	'
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax	'		'	-2,903	[1]	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	'		'	0	[1],[2]	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	'		'	-2,903	[1]	'
Ending Balance	$16,558	[1]	'	$16,558	[1]	'

[1]	Amounts in parentheses indicate debits
[2]	See separate table below for details about these reclassifications

Reclassifications_out_of_Accum

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) (Loss on Qualifying Hedges, Interest Rate Contract, USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013		Sep. 28, 2013
Loss on Qualifying Hedges \| Interest Rate Contract	'		'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'		'
Interest expense	($2,460)	[1]	($7,577)	[1]
Income before income taxes	-2,460	[1]	-7,577	[1]
Provision for income taxes	960	[1]	2,955	[1]
Net income	($1,500)	[1]	($4,622)	[1]

[1]	Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to profit / loss

Segment_Data_Additional_Inform

Segment Data - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013
	Segment
Segment Reporting Information	'
Number of reportable segments	2
WWI	'
Segment Reporting Information	'
Number of reportable segments	1

Information_About_Reportable_S

Information About Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Segment Reporting Information	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	$393,898	'	$430,610	$1,345,955	$1,418,897
Depreciation and amortization	13,554	'	11,023	38,830	31,859
Operating income	124,520	'	131,984	381,615	388,266
Interest expense	26,892	'	23,225	76,298	60,149
Other (income) expense, net	-352	'	-756	802	2,531
Early extinguishment of debt	0	21,685	0	21,685	1,328
Provision for taxes	37,722	'	42,151	108,903	124,827
Net income	60,258	'	67,364	173,927	199,431
WWI	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	267,327	'	305,657	931,437	1,029,524
Depreciation and amortization	10,739	'	8,660	30,543	24,597
Operating income	41,919	'	60,476	143,500	199,461
WW.com	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	126,571	'	124,953	414,518	389,373
Depreciation and amortization	2,815	'	2,363	8,287	7,262
Operating income	$82,601	'	$71,508	$238,115	$188,805