Papa John's International (PZZA) 10-Q4 Nov 142014 Q3 Quarterly reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information	Sep. 28, 2014	Oct. 28, 2014
Document and Entity Information	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	28-Sep-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'PZZA	'
Entity Registrant Name	'PAPA JOHNS INTERNATIONAL INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000901491	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-28	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	40,157,097

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$17,148	$13,670
Accounts receivable, net	57,262	53,203
Notes receivable, net	6,064	3,566
Inventories	34,428	23,035
Deferred income taxes	6,924	8,004
Prepaid expenses	11,881	14,336
Other current assets	9,815	9,226
Total current assets	143,522	125,040
Property and equipment, net	218,453	212,097
Notes receivable, less current portion, net	12,359	13,239
Goodwill	82,689	79,391
Other assets	35,158	34,524
Total assets	492,181	464,291
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	34,273	35,653
Income and other taxes payable	10,837	4,401
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	52,866	57,807
Total current liabilities	97,976	97,861
Deferred revenue	4,887	5,827
Long-term debt	224,684	157,900
Deferred income taxes	12,604	14,660
Other long-term liabilities	39,180	42,835
Total liabilities	379,331	319,083
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	8,970	7,024
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock ($0.01 par value per share; no shares issued)	'	'
Common stock ($0.01 par value per share; issued 43,236 at September 28, 2014 and 42,796 at December 29, 2013)	432	428
Additional paid-in capital	144,022	137,552
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,173	2,463
Retained earnings	77,268	41,297
Treasury stock (3,050 shares at September 28, 2014 and 1,129 shares at December 29, 2013, at cost)	-132,545	-44,066
Total stockholders' equity, net of noncontrolling interests	91,350	137,674
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	12,530	510
Total stockholders' equity	103,880	138,184
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	$492,181	$464,291

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	'	'
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares issued	43,236	42,796
Treasury stock, shares	3,050	1,129

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Total revenues	$390,399	$346,342	$1,172,640	$1,051,132
General and administrative expenses	33,671	31,780	104,199	98,064
Other general expenses	3,143	1,260	6,640	4,042
Depreciation and amortization	10,520	8,605	29,539	25,672
Total costs and expenses	365,213	324,894	1,088,453	973,111
Operating income	25,186	21,448	84,187	78,021
Net interest (expense) income	-968	-185	-2,323	147
Income before income taxes	24,218	21,263	81,864	78,168
Income tax expense	7,256	6,385	26,522	24,926
Net income before attribution to noncontrolling interests	16,962	14,878	55,342	53,242
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-887	-602	-3,208	-2,510
Net income attributable to the Company	16,075	14,276	52,134	50,732
Calculation of income for earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to the Company	16,075	14,276	52,134	50,732
Increase in noncontrolling interest redemption value	-42	'	-81	'
Net income attributable to participating securities	-77	'	-295	'
Net income attributable to common shareholders	15,956	14,276	51,758	50,732
Basic earnings per common share	$0.39	$0.33	$1.25	$1.16
Diluted earnings per common share	$0.39	$0.32	$1.23	$1.13
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	40,739	43,182	41,248	43,710
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	41,386	44,168	42,021	44,762
Dividends declared per common share	$0.14	$0.13	$0.39	$0.38
International	'	'	'	'
Royalties and franchise and development fees	6,673	5,454	18,769	15,912
Restaurant and commissary sales	19,719	16,934	56,825	47,539
International restaurant and commissary expenses	16,605	14,372	47,366	40,008
North America \| Domestic Company-owned restaurants	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	169,076	152,662	517,269	465,713
Cost of sales	42,460	38,233	129,646	113,131
Salaries and benefits	45,835	41,701	139,223	127,026
Advertising and related costs	15,369	14,424	46,979	43,894
Occupancy costs	10,344	9,583	29,101	27,233
Other operating expenses	25,343	23,061	75,850	68,237
Total costs and expenses	139,351	127,002	420,799	379,521
North America \| North America franchising	'	'	'	'
Franchise royalties	22,131	19,419	65,728	60,382
Franchise and development fees	217	263	493	1,028
North America \| Domestic commissaries	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	149,224	138,044	463,852	421,941
Cost of sales	116,908	107,930	364,302	326,529
Salaries and benefits	7,208	6,173	21,079	18,273
Other operating expenses	15,013	15,262	47,083	45,908
Total costs and expenses	139,129	129,365	432,464	390,710
North America \| Other	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	23,359	13,566	49,704	38,617
Other operating expenses	$22,794	$12,510	$47,446	$35,094

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	'	'	'	'
Net income before attribution to noncontrolling interests	$16,962	$14,878	$55,342	$53,242
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-1,634	1,980	-708	259
Interest rate swaps	694	-529	247	-456
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	-940	1,451	-461	-197
Income tax effect:	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	605	-733	262	-96
Interest rate swaps	-256	196	-91	169
Income tax effect	349	-537	171	73
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-591	914	-290	-124
Comprehensive income before attribution to noncontrolling interests	16,371	15,792	55,052	53,118
Comprehensive income, redeemable noncontrolling interests	-724	-602	-3,066	-2,510
Comprehensive income, nonredeemable noncontrolling interests	-163	'	-142	'
Comprehensive income attributable to the Company	$15,484	$15,190	$51,844	$50,608

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com1

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	'	'	'	'
Net interest (expense) income	($968)	($185)	($2,323)	$147
Income tax effects	7,256	6,385	26,522	24,926
Qualifying as hedges \| Interest rate swap \| Amount reclassified from AOCI	'	'	'	'
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	'	'	'	'
Net interest (expense) income	250	165	749	254
Income tax effects	$92	$61	$277	$94

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Operating activities	'	'
Net income before attribution to noncontrolling interests	$55,342	$53,242
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Provision for uncollectible accounts and notes receivable	1,714	1,130
Depreciation and amortization	29,539	25,672
Deferred income taxes	7,687	6,994
Stock-based compensation expense	5,958	5,642
Excess tax benefit on equity awards	-8,493	-4,108
Other	3,916	1,260
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-6,861	-4,666
Inventories	-9,792	-740
Prepaid expenses	2,461	410
Other current assets	-313	-129
Other assets and liabilities	3,887	-3,254
Accounts payable	-1,380	1,457
Income and other taxes payable	6,434	-4,511
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	-5,163	-3,217
Deferred revenue	-110	-349
Net cash provided by operating activities	84,826	74,833
Investing activities	'	'
Purchases of property and equipment	-37,700	-38,537
Loans issued	-5,221	-3,830
Repayments of loans issued	3,371	3,687
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-4,264	'
Other	25	324
Net cash used in investing activities	-43,789	-38,356
Financing activities	'	'
Net proceeds on line of credit facility	66,784	31,742
Cash dividends paid	-16,119	-5,414
Excess tax benefit on equity awards	8,493	4,108
Tax payments for equity award issuances	-7,540	-1,862
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	4,752	4,193
Acquisition of Company common stock	-94,152	-69,137
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders	1,086	850
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders	-1,200	-3,200
Other	423	-501
Net cash used in financing activities	-37,473	-39,221
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-86	37
Change in cash and cash equivalents	3,478	-2,707
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	13,670	16,396
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$17,148	$13,689

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation	Sep. 28, 2014
Basis of Presentation	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	1. Basis of Presentation

	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 28, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2014. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for Papa John’s International, Inc. (referred to as the “Company,” “Papa John’s” or in the first person notations of “we,” “us” and “our”) for the year ended December 29, 2013.

Significant_Accounting_Policie

Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies	Sep. 28, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies	'
Significant Accounting Policies	'
	2. Significant Accounting Policies

	Reclassifications

	Certain prior year amounts in the condensed consolidated statements of income have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, which had no effect on current or previously reported net income.

	Noncontrolling Interests

	Papa John’s has joint ventures in which there are noncontrolling interests, including the following as of September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013:

			Number of		Restaurant Locations		Papa John’s		Noncontrolling
			Restaurants				Ownership		Interest
									Ownership
	September 28, 2014
	Star Papa, LP		82		Texas		51	%	49	%
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC		56		Maryland and Virginia		70	%	30	%
	PJ Minnesota, LLC		34		Minnesota		70	%	30	%
	PJ Denver, LLC		25		Colorado		60	%	40	%

	September 29, 2013
	Star Papa, LP		78		Texas		51	%	49	%
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC		52		Maryland and Virginia		70	%	30	%
	PJ Minnesota, LLC		31		Minnesota		80	%	20	%
	PJ Denver, LLC		25		Colorado		60	%	40	%

	The noncontrolling interest holder’s ownership in PJ Minnesota, LLC increased from 20% to 30% during the third quarter of 2014 upon exercise of an option to acquire an additional 10% interest in the joint venture from the Company.

	We are required to report consolidated net income at amounts attributable to the Company and the noncontrolling interests. Additionally, disclosures are required to clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the Company and the interests of the noncontrolling owners, including a disclosure on the face of the condensed consolidated statements of income attributable to the noncontrolling interest holder.

	The income before income taxes attributable to the joint ventures for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013 was as follows (in thousands):

			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			Sept. 28,			Sept. 29,			Sept. 28,			Sept. 29,
			2014			2013			2014			2013

	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

	The following summarizes the redemption feature, location within the condensed consolidated balance sheets and the value at which the noncontrolling interests are recorded for each joint venture as of September 28, 2014:

	Joint Venture		Redemption Feature		Location within the		Recorded Value
					Condensed Consolidated
					Balance Sheets

	Star Papa, LP		Redeemable		Temporary equity		Carrying value
	PJ Denver, LLC		Redeemable		Temporary equity		Redemption value
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC		No redemption feature		Permanent equity		Carrying value
	PJ Minnesota, LLC		No redemption feature		Permanent equity		Carrying value

	The noncontrolling interest holders of two joint ventures have the option to require the Company to purchase their interests. Since redemption of the noncontrolling interests is outside of the Company’s control, the noncontrolling interests are presented in the caption “Redeemable noncontrolling interests” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and include the following joint ventures:

	· The Star Papa, LP agreement contains a redemption feature that is not currently redeemable, but it is probable to become redeemable in the future. Due to specific valuation provisions contained in the agreement, this noncontrolling interest has been recorded at its carrying value.

	· The PJ Denver, LLC agreement contains a redemption feature that is currently redeemable and, therefore, this noncontrolling interest has been recorded at its current redemption value. The change in redemption value is recorded as an adjustment to “Redeemable noncontrolling interests” and “Retained earnings” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

	The following summarizes changes in these redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):

	Balance at December 29, 2013		$	7,024
	Net income		1,865
	Change in redemption value		81
	Balance at September 28, 2014		$	8,970

Through August 24, 2014, the Colonel’s Limited, LLC agreement contained a mandatory redemption clause and, accordingly, the Company recorded this noncontrolling interest as a liability at its redemption value in other long-term liabilities. The redemption value was adjusted at each reporting date and any change was recorded in interest expense. In the current quarter, the mandatory redemption clause was removed via a contract amendment to the operating agreement. Upon the removal of this redemption feature, the noncontrolling interest for Colonel’s Limited, LLC was reclassified from other long-term liabilities to stockholders’ equity at the recorded amount, which approximated fair value, with no impact to income before income taxes. At September 28, 2014, the noncontrolling interest was recorded in stockholders’ equity at a carrying value of $11.5 million and was recorded at a redemption value of $10.8 million in other long-term liabilities at December 29, 2013. Future changes in the carrying value will be recorded in stockholders’ equity.

We recorded interest income of $25,000 through the date of the contract amendment in the third quarter of 2014 and $374,000 in the third quarter of 2013, and interest income of $4,000 and $1.1 million in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes and the related assets and liabilities. The provision for income taxes includes income taxes paid, currently payable or receivable and those deferred. We use an estimated annual effective rate based on expected annual income to determine our quarterly provision for income taxes. Discrete items are recorded in the quarter in which they occur.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for the estimated future effects of tax loss carryforwards. The effect on deferred taxes of changes in tax rates is recognized in the period in which the new tax is enacted. As a result, our effective tax rate may fluctuate. Valuation allowances are established when necessary on a jurisdictional basis to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts we expect to realize. As of September 28, 2014, we had a net deferred tax liability of approximately $5.7 million.

Tax authorities periodically audit the Company. We record reserves and related interest and penalties for identified exposures as income tax expense. We evaluate these issues on a quarterly basis to adjust for events, such as statute of limitations expirations, court rulings or audit settlements, which may impact our ultimate payment for such exposures.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

The Company is required to determine the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability to a market participant. Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity specific measurement. The fair value of certain assets and liabilities approximates carrying value because of the short-term nature of the accounts, including cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The carrying value of our notes receivable net of allowances also approximates fair value. The fair value of the amount outstanding under our revolving credit facility approximates its carrying value due to its variable market-based interest rate. These assets and liabilities are categorized as Level 1 as defined below.

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

· Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
· Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
· Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

Our financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

		Carrying			Fair Value Measurements
		Value			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3

September 28, 2014
Financial assets:
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)		$	17,814		$	17,814		$	—		$	—
Interest rate swap (b)		218			—			218			—

Financial liabilities:
Interest rate swap (b)		75			—			75			—

December 29, 2013
Financial assets:
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)		$	16,798		$	16,798		$	—		$	—

Financial liabilities:
Interest rate swap (b)		76			—			76			—

(a) Represents life insurance policies held in our non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
(b) The fair values of our interest rate swaps are based on the sum of all future net present value cash flows. The future cash flows are derived based on the terms of our interest rate swaps, as well as considering published discount factors, and projected London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”).

There were no transfers among levels within the fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended September 28, 2014.

Variable Interest Entities

Papa John’s domestic restaurants, both Company-owned and franchised, participate in Papa John’s Marketing Fund, Inc. (“PJMF”), a nonstock corporation designed to operate at break-even for the purpose of designing and administering advertising and promotional programs for all participating domestic restaurants. PJMF is a variable interest entity as it does not have sufficient equity to fund its operations without ongoing financial support and contributions from its members. Based on the ownership and governance structure and operating procedures of PJMF, we have determined that we do not have the power to direct the most significant activities of PJMF and therefore are not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, we determined that consolidation is not appropriate.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Accounting Standards update 2014-09), a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. This update requires companies to recognize revenue at amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services at the time of transfer. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under today’s guidance. Such estimates may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. Companies can either apply a full retrospective adoption or a modified retrospective adoption.

We are required to adopt the new requirements in the first quarter of 2017. We are currently evaluating the method of adoption and its impact of the new requirements on our consolidated financial statements. We currently do not believe the impact will be significant.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
Stockholders' Equity	Sep. 28, 2014
Stockholders' Equity	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	3. Stockholders’ Equity

	In the fourth quarter of 2013, we completed a two-for-one stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock in the form of a stock dividend. The stock dividend was distributed on December 27, 2013 with approximately 21.0 million shares of common stock distributed. In conjunction with the stock split, we also retired shares held in treasury. The per-share and share amounts for 2013 in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to the financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the stock split.

Calculation_of_Earnings_Per_Sh

Calculation of Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Calculation of Earnings Per Share	'
Calculation of Earnings Per Share	'
	4. Calculation of Earnings Per Share

	We compute earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method requires an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for common shareholders and participating security holders according to dividends declared and participating rights in undistributed earnings. We consider time-based restricted stock awards to be participating securities because holders of such shares have non-forfeitable dividend rights. Under the two-class method, undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities are subtracted from net income attributable to the Company in determining net income attributable to common shareholders.

	Additionally, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, the increase in the redemption value for the noncontrolling interest of PJ Denver, LLC reduces income attributable to common shareholders.

	The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per common share are as follows (in thousands, except per-share data):

		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 28,			Sept. 29,		Sept. 28,			Sept. 29,
		2014			2013		2014			2013

	Basic earnings per common share:
	Net income attributable to the Company	$	16,075		$	14,276	$	52,134		$	50,732
	Increase in noncontrolling interest redemption value	(42		)	—		(81		)	—
	Net income attributable to participating securities	(77		)	—		(295		)	—
	Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	15,956		$	14,276	$	51,758		$	50,732

	Weighted average common shares outstanding	40,739			43,182		41,248			43,710
	Basic earnings per common share	$	0.39		$	0.33	$	1.25		$	1.16

	Diluted earnings per common share:
	Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	15,956		$	14,276	$	51,758		$	50,732

	Weighted average common shares outstanding	40,739			43,182		41,248			43,710
	Dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards (a)	647			986		773			1,052
	Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	41,386			44,168		42,021			44,762
	Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.39		$	0.32	$	1.23		$	1.13

	(a) Excludes 270 and 208 awards for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014 and 24 and 129 awards for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, as the effect of including such awards would have been antidilutive.

Acquisition_of_Restaurants

Acquisition of Restaurants	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Acquisition of Restaurants	'
Acquisition of Restaurants	'
	5. Acquisition of Restaurants

	For the nine-month period ended September 28, 2014, we completed the acquisition of 12 franchised Papa John’s restaurants located in various markets as part of four separate transactions. The aggregate purchase price for these four transactions was $5.0 million, which was comprised of cash payments of approximately $4.3 million, amounts withheld in escrow of approximately $300,000, and the cancellation of approximately $400,000 in accounts and notes receivable due to us. These acquisitions were accounted for by the purchase method of accounting, whereby operating results subsequent to the acquisition date are included in our consolidated financial results.

	The aggregate purchase price of the acquisitions has been allocated based on initial fair value estimates as follows (in thousands):

	Property and equipment	$	453
	Reacquired franchise right	844
	Goodwill	3,568
	Other, including cash	117
	Total purchase price	$	4,982

	The excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair value of net assets acquired was allocated to goodwill, all of which is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
Debt	Sep. 28, 2014
Debt	'
Debt	'
	6. Debt

	Our debt is comprised entirely of a revolving line of credit. The outstanding balance was $224.7 million as of September 28, 2014 and $157.9 million as of December 29, 2013.

	In September 2010, we entered into a five-year, $175 million unsecured revolving credit facility, which was amended in November 2011 to extend the maturity date to November 30, 2016. On April 30, 2013, we amended and restated our revolving credit facility to increase the amount available for borrowing to $300 million and extend the maturity date to April 30, 2018. On October 31, 2014, we amended our unsecured revolving line of credit facility (“Amended Line”) to increase the amount available to $400 million and extend the maturity date to October 31, 2019. Additionally, we have the option to increase the Amended Line an additional $100 million. The interest rate charged on outstanding balances is LIBOR plus 75 to 175 basis points. The commitment fee on the unused balance ranges from 15 to 25 basis points. The remaining availability under the Amended Line, reduced for outstanding letters of credit approximates $148.4 million.

	The revolving credit facility contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including financial covenants requiring the maintenance of specified fixed charges and leverage ratios. At September 28, 2014, we were in compliance with these covenants.

	In August 2011, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement that resulted in a fixed rate of 0.53%, instead of the variable rate of LIBOR, with a notional amount of $50 million and a maturity date of August 2013. On December 31, 2012, we amended our interest rate swap agreement to extend the maturity date to December 30, 2015. The amendment resulted in a change to the fixed rate (to 0.56% from 0.53%) but did not impact the notional amount of the interest rate swap agreement. On July 30, 2013, we terminated the $50 million swap and entered into a new $75 million swap. The new swap has an interest rate of 1.42% and a maturity date of April 30, 2018. The termination of the previous swap did not have a material impact on our 2013 results. In May 2014, we entered into a $50 million forward interest rate swap with an interest rate of 1.36%, an effective date of December 30, 2014 and a maturity date of April 30, 2018.

	Our swaps are derivative instruments that are designated as cash flow hedges because the swaps provide a hedge against the effects of rising interest rates on borrowings. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the swaps is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the swaps affect earnings. Gains or losses on the swaps representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings. Amounts payable or receivable under the swaps are accounted for as adjustments to interest expense. As of September 28, 2014, the swaps are highly effective cash flow hedges with no ineffectiveness for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 28, 2014.

	The weighted average interest rates for our revolving credit facility, including the impact of the previously mentioned swap agreements, were 1.8% and 1.7% for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014, respectively. Interest paid, including payments made or received under the swap, was $1.0 million and $431,000 for the three months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, respectively, and $2.6 million and $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, respectively. As of September 28, 2014, the portion of the $143,000 net interest rate swap asset that would be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months as interest income approximates $40,000.

Litigation

Litigation	9 Months Ended
Litigation	Sep. 28, 2014
Litigation	'
Litigation	'
	7. Litigation

	Litigation

	The Company is involved in a number of lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including those specifically identified below, consisting of intellectual property, employment, consumer, commercial and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. In accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, the Company has made accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. We review these provisions at least quarterly and adjust these provisions to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel and other information and events pertaining to a particular case.

	Perrin v. Papa John’s International, Inc. and Papa John’s USA, Inc. is a conditionally certified collective action filed in August 2009 in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, alleging that delivery drivers were not reimbursed for mileage and expenses in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. Approximately 3,900 drivers out of a potential class size of 28,800 have opted into the action. In late December 2013, the District Court granted a motion for class certification in five additional states, which will add approximately 15,000 plaintiffs to the case. The trial is scheduled for August 2015.

	We intend to vigorously defend against all claims in this lawsuit. However, given the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the outcome of this case cannot be predicted and the amount of any potential loss cannot be reasonably estimated. A negative outcome in this case could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Segment Information	'
Segment Information	'
	8. Segment Information

	We have five reportable segments: domestic Company-owned restaurants, domestic commissaries, North America franchising, international operations, and “all other” units.

	The domestic Company-owned restaurant segment consists of the operations of all domestic (“domestic” is defined as contiguous United States) Company-owned restaurants and derives its revenues principally from retail sales of pizza and side items, such as breadsticks, cheesesticks, chicken poppers, chicken wings, cookie and dessert pizza and soft drinks to the general public. The domestic commissary segment consists of the operations of our regional dough production and product distribution centers and derives its revenues principally from the sale and distribution of food and paper products to domestic Company-owned and franchised restaurants. The North America franchising segment consists of our franchise sales and support activities and derives its revenues from sales of franchise and development rights and collection of royalties from our franchisees located in the United States and Canada. The international operations segment principally consists of Company-owned restaurants in China and distribution sales to franchised Papa John’s restaurants located in the United Kingdom, Mexico and China and our franchise sales and support activities, which derive revenues from sales of franchise and development rights and the collection of royalties from our international franchisees. International franchisees are defined as all franchise operations outside of the United States and Canada. All other business units that do not meet the quantitative thresholds for determining reportable segments, which are not operating segments, we refer to as our “all other” segment, which consists of operations that derive revenues from the sale, principally to Company-owned and franchised restaurants, of printing and promotional items, risk management services, and information systems and related services used in restaurant operations, including our point-of-sale system, online and other technology-based ordering platforms.

	Generally, we evaluate performance and allocate resources based on profit or loss from operations before income taxes and intercompany eliminations. Certain administrative and capital costs are allocated to segments based upon predetermined rates or actual estimated resource usage. We account for intercompany sales and transfers as if the sales or transfers were to third parties and eliminate the activity in consolidation.

	Our reportable segments are business units that provide different products or services. Separate management of each segment is required because each business unit is subject to different operational issues and strategies. No single external customer accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated revenues.

	Our segment information is as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 28, 2014			Sept. 29, 2013			Sept. 28, 2014			Sept. 29, 2013

	Revenues from external customers:
	Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	169,076		$	152,662		$	517,269		$	465,713
	Domestic commissaries	149,224			138,044			463,852			421,941
	North America franchising	22,348			19,682			66,221			61,410
	International	26,392			22,388			75,594			63,451
	All others	23,359			13,566			49,704			38,617
	Total revenues from external customers	$	390,399		$	346,342		$	1,172,640		$	1,051,132

	Intersegment revenues:
	Domestic commissaries	$	53,830		$	46,408		$	160,143		$	139,320
	North America franchising	574			530			1,761			1,635
	International	78			69			236			209
	All others	6,421			3,718			18,238			10,204
	Total intersegment revenues	$	60,903		$	50,725		$	180,378		$	151,368

	Income (loss) before income taxes:
	Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	8,133		$	5,535		$	32,069		$	24,666
	Domestic commissaries	8,897			6,473			26,174			26,278
	North America franchising	19,023			16,516			56,389			52,134
	International	1,436			945			4,071			2,152
	All others	(298		)	590			(150		)	2,402
	Unallocated corporate expenses	(12,242		)	(8,544		)	(35,405		)	(28,475		)
	Elimination of intersegment losses (profits)	(731		)	(252		)	(1,284		)	(989		)
	Total income before income taxes	$	24,218		$	21,263		$	81,864		$	78,168

	Property and equipment:
	Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	205,553
	Domestic commissaries	106,815
	International	26,317
	All others	44,686
	Unallocated corporate assets	164,718
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(329,636		)
	Net property and equipment	$	218,453

Significant_Accounting_Policie1

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 28, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies	'
Reclassifications	'
	Reclassifications

	Certain prior year amounts in the condensed consolidated statements of income have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, which had no effect on current or previously reported net income.
Noncontrolling Interests	'
	Noncontrolling Interests

	Papa John’s has joint ventures in which there are noncontrolling interests, including the following as of September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013:

		Number of		Restaurant Locations		Papa John’s		Noncontrolling
		Restaurants				Ownership		Interest
								Ownership
	September 28, 2014
	Star Papa, LP	82		Texas		51	%	49	%
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC	56		Maryland and Virginia		70	%	30	%
	PJ Minnesota, LLC	34		Minnesota		70	%	30	%
	PJ Denver, LLC	25		Colorado		60	%	40	%

	September 29, 2013
	Star Papa, LP	78		Texas		51	%	49	%
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC	52		Maryland and Virginia		70	%	30	%
	PJ Minnesota, LLC	31		Minnesota		80	%	20	%
	PJ Denver, LLC	25		Colorado		60	%	40	%

	The noncontrolling interest holder’s ownership in PJ Minnesota, LLC increased from 20% to 30% during the third quarter of 2014 upon exercise of an option to acquire an additional 10% interest in the joint venture from the Company.

	We are required to report consolidated net income at amounts attributable to the Company and the noncontrolling interests. Additionally, disclosures are required to clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the Company and the interests of the noncontrolling owners, including a disclosure on the face of the condensed consolidated statements of income attributable to the noncontrolling interest holder.

	The income before income taxes attributable to the joint ventures for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013 was as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 28,			Sept. 29,			Sept. 28,		Sept. 29,
		2014			2013			2014		2013

	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

	The following summarizes the redemption feature, location within the condensed consolidated balance sheets and the value at which the noncontrolling interests are recorded for each joint venture as of September 28, 2014:

	Joint Venture	Redemption Feature		Location within the		Recorded Value
				Condensed Consolidated
				Balance Sheets

	Star Papa, LP	Redeemable		Temporary equity		Carrying value
	PJ Denver, LLC	Redeemable		Temporary equity		Redemption value
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC	No redemption feature		Permanent equity		Carrying value
	PJ Minnesota, LLC	No redemption feature		Permanent equity		Carrying value

	The noncontrolling interest holders of two joint ventures have the option to require the Company to purchase their interests. Since redemption of the noncontrolling interests is outside of the Company’s control, the noncontrolling interests are presented in the caption “Redeemable noncontrolling interests” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and include the following joint ventures:

	· The Star Papa, LP agreement contains a redemption feature that is not currently redeemable, but it is probable to become redeemable in the future. Due to specific valuation provisions contained in the agreement, this noncontrolling interest has been recorded at its carrying value.

	· The PJ Denver, LLC agreement contains a redemption feature that is currently redeemable and, therefore, this noncontrolling interest has been recorded at its current redemption value. The change in redemption value is recorded as an adjustment to “Redeemable noncontrolling interests” and “Retained earnings” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

	The following summarizes changes in these redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):

	Balance at December 29, 2013	$	7,024
	Net income	1,865
	Change in redemption value	81
	Balance at September 28, 2014	$	8,970

	Through August 24, 2014, the Colonel’s Limited, LLC agreement contained a mandatory redemption clause and, accordingly, the Company recorded this noncontrolling interest as a liability at its redemption value in other long-term liabilities. The redemption value was adjusted at each reporting date and any change was recorded in interest expense. In the current quarter, the mandatory redemption clause was removed via a contract amendment to the operating agreement. Upon the removal of this redemption feature, the noncontrolling interest for Colonel’s Limited, LLC was reclassified from other long-term liabilities to stockholders’ equity at the recorded amount, which approximated fair value, with no impact to income before income taxes. At September 28, 2014, the noncontrolling interest was recorded in stockholders’ equity at a carrying value of $11.5 million and was recorded at a redemption value of $10.8 million in other long-term liabilities at December 29, 2013. Future changes in the carrying value will be recorded in stockholders’ equity.

	We recorded interest income of $25,000 through the date of the contract amendment in the third quarter of 2014 and $374,000 in the third quarter of 2013, and interest income of $4,000 and $1.1 million in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves	'
	Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves

	We are subject to income taxes in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes and the related assets and liabilities. The provision for income taxes includes income taxes paid, currently payable or receivable and those deferred. We use an estimated annual effective rate based on expected annual income to determine our quarterly provision for income taxes. Discrete items are recorded in the quarter in which they occur.

	Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for the estimated future effects of tax loss carryforwards. The effect on deferred taxes of changes in tax rates is recognized in the period in which the new tax is enacted. As a result, our effective tax rate may fluctuate. Valuation allowances are established when necessary on a jurisdictional basis to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts we expect to realize. As of September 28, 2014, we had a net deferred tax liability of approximately $5.7 million.

	Tax authorities periodically audit the Company. We record reserves and related interest and penalties for identified exposures as income tax expense. We evaluate these issues on a quarterly basis to adjust for events, such as statute of limitations expirations, court rulings or audit settlements, which may impact our ultimate payment for such exposures.
Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures	'
	Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

	The Company is required to determine the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability to a market participant. Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity specific measurement. The fair value of certain assets and liabilities approximates carrying value because of the short-term nature of the accounts, including cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The carrying value of our notes receivable net of allowances also approximates fair value. The fair value of the amount outstanding under our revolving credit facility approximates its carrying value due to its variable market-based interest rate. These assets and liabilities are categorized as Level 1 as defined below.

	Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

	· Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	· Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
	· Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

	Our financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

		Carrying			Fair Value Measurements
		Value			Level 1			Level 2		Level 3

	September 28, 2014
	Financial assets:
	Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)	$	17,814		$	17,814		$	—	$	—
	Interest rate swap (b)	218			—			218		—

	Financial liabilities:
	Interest rate swap (b)	75			—			75		—

	December 29, 2013
	Financial assets:
	Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)	$	16,798		$	16,798		$	—	$	—

	Financial liabilities:
	Interest rate swap (b)	76			—			76		—

	(a) Represents life insurance policies held in our non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
	(b) The fair values of our interest rate swaps are based on the sum of all future net present value cash flows. The future cash flows are derived based on the terms of our interest rate swaps, as well as considering published discount factors, and projected London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”).

	There were no transfers among levels within the fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended September 28, 2014.
Variable Interest Entities	'
	Variable Interest Entities

	Papa John’s domestic restaurants, both Company-owned and franchised, participate in Papa John’s Marketing Fund, Inc. (“PJMF”), a nonstock corporation designed to operate at break-even for the purpose of designing and administering advertising and promotional programs for all participating domestic restaurants. PJMF is a variable interest entity as it does not have sufficient equity to fund its operations without ongoing financial support and contributions from its members. Based on the ownership and governance structure and operating procedures of PJMF, we have determined that we do not have the power to direct the most significant activities of PJMF and therefore are not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, we determined that consolidation is not appropriate.
Recent Accounting Pronouncement	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncement

	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Accounting Standards update 2014-09), a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. This update requires companies to recognize revenue at amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services at the time of transfer. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under today’s guidance. Such estimates may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. Companies can either apply a full retrospective adoption or a modified retrospective adoption.

	We are required to adopt the new requirements in the first quarter of 2017. We are currently evaluating the method of adoption and its impact of the new requirements on our consolidated financial statements. We currently do not believe the impact will be significant.

Significant_Accounting_Policie2

Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	Sep. 28, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies	'
Schedule of Joint Venture Arrangements	'


		Number of		Restaurant Locations		Papa John’s		Noncontrolling
		Restaurants				Ownership		Interest
								Ownership
	September 28, 2014
	Star Papa, LP	82		Texas		51	%	49	%
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC	56		Maryland and Virginia		70	%	30	%
	PJ Minnesota, LLC	34		Minnesota		70	%	30	%
	PJ Denver, LLC	25		Colorado		60	%	40	%

	September 29, 2013
	Star Papa, LP	78		Texas		51	%	49	%
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC	52		Maryland and Virginia		70	%	30	%
	PJ Minnesota, LLC	31		Minnesota		80	%	20	%
	PJ Denver, LLC	25		Colorado		60	%	40	%
Schedule of Income Before Income Taxes Attributable to Joint Ventures	'
	The income before income taxes attributable to the joint ventures for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013 was as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 28,			Sept. 29,			Sept. 28,		Sept. 29,
		2014			2013			2014		2013

	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
Schedule of joint ventures in which there are noncontrolling interests	'


	Joint Venture	Redemption Feature		Location within the		Recorded Value
				Condensed Consolidated
				Balance Sheets

	Star Papa, LP	Redeemable		Temporary equity		Carrying value
	PJ Denver, LLC	Redeemable		Temporary equity		Redemption value
	Colonel’s Limited, LLC	No redemption feature		Permanent equity		Carrying value
	PJ Minnesota, LLC	No redemption feature		Permanent equity		Carrying value
Schedule of Recorded Values of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests	'
	The following summarizes changes in these redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):

	Balance at December 29, 2013	$	7,024
	Net income	1,865
	Change in redemption value	81
	Balance at September 28, 2014	$	8,970
Schedule of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	'
	Our financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

		Carrying			Fair Value Measurements
		Value			Level 1			Level 2		Level 3

	September 28, 2014
	Financial assets:
	Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)	$	17,814		$	17,814		$	—	$	—
	Interest rate swap (b)	218			—			218		—

	Financial liabilities:
	Interest rate swap (b)	75			—			75		—

	December 29, 2013
	Financial assets:
	Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)	$	16,798		$	16,798		$	—	$	—

	Financial liabilities:
	Interest rate swap (b)	76			—			76		—

	(a) Represents life insurance policies held in our non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
	(b) The fair values of our interest rate swaps are based on the sum of all future net present value cash flows. The future cash flows are derived based on the terms of our interest rate swaps, as well as considering published discount factors, and projected London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”).

Calculation_of_Earnings_Per_Sh1

Calculation of Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
Calculation of Earnings Per Share (Tables)	Sep. 28, 2014
Calculation of Earnings Per Share	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	'
	The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per common share are as follows (in thousands, except per-share data):

		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 28,			Sept. 29,		Sept. 28,			Sept. 29,
		2014			2013		2014			2013

	Basic earnings per common share:
	Net income attributable to the Company	$	16,075		$	14,276	$	52,134		$	50,732
	Increase in noncontrolling interest redemption value	(42		)	—		(81		)	—
	Net income attributable to participating securities	(77		)	—		(295		)	—
	Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	15,956		$	14,276	$	51,758		$	50,732

	Weighted average common shares outstanding	40,739			43,182		41,248			43,710
	Basic earnings per common share	$	0.39		$	0.33	$	1.25		$	1.16

	Diluted earnings per common share:
	Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	15,956		$	14,276	$	51,758		$	50,732

	Weighted average common shares outstanding	40,739			43,182		41,248			43,710
	Dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards (a)	647			986		773			1,052
	Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	41,386			44,168		42,021			44,762
	Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.39		$	0.32	$	1.23		$	1.13

	(a) Excludes 270 and 208 awards for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014 and 24 and 129 awards for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, as the effect of including such awards would have been antidilutive.

Acquisition_of_Restaurants_Tab

Acquisition of Restaurants (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Acquisition of Restaurants	'
Schedule of aggregate purchase price of the acquisitions allocated based on initial fair value	'
	The aggregate purchase price of the acquisitions has been allocated based on initial fair value estimates as follows (in thousands):

	Property and equipment	$	453
	Reacquired franchise right	844
	Goodwill	3,568
	Other, including cash	117
	Total purchase price	$	4,982

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Segment Information	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment	'
	Our segment information is as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 28, 2014			Sept. 29, 2013			Sept. 28, 2014			Sept. 29, 2013

	Revenues from external customers:
	Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	169,076		$	152,662		$	517,269		$	465,713
	Domestic commissaries	149,224			138,044			463,852			421,941
	North America franchising	22,348			19,682			66,221			61,410
	International	26,392			22,388			75,594			63,451
	All others	23,359			13,566			49,704			38,617
	Total revenues from external customers	$	390,399		$	346,342		$	1,172,640		$	1,051,132

	Intersegment revenues:
	Domestic commissaries	$	53,830		$	46,408		$	160,143		$	139,320
	North America franchising	574			530			1,761			1,635
	International	78			69			236			209
	All others	6,421			3,718			18,238			10,204
	Total intersegment revenues	$	60,903		$	50,725		$	180,378		$	151,368

	Income (loss) before income taxes:
	Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	8,133		$	5,535		$	32,069		$	24,666
	Domestic commissaries	8,897			6,473			26,174			26,278
	North America franchising	19,023			16,516			56,389			52,134
	International	1,436			945			4,071			2,152
	All others	(298		)	590			(150		)	2,402
	Unallocated corporate expenses	(12,242		)	(8,544		)	(35,405		)	(28,475		)
	Elimination of intersegment losses (profits)	(731		)	(252		)	(1,284		)	(989		)
	Total income before income taxes	$	24,218		$	21,263		$	81,864		$	78,168

	Property and equipment:
	Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	205,553
	Domestic commissaries	106,815
	International	26,317
	All others	44,686
	Unallocated corporate assets	164,718
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(329,636		)
	Net property and equipment	$	218,453

Significant_Accounting_Policie3

Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
	Restaurant	Restaurant
Star Papa, LP	'	'
Noncontrolling Interests	'	'
Number of Restaurants	82	78
Papa John's Ownership	51.00%	51.00%
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	49.00%	49.00%
Colonel's Limited, LLC	'	'
Noncontrolling Interests	'	'
Number of Restaurants	56	52
Papa John's Ownership	70.00%	70.00%
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	30.00%	30.00%
PJ Minnesota, LLC	'	'
Noncontrolling Interests	'	'
Number of Restaurants	34	31
Papa John's Ownership	70.00%	80.00%
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	30.00%	20.00%
Increase in Noncontrolling Interest Holder's Ownership in a Joint Venture	10.00%	'
PJ Denver, LLC	'	'
Noncontrolling Interests	'	'
Number of Restaurants	25	25
Papa John's Ownership	60.00%	60.00%
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	40.00%	40.00%

Significant_Accounting_Policie4

Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	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

Significant_Accounting_Policie5

Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	item	Dec. 29, 2013	Redeemable noncontrolling interests
Significant Accounting Policies	'	'	'
Number of joint ventures under which noncontrolling interest holders have the option to require the Company to purchase their interests	2	'	'
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests	'	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	$8,970	$7,024	$7,024
Net income	'	'	1,865
Change in redemption value	'	'	81
Balance at the end of the period	$8,970	$7,024	$8,970

Significant_Accounting_Policie6

Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 29, 2013
Noncontrolling Interests	'	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	$12,530,000	'	$12,530,000	'	$510,000
Colonel's Limited, LLC	'	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interests	'	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	11,500,000	'	11,500,000	'	'
Redemption value	'	'	'	'	10,800,000
Adjustment to interest expense {(Interest income) interest expense} due to change in redemption value	($25,000)	($374,000)	($4,000)	($1,100,000)	'

Significant_Accounting_Policie7

Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
		Measured on Recurring Basis	Measured on Recurring Basis	Measured on Recurring Basis	Measured on Recurring Basis	Measured on Recurring Basis	Measured on Recurring Basis
		Level 1	Level 1	Level 2	Level 2	Carrying Value	Carrying Value
Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net deferred tax liability	$5,700,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Measurement of financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	'	17,814,000	16,798,000	'	'	17,814,000	16,798,000
Interest rate swap assets	'	'	'	218,000	'	218,000	'
Interest rate swap liabilities	'	'	'	75,000	76,000	75,000	76,000
Transfers among levels within the fair value hierarchy	$0	'	'	'	'	'	'

Stockholders_Equity_Details

Stockholders' Equity (Details)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 27, 2013	Dec. 29, 2013
Stockholders' Equity	'	'
Common stock split ratio	'	2
Common stock dividend distributed (in shares)	21	'

Calculation_of_Earnings_Per_Sh2

Calculation of Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Basic earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to the Company	$16,075	$14,276	$52,134	$50,732
Increase in noncontrolling interest redemption value	-42	'	-81	'
Net income attributable to participating securities	-77	'	-295	'
Net income attributable to common shareholders	15,956	14,276	51,758	50,732
Weighted average common shares outstanding	40,739	43,182	41,248	43,710
Basic earnings per common share	$0.39	$0.33	$1.25	$1.16
Diluted earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$15,956	$14,276	$51,758	$50,732
Weighted average common shares outstanding	40,739	43,182	41,248	43,710
Dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards	647	986	773	1,052
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	41,386	44,168	42,021	44,762
Diluted earnings per common share	$0.39	$0.32	$1.23	$1.13
Antidilutive awards excluded from computation of earnings per share	270	24	208	129

Acquisition_of_Restaurants_Det

Acquisition of Restaurants (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014
			Papa Johns restaurants located in various markets	Papa Johns restaurants located in various markets
			item	Franchise Rights
Acquisition and Divestiture of Restaurants	'	'	'	'
Number of restaurants acquired	'	'	12	'
Number of transactions as part of acquisition	'	'	4	'
Business acquisition, cash payment	'	'	$4,300,000	'
Amounts withheld in escrow	'	'	300,000	'
Cancellation of accounts and notes receivable due to us	'	'	400,000	'
Purchase price allocation	'	'	'	'
Property and equipment	'	'	453,000	'
Reacquired franchise right	'	'	'	844,000
Goodwill	82,689,000	79,391,000	3,568,000	'
Other, including cash	'	'	117,000	'
Total purchase price	'	'	$4,982,000	'

Debt_Details

Debt (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 29, 2013

Jul. 30, 2013

Jan. 01, 2013

Aug. 30, 2011

Jul. 30, 2013

31-May-14

Sep. 28, 2014

Oct. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2010

Sep. 28, 2014

Dec. 29, 2013

Apr. 30, 2013

Oct. 31, 2014

Interest rate swap, August 2011

Interest rate swap, July 2013

Interest rate swap, May 2014

Interest rate swap

Revolving line of credit

Interest expense

Interest income

Minimum

Maximum

LIBOR

Minimum

Maximum

Debt

Revolving line of credit

$224,700,000

$157,900,000

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

400,000,000

175,000,000

300,000,000

Option to increase the borrowing capacity

100,000,000

Line of credit facility, term

'5 years

Interest margin rate on debt

0.75%

1.75%

Percentage of commitment fee on unused credit facility

0.15%

0.25%

Line of credit facility, remaining availability

148,400,000

Interest rate swap agreement, fixed interest rate

0.56%

0.53%

1.42%

1.36%

Interest rate swap agreement, notional amount

50,000,000

75,000,000

50,000,000

Termination of interest rate swap

50,000,000

Gain (loss) on cash flow hedge ineffectiveness

Weighted average interest rate for credit facility borrowings, including the impact of interest rate swaps

1.80%

1.70%

Interest paid

1,000,000

431,000

2,600,000

1,200,000

Interest rate swap assets

143,000

Estimate of period of time over which portion of derivative liability would be reclassified into earnings

'12 months

Portion of derivative liability that would be reclassified into earnings

$40,000

Litigation_Details

Litigation (Details) (Pending Litigation, Perrin v. Papa John's International, Inc. and Papa John's USA, Inc.)	Sep. 28, 2014
	item
	Employee
Pending Litigation \| Perrin v. Papa John's International, Inc. and Papa John's USA, Inc.	'
Litigation, Commitments and Contingencies	'
Number of employees who opted into the class action	3,900
Potential class size	28,800
Number of states, which are granted motion for class certification	5
Number of plaintiffs added to case	15,000

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
	Entity
Segment Information	'
Reportable segments, number	5
Consolidated revenues	'
Segment Information	'
Concentration risk, number	0

Segment_Information_Details_2

Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 29, 2013
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	$390,399	$346,342	$1,172,640	$1,051,132	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	24,218	21,263	81,864	78,168	'
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-329,636	'	-329,636	'	'
Net property and equipment	218,453	'	218,453	'	212,097
Operating segments \| Domestic company owned restaurants segment	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	169,076	152,662	517,269	465,713	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,133	5,535	32,069	24,666	'
Property and equipment, gross	205,553	'	205,553	'	'
Operating segments \| Domestic commissaries	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	149,224	138,044	463,852	421,941	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,897	6,473	26,174	26,278	'
Property and equipment, gross	106,815	'	106,815	'	'
Operating segments \| North America franchising	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	22,348	19,682	66,221	61,410	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	19,023	16,516	56,389	52,134	'
Operating segments \| International	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	26,392	22,388	75,594	63,451	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,436	945	4,071	2,152	'
Property and equipment, gross	26,317	'	26,317	'	'
Operating segments \| All others	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	23,359	13,566	49,704	38,617	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	-298	590	-150	2,402	'
Property and equipment, gross	44,686	'	44,686	'	'
Elimination	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	60,903	50,725	180,378	151,368	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	-731	-252	-1,284	-989	'
Elimination \| Domestic commissaries	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	53,830	46,408	160,143	139,320	'
Elimination \| North America franchising	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	574	530	1,761	1,635	'
Elimination \| International	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	78	69	236	209	'
Elimination \| All others	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from external customers	6,421	3,718	18,238	10,204	'
Unallocated corporate	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	-12,242	-8,544	-35,405	-28,475	'
Property and equipment, gross	$164,718	'	$164,718	'	'