Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands	Jul. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011
Current liabilities:
Commitments and contingencies
The Wendy's Company [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	499,524	512,508
Total current assets	822,525	754,788
Total assets	4,751,632	4,732,654
Current liabilities:
Total current liabilities	456,494	421,486
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Total liabilities and invested equity	4,751,632	4,732,654
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	492,448	512,508
Accounts and notes receivable	70,962	84,258
Inventories	13,164	22,694
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	42,156	24,386
Deferred income tax benefit	62,998	34,389
Advertising funds restricted assets	74,472	76,553
Properties	1,141,675	1,551,261
Goodwill	872,366	883,644
Other intangible assets	1,318,242	1,358,574
Investments	110,785	107,223
Deferred costs and other assets	67,184	77,164
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	8,180	18,415
Accounts payable	70,964	81,361
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	191,966	245,157
Advertising funds restricted liabilities	74,472	76,553
Long-term debt	1,346,640	1,553,987
Deferred income	18,810	11,460
Deferred income taxes	445,897	412,293
Other liabilities	110,658	170,254
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock	47,042	47,042
Additional paid-in capital	2,776,948	2,771,126
Accumulated deficit	(419,390)	(412,464)
Common stock held in treasury, at cost	(292,067)	(249,547)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	14,889	7,017
Total stockholders’ equity	2,127,422	2,163,174
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Current assets of discontinued operations	66,325	0
Current liabilities:
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	110,912	0
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations	245,711	0
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations	418,855	0
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	229,829	198,686
Total current assets	522,831	450,384
Total assets	4,451,578	4,416,697
Current liabilities:
Total current liabilities	447,616	419,048
Stockholders’ equity:
Total liabilities and invested equity	4,451,578	4,416,697
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	222,753	198,686
Accounts and notes receivable	70,052	83,352
Inventories	13,164	22,694
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	32,789	24,032
Deferred income tax benefit	43,276	45,067
Advertising funds restricted assets	74,472	76,553
Properties	1,141,567	1,541,853
Goodwill	877,643	888,921
Other intangible assets	1,318,242	1,358,574
Investments	106,195	102,406
Deferred costs and other assets	66,245	74,559
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	6,881	17,047
Accounts payable	61,074	81,148
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	194,277	244,300
Advertising funds restricted liabilities	74,472	76,553
Long-term debt	1,336,055	1,542,684
Due to parent	24,603	30,808
Deferred income	18,810	11,460
Deferred income taxes	476,029	478,472
Other liabilities	97,831	157,595
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	2,429,621	2,423,459
Accumulated deficit	(485,586)	(499,500)
Advances to parent	(155,000)	(155,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	15,888	7,671
Total stockholders’ equity	1,804,923	1,776,630
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	7,076
Current assets of discontinued operations	66,325	0
Current liabilities:
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	110,912	0
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations	245,711	0
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations	418,855	0
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	492,448
Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 7,076