(8) Income Taxes (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010
U.S. federal statutory rate	35.00%		35.00%
The Wendy's Company [Member]
Effective tax rate	42.20%	40.60%	40.20%	24.80%
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Effective tax rate	40.80%	37.20%	39.10%	21.80%
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease)			$ 0
Tax sharing payment to parent			13,078,000	0
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Expected			$ 5,800,000