(2) Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Other income tax expense (benefit) [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Permanent tax difference related to goodwill [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Oct. 03, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Oct. 03, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Oct. 03, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member] Bonus [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member] Compensation Cost [Member]	Jun. 12, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Oct. 03, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Oct. 03, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 The Wendy's Company [Member]	Oct. 03, 2010 The Wendy's Company [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 The Wendy's Company [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Oct. 03, 2010 The Wendy's Company [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 The Wendy's Company [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Oct. 03, 2010 The Wendy's Company [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 The Wendy's Company [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Date of disposal														7/4/2011		7/4/2011
Percentage of stock divested														100.00%		100.00%
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses														$ 130,000
Proceeds from divestiture of business, percentage of buyer stock received														18.50%		18.50%
Indirect investment in Arby's					19,000	0										19,000		19,000	0
Debt assumed by buyer														190,000		190,000
Date of execution of purchase and sale agreement													Jun. 13, 2011
Discontinued operation, tax loss on disposal of discontinued operation																								240,000
Revenues														0	260,506	546,453	782,826
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes:
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before income taxes														(2,287)	(4,549)	1,992	(11,492)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes														846	4,397	(874)	5,929
(Loss) income on discontinued operations							(1,441)	(152)	1,118	(5,563)				(1,441)	(152)	1,118	(5,563)			(1,441)	(152)	1,118	(5,563)
Loss on disposal, net of income taxes					(8,849)	0	(5,069)	0	(8,849)	0				(5,069)	0	(8,849)	0	(8,849)	0	(5,069)	0	(8,849)	0
Loss from discontinued operations							(6,510)	(152)	(7,731)	(5,563)				(6,510)	(152)	(7,731)	(5,563)			(6,510)	(152)	(7,731)	(5,563)
Sales and use tax liabilities, provision							(2,112)
Transaction related costs											(704)	529
Pre-tax loss on disposal			(723)		5,277
Transaction closing costs					11,500
Post closing purchase price adjustments					14,800
Income tax benefit (expense) on pre-tax loss on disposal	$ (268)	$ (5,524)		$ 2,220	$ (3,572)