(6) Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010
Wendy's International, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	$ 0	$ 20,921	$ 8,262	$ 21,403
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Properties	0		0
Other intangible assets	0		0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Properties	0		0
Other intangible assets	0		0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Properties	575		575
Other intangible assets	0		0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	575		575
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Properties	575		575
Other intangible assets	0		0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	575		575
Impairment of long-lived assets			6,449
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived			1,813
Impairment of long-lived assets			$ 8,262