(7) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets		$ 6,488		$ 20,021
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets			9,820	41,424
Wendy's International, Inc. [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	20,921	8,262	21,403
Wendy's International, Inc. [Member] | Properties [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets, Properties	0	17,373	6,449	17,448
Wendy's International, Inc. [Member] | Intangible Assets [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived	$ 0	$ 3,548	$ 1,813	$ 3,955