(10) Debt and Equity Invested Equity/Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011		Oct. 03, 2010
The Wendy's Company [Member]
Statement of Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 2,163,174		$ 2,336,339
Comprehensive (loss) income	(6,858)	[1]	14,347	[1]
Share-based compensation	13,756		10,519
Exercises of stock options	5,199		1,227
Dividends paid	(24,584)		(19,260)
Repurchases of common stock for treasury	(152,681)		(167,744)
Other	(653)		(841)
Balance, end of period	1,997,353		2,174,587
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Statement of Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	1,776,630		2,197,907
Comprehensive (loss) income	(90)	[2]	15,061	[2]
Share-based compensation	12,973		9,841
Dividends paid to The Wendy's Company	0		(443,700)
Other	0		(76)
Balance, end of period	$ 1,789,513		$ 1,779,033

[1] The following is a summary of the components of comprehensive income, net of income taxes: Nine Months Ended October 2, 2011 October 3, 2010Net income$5,891 $6,433Net change in currency translation adjustment(12,703) 7,878Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities— (59)Change in net unrecognized pension loss(46) 95 Other comprehensive (loss) income (12,749) 7,914 Comprehensive (loss) income$(6,858) $14,347

[2] The following is a summary of the components of comprehensive income, net of income taxes: Nine Months Ended October 2, 2011 October 3, 2010Net income$12,314 $7,172Net change in currency translation adjustment(12,703) 7,878Change in net unrecognized pension loss (b)299 11 Other comprehensive (loss) income (12,404) 7,889 Comprehensive (loss) income$(90) $15,061(b)Includes the reclassification of the change in net unrecognized pension loss related to Arby’s pension liability to a subsidiary of The Wendy’s Company.