Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 30, 2012 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		May 15, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Term Loan, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Aircraft Term Loan [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Aircraft Term Loan [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Aircraft Term Loan [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Aircraft Term Loan [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Term Loan, 2012 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Term Loan, 2012 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Term Loan, 2012 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Term Loan, 2012 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Term Loan, 2010 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Term Loan, 2010 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Term Loan, 2010 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Term Loan, 2010 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Other Debt Obligations [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Other Debt Obligations [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Other Debt Obligations [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Other Debt Obligations [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Senior Notes, 10.0% [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Senior Notes, 10.0% [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Senior Notes, 10.0% [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Senior Notes, 10.0% [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Senior Notes, 6.20% [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Senior Notes, 6.20% [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Senior Notes, 6.20% [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Senior Notes, 6.20% [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Debentures, 7% [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Debentures, 7% [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Debentures, 7% [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Debentures, 7% [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Capital Lease Obligations [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Capital Lease Obligations [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Capital Lease Obligations [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Capital Lease Obligations [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Swap [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Swap [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Swap [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Swap [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Financial Guarantee [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Financial Guarantee [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Dec. 30, 2012 Financial Guarantee [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Financial Guarantee [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cost investments	$ 23,913	[1]	$ 27,452	[1]
Cost Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure					50,761	[1]	62,496	[1]
Interest rate swaps																																																																						8,169	[2]	11,695	[2]	8,169	[2]	11,695	[2]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure														0	[3]	11,367	[3]					1,130,434	[4]	0	[4]					0	[4]	466,940	[4]			707	1,072					0	[4]	621,500	[4]					240,750	[4]	231,750	[4]					99,900	[4]	84,000	[4]					33,299	[3]	18,123	[3]
Long-term Debt									1,113,750	0	[3]	11,303	[3]					1,114,826	[4]	0	[4]					0	[4]	466,062	[4]					706	1,060			0	[4]	554,901	[4]					225,940	[4]	224,643	[4]					83,496	[4]	82,342	[4]					32,594	[3]	16,688	[3]
Franchisee loans obligations																																																																														$ 940	[5]	$ 1,275	[5]	$ 940	[5]	$ 1,275	[5]

[1] The fair value of our indirect investment in Arby’s is based on a review of its current unaudited financial information. The fair values of the remaining investments were principally based on quoted market or broker/dealer prices. To the extent that some of these investments, including the underlying investments in investment limited partnerships, do not have available quoted market or broker/dealer prices, we relied on our review of valuations performed by the investment managers or investees or third party appraisals. The fair value of our investment in Jurlique at January 1, 2012 was based upon an agreement with a third party to purchase Jurlique (which was completed in February 2012). See Note 8 for more information related to the sale of Jurlique.

[2] The fair values were based on information provided by the bank counterparties that is model-driven and where inputs were observable or where significant value drivers were observable.

[3] The fair values were determined by discounting the future scheduled principal payments using an interest rate assuming the same original issuance spread over a current U.S. Treasury bond yield for securities with similar durations.

[4] The fair values were based on quoted market prices in markets that are not considered active markets.

[5] Wendy’s has provided loan guarantees to various lenders on behalf of franchisees entering into pooled debt facility arrangements for new restaurant development and equipment financing. During 2012, Wendy’s provided a guarantee to a lender for a franchisee in connection with the refinancing of the franchisee’s debt. We have accrued a liability for the fair value of these guarantees, the calculation of which was based upon a weighted average risk percentage established at inception adjusted for a history of defaults.