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Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Includes, but is not limited to, one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and termination benefits associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement. Excludes expenses associated with special or contractual termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee.

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Number of Restaurants Closed

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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012 stores	Apr. 01, 2012
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	$ 7,245us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 3,408us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 10,552us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 5,327us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 10,985us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 15,879us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 21,097us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Loss on disposition of assets					(21,948)us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	(4,705)us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	0us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1
Number of restaurants closed							15wen_NumberOfRestaurantsClosed
Other operating expense, net [Member]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Business exit costs							1,477
Impairment of long-lived assets [Member]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets					10,985	15,879	21,097
Corporate Aircraft [Member]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets						5,327		1,628
Loss on disposition of assets					261
Corporate Aircraft [Member] \| Impairment of long-lived assets [Member]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets					0	5,327	1,628
Properties and Other Intangible Assets, Franchisee Leased / Subleased Assets [Member]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets					3,365
Properties and Other Intangible Assets, Surplus Properties and Non-SO Held-for-sale [Member] [Member]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets							3,270
Properties and Other Intangible Assets [Member] \| Impairment of long-lived assets [Member]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets					$ 10,985	$ 10,552	$ 19,469