Parent Financial Statements Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2014		Sep. 28, 2014		Jun. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014		Dec. 29, 2013		Sep. 29, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Parent Financial Statements
Net income (loss)	$ 23,294	[1]	$ 22,830	[1]	$ 29,007	$ 46,303	[1]	$ 33,069	[2]	$ (1,939)	[2]	$ 12,224	[2]	$ 2,133	[2]	$ 121,434	$ 45,487	$ 7,083
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net:
Foreign currency translation adjustment																(18,560)	(16,271)	6,096
Change in unrecognized pension loss, net of income tax (provision) benefit of $(160), $37 and $127, respectively																391	(62)	(217)
Change in unrealized (loss) gain on cash flow hedges, net of income tax benefit (provision) of $1,767 and $(468), respectively																(2,788)	744	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net																(20,957)	(15,589)	5,879
Comprehensive income attributable to The Wendy’s Company																100,477	29,169	12,962
Change in unrecognized pension loss, income tax (provision) benefit																(160)	37	127
Change in unrealized (loss) gain on cash flow hedges, net of income tax benefit (provision)																1,767	(468)	0
Parent Company [Member]
Parent Financial Statements
Net income (loss)																121,434	45,487	7,083
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net:
Foreign currency translation adjustment																(18,560)	(17,000)	6,096
Change in unrecognized pension loss, net of income tax (provision) benefit of $(160), $37 and $127, respectively																391	(62)	(217)
Change in unrealized (loss) gain on cash flow hedges, net of income tax benefit (provision) of $1,767 and $(468), respectively																(2,788)	744	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net																(20,957)	(16,318)	5,879
Comprehensive income attributable to The Wendy’s Company																100,477	29,169	12,962
Change in unrecognized pension loss, income tax (provision) benefit																(160)	37	127
Change in unrealized (loss) gain on cash flow hedges, net of income tax benefit (provision)																$ 1,767	$ (468)	$ 0

[1] The Company’s consolidated statements of operations were materially impacted by facilities action (income) charges, net and impairment of long-lived assets. The pre-tax impact of facilities action (income) charges, net for the first, third and fourth quarters of 2014 was $(44,033), $7,520 and $6,530, respectively (see Note 2 for additional information). The pre-tax impact of impairment of long-lived assets during the third and fourth quarters of 2014 was $3,408 and $7,245, respectively (see Note 15 for additional information).

[2] The Company’s consolidated statements of operations were materially impacted by facilities action (income) charges, net, impairment of long-lived assets, impairment of goodwill and losses on early extinguishment of debt. The pre-tax impact of facilities action charges (income), net for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2013 was $3,038, $6,377, $22,275 and $(20,834), respectively (see Note 2 for additional information). The pre-tax impact of impairment of long-lived assets during the third and fourth quarters of 2013 was $5,327 and $10,552, respectively, (see Note 15 for additional information) and the pre-tax impact of impairment of goodwill during the fourth quarter of 2013 was $9,397 (see Note 8 for additional information). The pre-tax impact of losses on the early extinguishment of debt during the second and fourth quarters of 2013 was $21,019 and $7,544, respectively (see Note 10 for additional information).