Parent Financial Statements Cash Flow (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 121,434us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 44,632us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 9,467us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Share-based compensation	28,243us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	19,613us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	11,473us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Impairment of long-lived assets	10,985us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	15,879us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	21,097us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Deferred income tax	69,540us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	12,853us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(31,598)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(9,363)	0	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,438us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	2,487us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	4,241us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Dividends from subsidiaries	210,000	170,000	0
Other, net	(11,686)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(8,908)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	3,093us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	254,776	329,847	190,415
Cash flows from investing activities:
Other, net	434	(43)	(159)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(187,812)	(76,690)	(189,385)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(38,380)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(590,293)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(1,044,310)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Repurchases of common stock	(301,216)	(69,320)	0
Dividends	(75,117)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(70,681)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(39,043)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Proceeds from stock option exercises	30,788	42,370	7,806
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	9,363	0	0
Other, net	0	438	52
Net cash used in financing activities	(374,562)	(122,901)	(24,129)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(312,876)	126,791	(21,870)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	580,152	453,361	475,231
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	267,276	580,152	453,361
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	121,434	45,487	7,083
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in income from operations of subsidiaries	(113,010)	(20,850)	(31,217)
Depreciation and amortization	0	1,272	3,078
Share-based compensation	737	1,552	944
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	1,830	1,628
Deferred income tax	7,213	80,161	(4,118)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(9,363)	0	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	0	0	21
Dividends from subsidiaries	210,000	170,000	0
Tax sharing receivable from subsidiaries, net	(16,764)	(119,249)	0
Tax sharing payments received from subsidiaries	0	0	37
Other operating transactions with Wendy's Restaurants, LLC	(13,002)	4,988	28,733
Other, net	(5,525)	1,439	1,753
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	2,300	10,305	(472)
Other current liabilities	4,654	(2,040)	8,643
Net cash provided by operating activities	188,674	174,895	16,113
Cash flows from investing activities:
Other, net	3,148	0	686
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	3,148	0	686
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	0	0	(11,303)
Repurchases of common stock	(301,216)	(69,320)	0
Dividends	(75,117)	(70,681)	(39,043)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	30,788	42,370	7,806
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	9,363	0	0
Other, net	0	0	(48)
Net cash used in financing activities	(336,182)	(97,631)	(42,588)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(144,360)	77,264	(25,789)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	179,916	102,652	128,441
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 35,556	$ 179,916	$ 102,652

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

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- Definition

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, including Accelerated Depreciation for Restructuring

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Other Operating Transactions With Affiliates, Net

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Tax Sharing Payments Received From Subsidiaries, Net

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Tax Sharing Receivable From Subsidiaries, Net

+ References

No definition available.

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