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Facilities Action (Income) Charges, Net Arby's Transaction Costs (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 25 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014
Sep. 28, 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
Dec. 29, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]                      
Restructuring Charges $ 6,530us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 7,520us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ (44,033)us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ (20,834)us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 22,275us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 6,377us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 3,038us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ (29,100)us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 10,856us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 41,031us-gaap_RestructuringCharges  
Arby's transaction related costs [Member]                      
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]                      
Restructuring Charges               0us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
263us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
1,472us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
 
Restructuring and Related Costs Incurred To Date Net of Accelerated Depreciation Expense and Share-Based Compensation Expense                     41,919wen_RestructuringAndRelatedCostsIncurredToDateNetOfAcceleratedDepreciationExpenseAndShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
Restructuring Reserve       0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
        0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
  0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining 0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
            0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember
     
Arby's transaction related costs [Member] | Severance, Retention and Other Payroll Costs [Member]                      
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]                      
Payments                 $ 959us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wen_SeveranceRetentionAndOtherPayrollCostsMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wen_ArbysTransactionRelatedCostsMember