Income (Loss) Per Share (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
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations																$ 121,434	$ 45,753	$ 5,574
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations																0	(266)	1,509
Net income attributable to The Wendy’s Company	$ 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
Common Stock:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding																370,160	392,585	390,275
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted shares																6,022	6,095	1,865
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding																376,182	398,680	392,140
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount																4,946	10,823	23,406

[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).