XML 62 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Fair Value Measurements Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 29, 2015
Dec. 28, 2014
Dec. 29, 2013
Reported Value Measurement [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Cash equivalents $ 49,708us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 $ 61,450us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		  
Non-current cost method investments 6,264us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 [1] 4,264us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 [1]  
Cash flow hedges 7,311us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 3,343us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		  
Guarantees of franchisee loan obligations 990us-gaap_GuaranteesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 [2] 968us-gaap_GuaranteesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 [2]  
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Non-current cost method investments     0us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= wen_ArbysRestaurantGroupIncMember
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Term A Loan, 2018 [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt instrument 534,510us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_TermALoan2018Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 541,733us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_TermALoan2018Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		  
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Term B Loan, 2019 [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt instrument 757,834us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_TermBLoan2019Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 759,758us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_TermBLoan2019Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		  
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | 7% Debentures [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt instrument 86,153us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_A7DebenturesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		 85,853us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_A7DebenturesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember		  
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Cash equivalents 49,708us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 61,450us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		  
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Non-current cost method investments 153,708us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [1] 147,760us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [1]  
Guarantees of franchisee loan obligations 990us-gaap_GuaranteesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [2] 968us-gaap_GuaranteesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [2]  
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Cash flow hedges 7,311us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [3] 3,343us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [3]  
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Term A Loan, 2018 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt instrument 533,508us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_TermALoan2018Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [4] 540,717us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_TermALoan2018Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [4]  
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Term B Loan, 2019 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt instrument 756,650us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_TermBLoan2019Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [4] 752,160us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_TermBLoan2019Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [4]  
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | 7% Debentures [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt instrument $ 105,500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_A7DebenturesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [4] $ 104,250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wen_A7DebenturesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 [4]  
[1] The fair value of our indirect investment in Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (“Arby’s”) is based on applying a multiple to Arby’s earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization per its current unaudited financial information. The carrying value of our indirect investment in Arby’s was reduced to zero during 2013 in connection with the receipt of a dividend. The fair values of our remaining investments are not significant and are based on our review of information provided by the investment managers or investees which was based on (1) valuations performed by the investment managers or investees, (2) quoted market or broker/dealer prices for similar investments and (3) quoted market or broker/dealer prices adjusted by the investment managers for legal or contractual restrictions, risk of nonperformance or lack of marketability, depending upon the underlying investments.
[2] Wendy’s has provided loan guarantees to various lenders on behalf of franchisees entering into debt arrangements for new restaurant development and equipment financing. In addition during 2012, Wendy’s provided a guarantee to a lender for a franchisee in connection with the refinancing of the franchisee’s debt. We have accrued a liability for the fair value of these guarantees, the calculation of which was based upon a weighted average risk percentage established at inception adjusted for a history of defaults.
[3] The fair values were developed using market observable data for all significant inputs.
[4] The fair values were based on quoted market prices in markets that are not considered active markets.