Fair Value Measurements Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 27, 2015		Dec. 28, 2014		Dec. 29, 2013
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash equivalents		$ 346		$ 61,450
Non-current cost method investments	[1]	6,176		4,264
Cash flow hedges		0		3,343
Guarantees of franchisee loan obligations	[2]	979		968
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Series 2015-1 Class A-2-I Notes [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		875,000		0
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Series 2015-1 Class A-2-II Notes [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		900,000		0
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Term A Loan, 2018 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		0		541,733
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Term B Loan, 2019 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		0		759,758
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | 7% Debentures [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		86,743		85,853
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Series 2015-1 Class A-2-III Notes [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		500,000		0
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						$ 0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash equivalents		346		61,450
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non-current cost method investments	[1]	169,614		147,760
Guarantees of franchisee loan obligations	[2]	979		968
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash flow hedges		0		3,343	[3]
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Series 2015-1 Class A-2-I Notes [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		876,575	[4]	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Series 2015-1 Class A-2-II Notes [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		909,720	[4]	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Term A Loan, 2018 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		0		540,717	[4]
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Term B Loan, 2019 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		0		752,160	[4]
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | 7% Debentures [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		105,625	[3]	104,250	[4]
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Series 2015-1 Class A-2-III Notes [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument		$ 500,950	[4]	$ 0

[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.