Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2018	Jul. 02, 2017	Jul. 01, 2018	Jul. 02, 2017	Jan. 17, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 2,802,778		$ 2,802,778			$ 2,754,402
Less amounts payable within one year	(31,118)		(31,118)			(30,172)
Long-term debt	2,771,660		2,771,660			2,724,230
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	$ 0	11,475	$ 0
Wendy's U.S. Advertising Fund
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	25,000		25,000
Proceeds from Lines of Credit			5,809	6,359
Repayments of Lines of Credit			7,096	$ 4,616
Capital lease obligations, due through 2045
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 466,080		$ 466,080			467,964
Series 2018-1 Class A-2-I Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.573%		3.573%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 447,750		$ 447,750		$ 450,000	0
Additional Interest Rate On Debt, After Anticipated Repayment Date					1.35%
Series 2018-1 Class A-2-II Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.884%		3.884%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 472,625		$ 472,625		$ 475,000	0
Additional Interest Rate On Debt, After Anticipated Repayment Date					1.58%
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-I Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.371%		3.371%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 0		$ 0			855,313
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-II Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.08%		4.08%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 875,250		$ 875,250			879,750
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-III Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.497%		4.497%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 486,250		$ 486,250			488,750
7% Debentures
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	90,139		90,139			89,514
Other Debt Obligations
Debt Instrument
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(35,316)		(35,316)			$ (26,889)
Series 2018-1 Class A-2 Notes
Debt Instrument
Additional Interest Rate On Debt, After Anticipated Repayment Date					5.00%
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal Annually for the Next Seven Years					$ 9,250
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2025					423,250
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2026 and 2027					4,750
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2028					427,500
Series 2018-1 Class A-1 Notes | Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity					$ 150,000
Line of credit, amount borrowed	0		0
Series 2018-1 Senior Notes
Debt Instrument
Incurred Debt Issuance Costs	$ 17,672		$ 17,672