Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 01, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 01, 2017	Jan. 17, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 2,791,057		$ 2,791,057			$ 2,754,402
Less amounts payable within one year	(31,291)		(31,291)			(30,172)
Long-term debt	2,759,766		2,759,766			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			9,837	22,675
Repayments of Lines of Credit			11,124	$ 22,675
Capital lease obligations, due through 2045
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 458,347		$ 458,347			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	$ 446,625		$ 446,625		$ 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	$ 471,438		$ 471,438		$ 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	$ 873,000		$ 873,000			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	$ 485,000		$ 485,000			488,750
7% Debentures
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	90,454		90,454			89,514
Other Debt Obligations
Debt Instrument
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(33,807)		(33,807)			$ (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