Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2023	Apr. 03, 2022
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 84,478	$ 74,881
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(13,260)	(11,816)
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)	1,106	(1,243)
Unallocated general and administrative	(62,276)	(62,346)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(33,472)	(33,231)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(1,582)	0
System optimization gains, net	5	3,534
Reorganization and realignment costs	(6,808)	(464)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(376)	(616)
Unallocated other operating income, net	2,266	2,966
Interest expense, net	(31,705)	(26,365)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(1,266)	0
Investment (loss) income, net	(3,562)	2,111
Other income, net	7,336	207
Income before income taxes	55,281	50,834
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	0	6
Unallocated general and administrative	(32,161)	(31,005)
Unallocated other operating income, net	22	16
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	157,744	137,884
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	125,230	104,824
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)		(2,556)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	7,446	5,453
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)	(548)	(838)
Other international-related advertising deficit	845	642
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 25,068	$ 27,607