Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2023	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 01, 2023	Oct. 02, 2022
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 101,603	$ 98,135	$ 295,355	$ 269,297
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(14,806)	(12,728)	(41,853)	(34,456)
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)	1,088	(1,441)	3,509	(4,059)
General and Administrative Expense	(59,288)	(62,523)	(184,306)	(186,506)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(34,288)	(34,252)	(101,258)	(100,911)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(3,844)	(888)	(7,692)	(888)
System optimization gains, net	120	452	119	4,138
Reorganization and realignment costs	(611)	(8)	(8,100)	(628)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(59)	(206)	(513)	(2,682)
Unallocated other operating income, net	3,117	11,843	9,174	20,482
Interest expense, net	(30,957)	(31,916)	(93,798)	(90,406)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(319)	0	(1,585)	0
Investment (loss) income, net	0	0	(10,389)	2,107
Other income, net	7,637	2,910	22,546	4,355
Income before income taxes	77,964	69,129	212,129	185,353
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(29)	(756)	(6)	(750)
General and Administrative Expense	(30,962)	(31,517)	(96,776)	(93,511)
Unallocated other operating income, net	52	8,590	180	8,911
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	170,136	158,161	505,892	459,677
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	134,887	123,696	403,064	355,519
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)		(2,779)		(8,101)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	10,831	8,560	26,808	23,363
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)	(596)	(1,002)	(1,802)	(2,924)
Other international-related advertising deficit	535	538	(789)	(984)
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 24,418	$ 25,905	$ 76,020	$ 80,795