Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jul. 02, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jul. 02, 2023
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 99,507	$ 109,274	$ 180,663	$ 193,752
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(16,222)	(13,787)	(30,964)	(27,047)
Advertising funds deficit	254	1,315	461	2,421
General and Administrative Expense	(61,496)	(62,742)	(125,253)	(125,018)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(37,492)	(33,498)	(73,010)	(66,970)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(3,519)	(2,266)	(7,061)	(3,848)
System optimization gains, net	280	(6)	153	(1)
Reorganization and realignment costs	(2,452)	(681)	(8,125)	(7,489)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(689)	(78)	(2,695)	(454)
Unallocated other operating income, net	3,463	3,791	6,496	6,057
Interest expense, net	(30,995)	(31,136)	(61,530)	(62,841)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(1,266)
Investment income (loss), net	11	(6,827)	11	(10,389)
Other income, net	6,300	7,573	13,136	14,909
Income before income taxes	74,823	78,884	132,280	134,165
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(191)	23	(217)	23
General and Administrative Expense	(32,456)	(33,653)	(65,846)	(65,814)
Unallocated other operating income, net	206	106	862	128
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	175,566	178,012	336,141	335,756
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	136,709	142,947	262,533	268,177
Advertising funds deficit	(5,084)		(7,409)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	10,675	8,531	21,365	15,977
Advertising funds deficit	(603)	(658)	(765)	(1,206)
Other international-related advertising deficit	320	479	470	1,324
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 28,182	$ 26,534	$ 52,243	$ 51,602