Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2024	Oct. 01, 2023	Sep. 29, 2024	Oct. 01, 2023
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 94,675	$ 101,603	$ 275,338	$ 295,355
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(16,047)	(14,806)	(47,011)	(41,853)
Advertising funds deficit	190	1,088	651	3,509
General and Administrative Expense	(62,794)	(59,288)	(188,047)	(184,306)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(36,996)	(34,288)	(110,006)	(101,258)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(3,576)	(3,844)	(10,637)	(7,692)
System optimization gains, net	420	120	573	119
Reorganization and realignment costs	(354)	(611)	(8,479)	(8,100)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(178)	(59)	(2,873)	(513)
Unallocated other operating income, net	5,068	3,117	11,564	9,174
Interest expense, net	(31,270)	(30,957)	(92,800)	(93,798)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(319)	0	(1,585)
Investment income (loss), net	0	0	11	(10,389)
Other income, net	6,246	7,637	19,382	22,546
Income before income taxes	69,651	77,964	201,931	212,129
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(900)	(29)	(1,117)	(6)
General and Administrative Expense	(32,443)	(30,962)	(98,289)	(96,776)
Unallocated other operating income, net	439	52	1,301	180
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	168,073	170,136	504,214	505,892
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	129,790	134,887	392,323	403,064
Advertising funds deficit	(5,977)		(13,386)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	11,046	10,831	32,411	26,808
Advertising funds deficit	(622)	(596)	(1,387)	(1,802)
Other international-related advertising deficit	(170)	535	(640)	(789)
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 27,237	$ 24,418	$ 79,480	$ 76,020