Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Jan. 01, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise agreement term	20 years
Franchise agreement renewal term	10 years
Franchise agreement extension term	25 years
Total revenues	$ 2,246,492	$ 2,181,578	$ 2,095,505
Minimum
Disaggregation of Revenue
Lessor, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	15 years
Maximum
Disaggregation of Revenue
Lessor, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	20 years
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 925,905	930,083	896,585
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	528,388	512,159	485,488
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	97,614	80,172	72,747
Franchise Rental Income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	236,493	230,168	234,465
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	458,092	428,996	406,220
Wendy's U.S. | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	1,859,745	1,815,845	1,750,242
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	898,886	905,700	882,684
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	456,648	444,653	423,955
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	82,703	68,749	63,112
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise Rental Income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Wendy's U.S. | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	421,508	396,743	380,491
Wendy's International | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	144,690	130,548	106,705
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	27,019	24,383	13,901
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	71,740	67,506	61,533
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	9,347	6,406	5,542
Wendy's International | Franchise Rental Income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Wendy's International | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	36,584	32,253	25,729
Global Real Estate & Development | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	242,057	235,185	238,558
Global Real Estate & Development | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,564	5,017	4,093
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise Rental Income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	236,493	230,168	234,465
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0