Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 29, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 104,260	$ 99,507	$ 187,386	$ 180,663
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(17,069)	(16,222)	(33,665)	(30,964)
Advertising funds surplus	140	254	284	461
Unallocated general and administrative	(59,485)	(61,496)	(127,689)	(125,253)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(36,990)	(37,492)	(73,539)	(73,010)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(4,056)	(3,519)	(8,223)	(7,061)
System optimization losses, net	387	280	297	153
Reorganization and realignment costs	(174)	(2,452)	518	(8,125)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(1,686)	(689)	(3,107)	(2,695)
Unallocated other operating income, net	2,929	3,463	9,316	6,496
Interest expense, net	(30,945)	(30,995)	(62,422)	(61,530)
Investment income (loss), net	0	11	(1,718)	11
Other income, net	2,585	6,300	7,571	13,136
Income before income taxes	75,900	74,823	130,817	132,280
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(658)	(191)	(1,245)	(217)
Unallocated general and administrative	(30,516)	(32,456)	(64,639)	(65,846)
Unallocated other operating income, net	144	206	4,274	862
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	177,669	175,566	332,766	336,141
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	137,159	136,709	258,136	262,533
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(13,677)	(13,391)	(26,855)	(26,085)
Unallocated general and administrative	(19,619)	(18,666)	(42,043)	(37,992)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	13,226	10,675	22,670	21,365
Advertising funds surplus	(34)	320	1,119	470
Unallocated general and administrative	(6,700)	(6,606)	(13,137)	(12,547)
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	27,284	28,182	51,960	52,243
Unallocated general and administrative	$ (2,650)	$ (3,768)	$ (7,870)	$ (8,868)