Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2025	Sep. 29, 2024	Sep. 28, 2025	Sep. 29, 2024
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 92,049	$ 94,675	$ 279,435	$ 275,338
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(17,519)	(16,047)	(51,184)	(47,011)
Advertising funds surplus	173	190	457	651
Unallocated general and administrative	(57,909)	(62,794)	(185,598)	(188,047)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(38,393)	(36,996)	(111,932)	(110,006)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(5,226)	(3,576)	(13,449)	(10,637)
System optimization gains, net	29	420	326	573
Reorganization and realignment costs	(316)	(354)	202	(8,479)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(2,257)	(178)	(5,364)	(2,873)
Unallocated other operating income, net	7,005	5,068	16,321	11,564
Interest expense, net	(31,543)	(31,270)	(93,965)	(92,800)
Investment (loss) income, net	0	0	(1,718)	11
Other income, net	2,730	6,246	10,301	19,382
Income before income taxes	63,236	69,651	194,053	201,931
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(227)	(900)	(1,472)	(1,117)
Unallocated general and administrative	(23,806)	(32,443)	(88,445)	(98,289)
Unallocated other operating income, net	138	439	4,412	1,301
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	161,934	168,073	494,700	504,214
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	123,286	129,790	381,422	392,323
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(14,623)	(12,426)	(41,478)	(38,511)
Unallocated general and administrative	(20,575)	(18,812)	(62,618)	(56,804)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	11,068	11,046	33,738	32,411
Advertising funds surplus	650	170	1,769	640
Unallocated general and administrative	(7,780)	(6,816)	(20,917)	(19,363)
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	27,580	27,237	79,540	79,480
Unallocated general and administrative	$ (5,748)	$ (4,723)	$ (13,618)	$ (13,591)