Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2026	Mar. 30, 2025
Segment Reporting [Line Items]
Segment profit	$ 64,921	$ 83,126
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(21,991)	(16,596)
Advertising funds (deficit) surplus	(271)	144
Unallocated general and administrative	(72,843)	(68,204)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(40,575)	(36,549)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(4,762)	(4,167)
System optimization gains (losses), net	1,625	(90)
Reorganization and realignment costs	162	692
Impairment of long-lived assets	(2,572)	(1,421)
Unallocated other operating income, net	5,080	6,387
Interest expense, net	(34,106)	(31,477)
Investment loss, net	0	(1,718)
Other income, net	3,350	4,986
Income before income taxes	$ 34,165	54,917
Number of Reportable Segments Disclosed by Definition Flag	segment
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting [Line Items]
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	$ (310)	(587)
Unallocated general and administrative	(36,863)	(34,123)
Unallocated other operating income, net	(7)	4,130
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting [Line Items]
Segment profit	148,494	155,097
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting [Line Items]
Segment profit	109,863	120,977
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(18,256)	(13,178)
Unallocated general and administrative	(22,458)	(22,424)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting [Line Items]
Segment profit	10,579	9,444
Advertising funds (deficit) surplus	(3)	(1,153)
Unallocated general and administrative	(8,225)	(6,437)
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting [Line Items]
Segment profit	28,052	24,676
Unallocated general and administrative	$ (5,297)	$ (5,220)