(2) Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Jun. 12, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Jul. 04, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Jul. 04, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 The Wendy's Company [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Date of Disposal			7/4/2011		7/4/2011		7/4/2011
Percentage of stock divested			100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses			$ 130,000
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business, Percentage of Buyer Stock Received			18.50%		18.50%		18.50%
Noncash or Part Noncash Divestiture, Preliminary Value of Consideration Received			19,000
Debt assumed by buyer			190,000		190,000		190,000
Date of execution of Purchase and Sale Agreement				Jun. 13, 2011
Discontinued Operation, Expected Tax Loss on Disposal of Discontinued Operation									240,000
Revenues					281,094	269,587	546,453	522,320
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes:
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before income taxes					6,472	9,386	4,279	(6,943)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes					(2,800)	(4,086)	(1,720)	1,532
Income (loss) on discontinued operations					3,672	5,300	2,559	(5,411)
Loss on disposal, net of income tax benefit					(3,780)	0	(3,780)	0
(Loss) income from discontinued operations					(108)	5,300	(1,221)	(5,411)
Estimated loss on disposal	6,000
Estimated Transaction Closing Costs		11,300
Estimated Post Closing Purchase Price Adjustments		15,000
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Income (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation		(2,220)
Expected Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		5,500
Cash and cash equivalents			7,076		7,076		7,076
Accounts and notes receivable			22,760		22,760		22,760
Inventories			10,373		10,373		10,373
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			15,328		15,328		15,328
Advertising fund restricted assets			10,788		10,788		10,788
Current assets of discontinued operations			66,325		66,325		66,325
Properties			366,825		366,825		366,825
Other intangible assets			26,782		26,782		26,782
Goodwill			17,617		17,617		17,617
Deferred costs and other assets			7,631		7,631		7,631
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations			418,855		418,855		418,855
Current portion of long-term debt			9,687		9,687		9,687
Accounts payable			21,969		21,969		21,969
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			68,468		68,468		68,468
Advertising fund restricted liabilities			10,788		10,788		10,788
Current liabilities of discontinued operations			110,912		110,912		110,912
Long-term debt			180,243		180,243		180,243
Deferred income			10,968		10,968		10,968
Other liabilities			54,500		54,500		54,500
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations			$ 245,711		$ 245,711		$ 245,711