(6) Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jul. 03, 2011
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 222,753
Restricted cash equivalents: Current - included in 'Prepaid expenses and other current assets'	769
Restricted cash equivalents: Non-current - included in 'Deferred costs and other assets'	3,482
Non-current cost investments	3,792
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	10,493
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	222,753	[1]
Restricted cash equivalents: Current - included in 'Prepaid expenses and other current assets'	769	[1]
Restricted cash equivalents: Non-current - included in 'Deferred costs and other assets'	3,482	[1]
Non-current cost investments	5,596	[2]
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	10,493	[3]
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	492,448
Restricted cash equivalents: Current - included in 'Prepaid expenses and other current assets'	769
Restricted cash equivalents: Non-current - included in 'Deferred costs and other assets'	4,168
Non-current cost investments	8,382
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	10,493
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	492,448	[1]
Restricted cash equivalents: Current - included in 'Prepaid expenses and other current assets'	769	[1]
Restricted cash equivalents: Non-current - included in 'Deferred costs and other assets'	4,168	[1]
Non-current cost investments	19,598	[2]
Corporate [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	269,695
Restricted cash equivalents: Current - included in 'Prepaid expenses and other current assets'	0
Restricted cash equivalents: Non-current - included in 'Deferred costs and other assets'	686
Non-current cost investments	4,590
Corporate [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	0
Corporate [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	269,695	[1]
Restricted cash equivalents: Current - included in 'Prepaid expenses and other current assets'	0	[1]
Restricted cash equivalents: Non-current - included in 'Deferred costs and other assets'	686	[1]
Non-current cost investments	14,002	[2]
Corporate [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	$ 0	[3]

[1] The carrying amounts approximated fair value due to the short-term maturities of the cash equivalents or restricted cash equivalents.

[2] Fair value of these investments was based entirely on statements of account received from investment managers or investees which were principally based on quoted market or broker/dealer prices. To the extent that some of these investments, including the underlying investments in investment limited partnerships, do not have available quoted market or broker/dealer prices, the Companies relied on valuations performed by the investment managers or investees in valuing those investments or third-party appraisals.

[3] The fair values were based on information provided by the bank counterparties that is model-driven and whose inputs were observable or whose significant value drivers were observable.