Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010
The Wendy's Company [Member]
Depreciation and amortization			$ 82,269	$ 91,270
Impairment of long-lived assets			9,820	14,015
Net income	11,266	10,742	9,857	7,342
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Earnings per share, basic and diluted	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.02	$ 0.02
Dividends per share:	$ 0.02	$ 0.02	$ 0.04	$ 0.03
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Sales	544,237	532,411	1,053,523	1,045,158
Franchise revenues	78,222	75,023	151,401	146,990
Revenues	622,459	607,434	1,204,924	1,192,148
Cost of sales	464,798	442,314	903,669	873,651
General and administrative	74,456	74,081	149,141	156,421
Retention program and other transaction related costs	5,039	0	6,923	0
Depreciation and amortization	29,842	31,381	60,156	63,813
Impairment of long-lived assets	365	482	8,262	482
Other operating expense (income), net	525	229	1,322	1,173
Costs and expenses	575,025	548,487	1,129,473	1,095,540
Operating profit	47,434	58,947	75,451	96,608
Interest expense	(28,089)	(29,516)	(57,531)	(60,581)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(26,197)	0	(26,197)
Investment income (expense), net	148	5,048	185	5,177
Other income, net	189	885	405	1,953
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	19,682	9,167	18,510	16,960
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(8,308)	(3,725)	(7,432)	(4,207)
Income from continuing operations	11,374	5,442	11,078	12,753
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Earnings per share, basic and diluted	$ 0.03	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.03
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	3,672	5,300	2,559	(5,411)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit	(3,780)	0	(3,780)	0
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(108)	5,300	(1,221)	(5,411)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Earnings per share, basic and diluted	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Depreciation and amortization			81,745	90,338
Impairment of long-lived assets			9,820	14,015
Net income	12,889	9,375	13,914	6,815
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Sales	544,237	532,411	1,053,523	1,045,158
Franchise revenues	78,222	75,023	151,401	146,990
Revenues	622,459	607,434	1,204,924	1,192,148
Cost of sales	464,798	442,314	903,669	873,651
General and administrative	72,702	72,228	144,641	152,846
Retention program and other transaction related costs	4,692		5,971
Depreciation and amortization	29,783	30,915	59,632	62,881
Impairment of long-lived assets	365	482	8,262	482
Other operating expense (income), net	478	123	1,220	1,334
Costs and expenses	572,818	546,062	1,123,395	1,091,194
Operating profit	49,641	61,372	81,529	100,954
Interest expense	(27,868)	(29,171)	(57,083)	(59,897)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(26,197)	0	(26,197)
Other income, net	189	482	402	765
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	21,962	6,486	24,848	15,625
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(8,965)	(2,411)	(9,713)	(3,399)
Income from continuing operations	12,997	4,075	15,135	12,226
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	3,672	5,300	2,559	(5,411)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit	(3,780)	0	(3,780)	0
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(108)	5,300	(1,221)	(5,411)
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Retention program and other transaction related costs		$ 0		$ 0