(10) Debt and Equity Invested Equity/Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011		Jul. 04, 2010
The Wendy's Company [Member]
Statement of Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 2,163,174,000		$ 2,336,339,000
Comprehensive income	17,729,000	[1]	5,816,000	[1]
Share-based compensation provision	6,660,000		6,651,000
Exercises of stock options	3,283,000		923,000
Dividends paid	(16,750,000)		(12,989,000)
Repurchases of common stock for treasury	46,622,000		167,744,000
Other	(52,000)		(512,000)
Balance, end of period	2,127,422,000		2,168,484,000
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Statement of Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	1,776,630,000		2,197,907,000
Comprehensive income	22,131,000	[2]	5,264,000	[2]
Share-based compensation provision	6,162,000		6,227,000
Dividends paid to The Wendy's Company	0		(443,700,000)
Other	0		(76,000)
Balance, end of year	$ 1,804,923,000		$ 1,765,622,000

[1] The following is a summary of the components of comprehensive income, net of income taxes: Six Months Ended July 3, 2011 July 4, 2010Net income$9,857 $7,342Net change in currency translation adjustment7,918 (1,562)Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities— (59)Change in net unrecognized pension loss(46) 95    Other comprehensive income (loss)7,872 (1,526)       Comprehensive income$17,729 $5,816

[2] The following is a summary of the components of comprehensive income, net of income taxes: Six Months Ended July 3, 2011 July 4, 2010Net income$13,914 $6,815Net change in currency translation adjustment7,918 (1,562)Change in net unrecognized pension loss (b)299 11    Other comprehensive income (loss)8,217 (1,551)       Comprehensive income$22,131 $5,264(b)Includes the reclassification of the change in net unrecognized pension loss related to Arby’s pension liability to a subsidiary of The Wendy’s Company.