Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010
The Wendy's Company [Member]
Depreciation and amortization			$ 113,085	$ 137,448
Impairment of long-lived assets			9,820	41,424
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes			(8,849)	0
Net (loss) income	(3,966)	(909)	5,891	6,433
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Earnings per share, basic and diluted	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Dividends per share:	$ 0.02	$ 0.015	$ 0.06	$ 0.045
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Sales	534,525	525,082	1,588,048	1,570,240
Franchise revenues	76,891	75,626	228,292	222,616
Revenues	611,416	600,708	1,816,340	1,792,856
Cost of sales	458,000	451,319	1,361,669	1,324,970
General and administrative	66,006	73,984	215,147	230,405
Transaction related costs	23,839	0	30,762	0
Depreciation and amortization	30,816	32,639	90,972	96,452
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	20,921	8,262	21,403
Other operating expense (income), net	365	1,555	1,687	2,728
Costs and expenses	579,026	580,418	1,708,499	1,675,958
Operating profit (loss)	32,390	20,290	107,841	116,898
Interest expense	(28,384)	(29,159)	(85,915)	(89,740)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(26,197)
Investment income (expense), net	3	77	188	5,254
Other income, net	301	163	706	2,116
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	4,310	(8,629)	22,820	8,331
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(1,766)	7,872	(9,198)	3,665
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,544	(757)	13,622	11,996
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Earnings per share, basic and diluted	$ 0.01	$ 0.00	$ 0.03	$ 0.03
The Wendy's Company [Member] | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(1,441)	(152)	1,118	(5,563)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(5,069)	0	(8,849)	0
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(6,510)	(152)	(7,731)	(5,563)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Earnings per share, basic and diluted	$ (0.02)	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Depreciation and amortization			112,503	136,051
Impairment of long-lived assets			9,820	41,424
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(26,197)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes			(8,849)	0
Net (loss) income	(1,600)	357	12,314	7,172
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Sales	534,525	525,082	1,588,048	1,570,240
Franchise revenues	76,891	75,626	228,292	222,616
Revenues	611,416	600,708	1,816,340	1,792,856
Cost of sales	458,000	451,319	1,361,669	1,324,970
General and administrative	62,732	72,360	207,373	225,206
Transaction related costs	23,571	0	29,542	0
Depreciation and amortization	30,758	32,174	90,390	95,055
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	20,921	8,262	21,403
Other operating expense (income), net	362	1,553	1,582	2,887
Costs and expenses	575,423	578,327	1,698,818	1,669,521
Operating profit (loss)	35,993	22,381	117,522	123,335
Interest expense	(28,171)	(28,855)	(85,254)	(88,752)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(26,197)
Other income, net	301	234	703	999
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	8,123	(6,240)	32,971	9,385
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(3,213)	6,749	(12,926)	3,350
Income (loss) from continuing operations	4,910	509	20,045	12,735
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(1,441)	(152)	1,118	(5,563)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(5,069)	0	(8,849)	0
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ (6,510)	$ (152)	$ (7,731)	$ (5,563)