(11) Guarantees and Other Commitments and Contingencies Commitment to Fund, Breakfast Expansion (Details) (Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member], USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Funding Commitment [Line Items]
Expenditure related to breakfast expansion program, expected	$ 4,500
Commitment to fund, per restaurant	25
Commitment to fund programs, maximum	20,000
Equipment leased to franchisees	1,846
Franchise incentive loans	1,269	0
Royalties required to be reinvested, expected	$ 5,000

The cash outflow to acquire an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among myriad other features and characteristics.

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