(14) Transaction Related Costs (Details) (Segment, Continuing Operations [Member], USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011		Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 02, 2011		Oct. 03, 2010
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Q4 2011 [Member] | Employee retention [Member]
Transaction related costs, expected	$ 214
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Fiscal year 2012 [Member] | Employee retention [Member]
Transaction related costs, expected	45
The Wendy's Company [Member]
Transaction related costs	23,839		0	30,762		0
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Transaction related costs	23,571		0	29,542		0
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Bonus [Member]
Transaction related costs	2,529			2,529
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Terminations costs [Domain]
Transaction related costs	12,568
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Executive severance, required payments [Member]
Transaction related costs	7,987
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Executive severance, vesting of stock awards [Member]
Transaction related costs	4,581
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Termination and severance [Member]
Transaction related costs	14,462			16,208
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Employee retention [Member]
Transaction related costs	5,305	[1]		7,855	[1]
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Relocation [Member]
Transaction related costs	826	[2]		827	[2]
Transaction related costs, expected	1,500
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Other professional fees [Member]
Transaction related costs	368			2,034
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Other [Member]
Transaction related costs	81			89
Corporate [Member] | Employee retention [Member]
Transaction related costs	96			159
Corporate [Member] | Other professional fees [Member]
Transaction related costs	4			845
Corporate [Member] | Other [Member]
Transaction related costs	$ 168			$ 216

[1] The Companies expect to expense retention payments for current Wendy’s Restaurants employees of approximately $214 and $45 during the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, respectively.

[2] Compensation costs of $1,500 incurred during the third quarter of 2011 due to the relocation of a corporate executive will be expensed over the three year period following this executive’s relocation in accordance with the terms of the agreement.