Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012	Feb. 24, 2012	Jul. 01, 2011
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	WENDY'S CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000030697
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-01
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 01, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		389,950,170
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 1,575,521,018
Subsidiaries [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	WENDY'S RESTAURANTS, LLC
Entity Central Index Key	0001467974
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer