(19) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011	Jan. 03, 2010
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	$ 12,883	$ 26,326	$ 25,619
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	12,883	26,326	23,443
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Properties [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Properties	10,120	21,201	21,263
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Intangible Assets [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Intangible assets	2,763	5,125	2,180
Corporate [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Properties	0	0	2,176
Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets		$ 43,151	$ 56,513