Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012		Jan. 02, 2011		Jan. 03, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 9,875		$ (4,325)		$ 5,062
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	145,302		182,172		190,251
Share-based compensation provision	17,688		13,704		15,294
Distributions received from joint venture	14,942		13,980		14,583
Impairment of long-lived assets	14,441		69,477		82,132
Loss on disposal of Arby’s	8,799		0		0
Accretion of long-term debt	8,120		15,016		10,400
Non-cash rent expense	7,554		9,334		12,618
Net receipt (recognition) of deferred vendor incentives	7,070		(587)		(791)
Write-off and amortization of deferred financing costs	6,216		11,779		15,820
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,434		9,694		8,169
Deferred income tax provision (benefit), net	1,624		(29,779)		(40,127)
Supplemental total of operating investment adjustments	(145)		(5,201)		2,484
Equity in earnings in joint ventures, net	(9,465)		(9,459)		(8,499)
Other, net	565		(1,430)		(4,317)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(2,690)		(4,730)		(6,074)
Inventories	(517)		394		1,879
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(7,580)		1,514		3,987
Accounts payable	11,364		(15,795)		(53,474)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	11,120		(29,508)		45,733
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	246,717		226,250		295,130
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(146,763)		(147,969)		(101,914)
Restaurant acquisitions	(11,210)		(3,123)		(2,357)
Franchise incentive loans	(4,003)		0		0
Investment activities, net (see below)	(841)		32,158		38,141
Proceeds from sale of Arby’s, net	97,925		0		0
Proceeds from other dispositions	6,960		5,660		10,882
Other, net	(265)		352		(371)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(58,197)		(112,922)		(55,619)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0		497,661		607,507
Repayments of long-term debt	(38,702)		(474,791)		(210,371)
Repurchases of common stock	(157,556)		(173,537)		(72,927)
Dividends paid	(32,366)		(27,621)		(27,976)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	6,359		1,444		1,715
Deferred financing costs	(57)		(16,353)		(38,399)
Other, net	(2,262)		(953)		(156)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(224,584)		(194,150)		259,393
Net cash (used in) provided by operations before effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(36,064)		(80,822)		498,904
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,213)		1,611		2,725
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(37,277)		(79,211)		501,629
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	512,508		591,719		90,090
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	475,231		512,508		591,719
Operating investment adjustments, net:
Income on collection of DFR Notes	0		(4,909)		0
Other than temporary losses on investments	0		0		3,916
Other net recognized gains	(145)		(292)		(1,432)
Investment activities, net:
Proceeds from sales of investments	342		1,810		31,289
Decrease in restricted cash held for investment	0		0		26,681
Proceeds from repayment of DFR Notes	0		30,752		0
Cost of securities	0		(404)		(19,829)
Investment in joint venture	(1,183)		0		0
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest	111,675		127,753		86,439
Income taxes, net of refunds	13,588		14,262		14,952
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:
Total capital expenditures	149,104		153,744		108,284
Capital expenditures	(146,763)		(147,969)		(101,914)
Non-cash capitalized lease and certain sales-leaseback obligations	2,341		5,775		6,370
Indirect investment in Arby's	19,000		0		0
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	12,933		(2,638)		9,649
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	144,675		180,310		188,506
Share-based compensation provision	16,667		12,790		13,570
Distributions received from joint venture	14,942		13,980		14,583
Impairment of long-lived assets	14,441		69,477		79,956
Loss on disposal of Arby’s	8,799		0		0
Accretion of long-term debt	8,120		15,016		10,400
Non-cash rent expense	7,551		9,334		12,618
Net receipt (recognition) of deferred vendor incentives	7,070		(587)		(791)
Write-off and amortization of deferred financing costs	6,204		11,763		15,796
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,434		9,694		8,169
Deferred income tax provision (benefit), net	11,718		(25,752)		(68,541)
Tax sharing payable to parent, net	2,437		1,052		40,413
Other operating transactions with parent	(6,031)		(8,032)		14,114
Equity in earnings in joint ventures, net	(9,465)		(9,459)		(8,499)
Tax sharing payment to parent	(13,078)	[1]	0	[1]	(10,417)	[1]
Other, net	334		(504)		5,553
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(2,900)		(4,193)		(7,679)
Inventories	(517)		394		1,879
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(7,861)		755		1,121
Accounts payable	11,086		(14,184)		(52,560)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	15,546		(27,962)		53,790
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	245,105		231,254		321,630
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(146,763)		(147,969)		(101,914)
Restaurant acquisitions	(11,210)		(3,123)		(2,357)
Franchise incentive loans	(4,003)		0		0
Proceeds from sale of Arby’s, net	97,925		0		0
Proceeds from other dispositions	6,960		5,660		10,882
Other, net	(265)		1,263		192
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(58,539)		(144,169)		(93,197)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0		497,661		607,507
Repayments of long-term debt	(37,334)		(466,461)		(209,482)
Dividends paid to The Wendy's Company	0		(443,700)		(115,000)
Deferred financing costs	(57)		(16,353)		(38,399)
Other, net	0		(21)		0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(37,391)		(428,874)		244,626
Net cash (used in) provided by operations before effect of exchange rate changes on cash	149,175		(341,789)		473,059
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,213)		1,611		2,725
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	147,962		(340,178)		475,784
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	198,686		538,864		63,080
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	346,648		198,686		538,864
Investment activities, net:
Investment in joint venture	(1,183)		0		0
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest	110,762		126,589		84,085
Income taxes, net of refunds	11,776		9,830		9,529
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:
Total capital expenditures	149,104		153,744		108,284
Capital expenditures	(146,763)		(147,969)		(101,914)
Non-cash capitalized lease and certain sales-leaseback obligations	2,341		5,775		6,370
Indirect investment in Arby's	$ 19,000		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Wendy’s Restaurants made cash payments to The Wendy’s Company under a tax sharing agreement, as discussed in Note 14.