(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Concentration of Risk (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012 distributors
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of main in-line distributors	1
Number of additional in-line distributors	2
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Main In-line Distributor Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	67.00%
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Additional In-line Supplier Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	20.00%
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	10.00%
Franchised restaurants [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of foreign countries entity operates	27
Entity Operated Units [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of states where restaurants are located	30