(6) Cash and Receivables (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 01, 2012		Jan. 02, 2011		Jan. 03, 2010	Dec. 28, 2008
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Cash	$ 471,110		$ 508,364
Cash equivalents	4,121		4,144
Cash and cash equivalents	475,231		512,508		591,719	90,090
Accounts receivable, current	70,963		89,251
Accounts and notes receivable, current	72,402		91,579
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(4,053)		(7,321)
Accounts and notes receivable, current	68,349		84,258
Notes receivable, noncurrent	13,393	[1]	16,390	[1]
Allowance for doubtful accounts, noncurrent	(963)	[1]	(3,778)	[1]
Notes receivable, noncurrent	12,430	[1]	12,612	[1]
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Cash	342,620		194,618
Cash equivalents	4,028		4,068
Cash and cash equivalents	346,648		198,686		538,864	63,080
Accounts receivable, current	70,067		88,345
Accounts and notes receivable, current	71,506		90,673
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(4,053)		(7,321)
Accounts and notes receivable, current	67,453		83,352
Notes receivable, noncurrent	13,393	[1]	16,390	[1]
Allowance for doubtful accounts, noncurrent	(963)	[1]	(3,778)	[1]
Notes receivable, noncurrent	12,430	[1]	12,612	[1]
Prepaid expense and other current assets [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, current	339	[2]	1,068	[2]
Prepaid expense and other current assets [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, current	339	[2]	1,068	[2]
Deferred costs and other assets [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, noncurrent	4,058	[1]	4,247	[1]
Trust for termination costs for former Wendy's executives [Member] | Prepaid expense and other current assets [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, current	190	[2]	919	[2]
Trust for termination costs for former Wendy's executives [Member] | Prepaid expense and other current assets [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, current	190	[2]	919	[2]
Trust for termination costs for former Wendy's executives [Member] | Deferred costs and other assets [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, noncurrent	3,372	[1]	3,562	[1]
Trust for termination costs for former Wendy's executives [Member] | Deferred costs and other assets [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, noncurrent	3,372	[1]	3,562	[1]
Other restricted cash equivalents [Member] | Prepaid expense and other current assets [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, current	149	[2]	149	[2]
Other restricted cash equivalents [Member] | Prepaid expense and other current assets [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, current	149	[2]	149	[2]
Collateral supporting letters of credit securing payments due under leases [Member] | Deferred costs and other assets [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents, noncurrent	686	[1]	685	[1]
Franchisees [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, current	57,965		73,214
Notes receivable, current	1,439		2,328
Notes receivable, noncurrent	9,744	[1]	11,932	[1]
Franchisees [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, current	57,965		73,214
Notes receivable, current	1,439		2,328
Notes receivable, noncurrent	9,744	[1]	11,932	[1]
Other Receivables [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, current	12,998		16,037
Other Receivables [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, current	12,102		15,131
Other Notes Recevable [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Notes receivable, noncurrent	3,649	[1],[3]	4,458	[1],[3]
Other Notes Recevable [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Notes receivable, noncurrent	3,649	[1],[3]	4,458	[1],[3]
Franchise Incentive Loan [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Cash and Receivables [Line Items]
Notes receivable, noncurrent	$ 1,378	[1],[3]

[1] Included in “Deferred costs and other assets.”

[2] Included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets.”

[3] Includes a franchise incentive loan of $1,378 to facilitate the purchase and related installation of equipment required to implement a systemwide core menu initiative.