(9) Properties (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 01, 2012		Jan. 02, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	$ 1,490,558		$ 2,006,691
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(298,358)		(455,430)
Properties	1,192,200		1,551,261
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	401,950		467,715
Building and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	384,798		426,958
Office, restaurant and transportation equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	352,595		479,202
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	323,701		397,403
Capitalized leases and other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	27,514	[1]	111,622	[1]
Sale-leaseback assets [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross			123,791	[1]
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	1,487,059		1,978,758
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(294,863)		(436,905)
Properties	1,192,196		1,541,853
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	401,950		467,715
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Building and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	384,798		426,958
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Office, restaurant and transportation equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	352,595		454,768
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	320,202		393,904
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Capitalized leases and other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	27,514	[1]	111,622	[1]
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Sale-leaseback assets [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross			123,791	[1]
Corporate [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	3,499		27,933
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,495)		(18,525)
Properties	4		9,408
Corporate [Member] | Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	0		0
Corporate [Member] | Building and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	0		0
Corporate [Member] | Office, restaurant and transportation equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	0		24,434	[2]
Corporate [Member] | Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	3,499		3,499
Corporate [Member] | Capitalized leases and other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross	0	[1]	0	[1]
Corporate [Member] | Sale-leaseback assets [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Properties, gross			$ 0	[1]

[1] These assets principally include buildings and improvements.

[2] Includes a company-owned aircraft. This aircraft is classified as held-for-sale at January 1, 2012 and is included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets.”