(13) Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 01, 2012		Jan. 02, 2011
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non-current cost investments	$ 27,452		$ 8,592
Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non-current cost investments	62,496	[1]	20,095	[1]
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non-current cost investments	22,832		3,775
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non-current cost investments	25,794	[1]	5,555	[1]
Corporate [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non-current cost investments	4,620		4,817
Corporate [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non-current cost investments	36,702	[1]	14,540	[1]
6.20% senior notes | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps			9,623
6.20% senior notes | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	11,695	[2]	9,623	[2]
6.20% senior notes | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps			9,623
6.20% senior notes | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	11,695	[2]	9,623	[2]
6.20% senior notes | Corporate [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	0		0
6.20% senior notes | Corporate [Member] | Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]

[1] The fair value of our investment in Jurlique was based upon an agreement with a third party to purchase Jurlique. The fair value of our indirect investment in Arby’s is based on the fair value as determined in connection with its sale in July 2011. The fair value of the remaining investments was based entirely on statements of account received from investment managers or investees which were principally based on quoted market or broker/dealer prices. To the extent that some of these investments, including the underlying investments in investment limited partnerships, do not have available quoted market or broker/dealer prices, the Companies relied on valuations performed by the investment managers or investees in valuing those investments or third-party appraisals.

[2] The fair values were based on information provided by the bank counterparties that is model-driven and whose inputs were observable or whose significant value drivers were observable.