(13) Fair Value of Financial Instruments Derivative Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011	Jan. 03, 2010	Jan. 01, 2012 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]		Jan. 02, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]		Jan. 03, 2010 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 Corporate [Member] Put and Call Option Combination on Equity Securities [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Corporate [Member] Put and Call Option Combination on Equity Securities [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 Corporate [Member] Put and Call Option Combination on Equity Securities [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 6.25% senior notes Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Jul. 04, 2010 6.25% senior notes Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 6.20% and 6.25% Notes [Member] Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 6.20% senior notes Interest Rate Swap [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 02, 2011 6.20% senior notes Interest Rate Swap [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Apr. 04, 2010 6.20% senior notes Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 6.20% senior notes Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 02, 2011 6.20% senior notes Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 01, 2012 6.20% senior notes Corporate [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]		Jan. 02, 2011 6.20% senior notes Corporate [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount of interest rate swaps																	$ 175,000	$ 361,000					$ 39,000
Interest rate swaps																			11,695	[1]	9,623	[1]		11,695	[1]	9,623	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Gain on cancellation of interest rate swaps																1,875
Interest income				(5,611)	(7,880)	(2,865)	(5,611)	[2]	(7,880)	[2]	(2,865)	[2]
Investment income, net	$ (5,611)	$ (7,880)	$ (3,151)										$ 0	$ 0	$ (286)

[1] 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.

[2] 2010 includes a gain of $1,875 on the cancellation of four interest rate swaps discussed above.