(16) Share-Based Compensation Modifications (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012		Jan. 02, 2011		Jan. 03, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	$ 16,990		$ 10,492		$ 12,095
Modified Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	(361)	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of employees subject to modification	168
Decrease in employee share-based compensation due to award modification	614
Share-based compensation	15,967	[2]	9,575	[2]	10,358	[2]
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Modified Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	(361)	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Transaction Related and Other Costs [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Modified Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	(361)
Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	700		3,215		3,212
Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member] | Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Decrease in employee share-based compensation due to award modification	$ 253

[1] Adjustments related to modifications of share-based compensation awards.

[2] Wendy’s Restaurants incurs share-based compensation costs for The Wendy’s Company common stock awards issued to certain employees under The Wendy’s Company various equity plans. Such compensation costs are allocated by The Wendy’s Company to Wendy’s Restaurants and is correspondingly recorded as capital contributions from The Wendy’s Company.