(2) Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2012	Apr. 03, 2011	Apr. 01, 2012 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Apr. 03, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]	Apr. 03, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Date of Disposal						7/4/2011
Percentage of Stock Divested						100.00%
Proceeds from divestiture of business, percentage of buyer stock received						18.50%
Transaction related costs	$ 612	$ 1,884	$ 612	$ 1,279
Revenues					265,359
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes					(2,193)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes					1,080
Net loss from discontinued operations				$ (1,113)	$ (1,113)