(5) Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2012	Apr. 03, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	$ 1,628
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived		0
Impairment of long-lived assets	4,511	7,897
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other intangible assets	7,148
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	7,643
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other intangible assets	0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other intangible assets	0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other intangible assets	7,148
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	7,643
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	2,883	7,897
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Properties	495
Other intangible assets	0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	495
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Properties	0
Other intangible assets	0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	0
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Properties	0
Other intangible assets	0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	0
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Properties	495
Other intangible assets	0
Long-lived assets measured at fair value	495
Properties [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	2,880	6,084
Intangible Assets [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived	3	1,813
Corporate Aircraft [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived	$ 1,628