(5) Fair Value of Financial Instruments Derivative Instruments (Details) (6.20% senior notes, Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member], Interest Rate Swap [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2012	Apr. 03, 2011	Apr. 01, 2012 Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 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	$ 225,000
Interest rate swaps			11,153	11,695
Interest income on interest rate swaps	$ 1,326	$ 1,413