Retirement Benefit Plans Multiemployer Pension Plan (Details) (USD $)	7 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2012 New CBA [Member] Union Pension Fund [Member] H		Jan. 01, 2012 New CBA [Member] Union Pension Fund [Member]		Jan. 02, 2011 New CBA [Member] Union Pension Fund [Member]		Jan. 02, 2011 Cost of Sales [Member] New CBA [Member] Union Pension Fund [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 June 1, 2012 Through December 31, 2012 [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 January 1, 2013 Until Contirbution Rate Negotiated [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 Union Pension Fund [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Multiemployer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation											$ 4,975,000
Multiemployer Plan, Period Contributions and Additional Expense Incurred								900,000
Multiemployer Plan, Period Contributions		785,000	[1]	781,000	[1]	766,000	[1]	600,000
Multiemployer Plans, Certified Zone Status		Red	[2]	Green	[2]	Green	[2]
Increase (Decrease) in Limits on Actuarial Value of Assets, Percentage		130.00%
Multiemployer Plans, Minimum Contribution, Per Hour		3
Multiemployer Pans, Hours of Employment, Expected		281,000
Multiemployer Plans, Minimum Annual Contribution, Expected		$ 843,000
Multiemployer Plans, Surcharge Percentage									5.00%	10.00%
Multiemployer Plans, Surcharge	Yes

[1] In accordance with the terms of the New CBA, Wendy’s is required to make minimum contributions of $3.00 per hour of employment for each employee covered under the Union Pension Fund. As of December 30, 2012, based on approximately 281,000 hours of expected employment, Wendy’s minimum annual contribution to the Union Pension Fund would be $843, inclusive of the 10% surcharge discussed above.

[2] The Union Pension Fund elected an expanded asset smoothing period of 10 years for the investment loss incurred in the plan year ended December 31, 2008 and an increase in the limits on the actuarial value of the assets to 130% of market value for the plan years beginning January 1, 2009 and 2010, as permitted under the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010. The Union Pension Plan certified its zone status after making this election.