Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Other [Member]
Stockholders' Equity, beginning of period at Jan. 03, 2010	$ 2,336,339	$ 47,042	$ 2,761,433	$ (380,480)	$ (85,971)	$ (4,696)	$ (989)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net Income (loss) attributable to The Wendy's Company	(4,325)	0	0	(4,325)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Change in in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	12,702	0	0	0	0	12,666	36
Cash dividends	(27,621)	0	0	(27,621)	0	0	0
Accrued Dividend on non-vested restricted stock	(38)	0	0	(38)	0	0	0
Repurchases of common stock	(167,743)	0	0	0	(167,743)	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	13,704	0	13,704	0	0	0	0
Common stock issued upon exercises of stock options	1,278	0	(562)	0	1,840	0	0
Common stock issued upon vesting of restricted shares	(664)	0	(2,765)	0	2,101	0	0
Tax charge from share-based compensation	(664)	0	(664)	0	0	0	0
Other	206	0	(20)	0	226	0	0
Stockholders' Equity, end of period at Jan. 02, 2011	2,163,174	47,042	2,771,126	(412,464)	(249,547)	7,970	(953)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net Income (loss) attributable to The Wendy's Company	9,875	0	0	9,875	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Change in in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(6,915)	0	0	0	0	(6,869)	(46)
Cash dividends	(32,366)	0	0	(32,366)	0	0	0
Accrued Dividend on non-vested restricted stock	(44)	0	0	(44)	0	0	0
Repurchases of common stock	(157,556)	0	0	0	(157,556)	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	17,688	0	17,688	0	0	0	0
Common stock issued upon exercises of stock options	6,193	0	(891)	0	7,084	0	0
Common stock issued upon vesting of restricted shares	(2,265)	0	(6,136)	0	3,871	0	0
Tax charge from share-based compensation	(1,923)	0	(1,923)	0	0	0	0
Other	208	0	7	0	201	0	0
Stockholders' Equity, end of period at Jan. 01, 2012	1,996,069	47,042	2,779,871	(434,999)	(395,947)	1,101	(999)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net Income (loss) attributable to The Wendy's Company	7,083	0	0	7,083	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,384	0	0	2,384	0	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,384)	0	0	(2,384)	0	0	0
Change in in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	5,879	0	0	0	0	6,096	(217)
Cash dividends	(39,043)	0	0	(39,043)	0	0	0
Accrued Dividend on non-vested restricted stock	(48)	0	0	(48)	0	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	11,473	0	11,473	0	0	0	0
Common stock issued upon exercises of stock options	7,576	0	(2,621)	0	10,197	0	0
Common stock issued upon vesting of restricted shares	(417)	0	(3,021)	0	2,604	0	0
Tax charge from share-based compensation	(2,906)	0	(2,906)	0	0	0	0
Other	189	0	(31)	0	220	0	0
Stockholders' Equity, end of period at Dec. 30, 2012	$ 1,985,855	$ 47,042	$ 2,782,765	$ (467,007)	$ (382,926)	$ 7,197	$ (1,216)