Acquisitions and Dispositions Pro Forma Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jul. 01, 2012		Apr. 01, 2012		Jan. 01, 2012		Oct. 02, 2011		Jul. 03, 2011		Apr. 03, 2011		Dec. 30, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sales																	$ 2,198,323	$ 2,126,544	$ 2,079,081
Franchise revenues																	306,919	304,814	296,358
Total revenues	629,879	[1],[2]	636,308	[1],[2],[3]	645,868	[1],[3]	593,187	[1],[4]	615,018	[5]	611,416	[5]	622,459	[5]	582,465	[5]	2,505,242	2,431,358	2,375,439
Operating profit	32,257	[1],[2]	31,183	[1],[2],[3]	38,391	[1],[3]	20,916	[1],[4]	29,280	[5]	32,390	[5]	47,434	[5]	28,017	[5]	122,747	137,121	150,445
Net income (loss)																	(9,467)	(9,875)	4,325
Net Income (loss) attributable to The Wendy's Company	26,388	[1],[2]	(26,162)	[1],[2],[3]	(5,493)	[1],[3]	12,350	[1],[4]	3,984	[5]	(3,966)	[5]	11,266	[5]	(1,409)	[5]	7,083	9,875	(4,325)
Net income (loss)	$ 0.07	[1],[2],[6]	$ (0.07)	[1],[2],[3],[6]	$ (0.01)	[1],[3],[6]	$ 0.03	[1],[4],[6]	$ 0.01	[5],[6]	$ (0.01)	[5],[6]	$ 0.03	[5],[6]	$ 0.00	[5],[6]	$ 0.02	$ 0.02	$ (0.01)
Pro Forma [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sales																	2,218,199	2,171,509
Franchise revenues																	306,122	303,003
Total revenues																	2,524,321	2,474,512
Operating profit																	123,823	139,695
Net income (loss)																	(10,342)	(11,834)
Net Income (loss) attributable to The Wendy's Company																	7,958	11,834
Net income (loss)																	$ 0.02	$ 0.03
Scenario, Actual [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sales																	2,198,323	2,126,544
Franchise revenues																	306,919	304,814
Total revenues																	2,505,242	2,431,358
Operating profit																	122,747	137,121
Net income (loss)																	(9,467)	(9,875)
Net Income (loss) attributable to The Wendy's Company																	$ 7,083	$ 9,875
Net income (loss)																	$ 0.02	$ 0.02

[1] Operating profit in 2012 was materially affected by facilities relocation costs and other transactions and impairment of long-lived assets. The impact of facilities relocation costs and other transactions on net income (loss) attributable to The Wendy’s Company for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2012 was $3,808, $6,164, $7,066 and $8,311, respectively, after income tax benefits of $2,335, $3,824, $4,364 and $5,159, respectively (see Note 17 for additional information). The impact of the impairment of long-lived assets on net income (loss) attributable to The Wendy’s Company during the first, second and fourth quarters of 2012 was $2,783, $2,018 and $8,216, respectively, after income tax benefits of $1,728, $1,252 and $5,100, respectively (see Note 18 for additional information).

[2] (Loss) income from continuing operations was materially affected during the third and fourth quarters of 2012 by corrections related to prior years’ tax matters which had an effect of increasing our benefit from income taxes by $2,181 and $5,439, respectively. Income from discontinued operations was also affected during the third quarter of 2012 by such corrections which had an effect of increasing our benefit from income taxes by $580. See Notes 2 and 14 for additional information.

[3] Net loss attributable to The Wendy’s Company was materially affected during the second and third quarters of 2012 by losses on the early extinguishment of debt of $15,621 and $30,926, respectively, after income tax benefits of $9,574 and $18,955, respectively. See Note 12 for additional information.

[4] Net income attributable to The Wendy’s Company was materially affected during the first quarter of 2012 by a $17,978 gain on the sale of our investment in Jurlique. As a result of the sale, we have reflected net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $2,384. See Note 8 for additional information.

[5] The operating profit was materially affected by facilities relocation costs and other transactions in each of the 2011 quarters and impairment of long-lived assets in the first and fourth quarters of 2011. The impact of facilities relocation costs and other transactions on net (loss) income for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2011 was $1,178, $3,149, $14,899 and $9,288, respectively, after income tax benefits of $706, $1,890, $8,940 and $5,661, respectively. The impact of the impairment of long-lived assets on net (loss) income for the first and fourth quarters of 2011 was $4,865 and $2,847, respectively, after income tax benefits of $3,032 and $1,774, respectively.

[6] Basic and diluted income (loss) per share are being presented together since diluted income (loss) per share was the same as basic income (loss) per share for all periods presented. See Note 5 for additional information.