Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	May 02, 2013
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	WENDY'S CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000030697
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		393,367,322