Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2013		Sep. 29, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jul. 01, 2012		Apr. 01, 2012		Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations																	$ 45,753	$ 5,574	$ 17,912
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(266)		0		0		0		979		530	[1]	0		0		(266)	1,509	(8,037)
Net income (loss) attributable to The Wendy's Company	$ 33,069	[2]	$ (1,939)	[2]	$ 12,224	[2]	$ 2,133	[2]	$ 26,388	[1],[3]	$ (26,162)	[1],[3]	$ (5,493)	[3]	$ 12,350	[3]	$ 45,487	$ 7,083	$ 9,875
Common Stock:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding																	392,585	390,275	405,224
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted shares																	6,095	1,865	1,956
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding																	398,680	392,140	407,180
Potential common shares excluded from diluted per share calculation																	10,823	23,406	19,294

[1] (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 12, 17 and 26 for additional information.

[2] The Company’s consolidated statements of operations were materially impacted by facilities action charges, net, impairment of long-lived assets, impairment of goodwill and losses on early extinguishment of debt. The pre-tax impact of facilities action charges (income), net for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2013 was $3,038, $6,377, $22,275 and $(20,834), respectively (see Note 2 for additional information). The pre-tax impact of impairment of long-lived assets during the third and fourth quarters of 2013 was $5,327 and $10,552, respectively, (see Note 15 for additional information) and the pre-tax impact of impairment of goodwill during the fourth quarter of 2013 was $9,397 (see Note 8 for additional information). The pre-tax impact of losses on the early extinguishment of debt during the second and fourth quarters of 2013 was $21,019 and $7,544, respectively (see Note 10 for additional information).

[3] The Company’s consolidated statements of operations were materially impacted by facilities action charges, net, impairment of long-lived assets and losses on early extinguishment of debt. The pre-tax impact of facilities action charges, net for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2012 was $6,143, $9,988, $11,430 and $13,470, respectively (see Note 2 for additional information). The pre-tax impact of impairment of long-lived assets during the first, second and fourth quarters of 2012 was $4,511, $3,270 and $13,316, respectively (see Note 15 for additional information). The pre-tax impact of losses on the early extinguishment of debt during the second and third quarters of 2012 was $25,195 and $49,881, respectively (see Note 10 for additional information). Additionally, the Company’s consolidated statements of operations were materially affected during the first quarter of 2012 by a $27,407 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 6 for additional information).