Income Taxes Income Taxes Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Deferred Tax Assets
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards	$ 82,143	$ 115,910
Accrued compensation and related benefits	40,268	40,289
Unfavorable leases	34,140wen_DeferredTaxAssetsUnfavorableLeases	13,913wen_DeferredTaxAssetsUnfavorableLeases
Accrued expenses and reserves	23,336	31,555
Deferred rent	15,214	13,121
Other	9,122us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther	8,682us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Valuation allowances	(11,213)	(10,548)	(21,052)
Total deferred tax assets	193,010us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet	212,922us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Intangible assets	(506,251)	(473,011)
Owned and leased fixed assets net of related obligations	(89,117)	(83,352)
Other	(17,824)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	(18,996)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther
Total deferred tax liabilities	(613,192)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	(575,359)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	$ (420,182)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities	$ (362,437)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities

Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences.

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