System Optimization Losses (Gains), Net (Losses) Gains, Net (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			18 Months Ended
		Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($) stores	Jun. 28, 2015 stores	Sep. 28, 2014 USD ($) stores		Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($) stores		Sep. 28, 2014 USD ($) stores		Dec. 28, 2014 stores		Dec. 29, 2013 stores	Jun. 28, 2015 stores	Feb. 28, 2015 stores
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | stores		9		12	[1]	109		190	[1]	255		244
Significant Changes, Planned Franchises to Sell | stores														540
Future company-owned restaurant ownership percentage														5.00%
Number of Restaurants Classified as Assets Held for Sale | stores		274				274				106	[2]
Gain on Sale of Restaurants [Abstract]
Proceeds from sale						$ 46,357		$ 119,892
Gain on sales of other assets, net		$ (98)		$ (368)	[1]	14,751		74,027	[1]
Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchisees [Member]
Gain on Sale of Restaurants [Abstract]
Proceeds from sale		3,084		2,689	[1]	39,133		104,249	[1]
Net assets sold	[3]	(1,867)		(1,301)	[1]	(19,247)		(43,317)	[1]
Goodwill related to sales of restaurants		(483)		(478)	[1]	(8,346)		(14,136)	[1]
Net (unfavorable) favorable leases	[4]	(1,506)		(1,080)	[1]	5,889		23,901	[1]
Other		0		(84)	[1]	(3,224)	[5]	216	[1]
Gain on sales of restaurants, net, before post-closing adjustments		(772)		(254)	[1]	14,205		70,913	[1]
Post-closing adjustments on sales of restaurants		(495)		(421)	[1]	(1,134)	[6]	(1,538)	[1]
Gain on sales of other assets, net		(1,267)		(675)	[1]	13,071		69,375	[1]
Favorable Lease Assets		185		1,814		25,992		49,206
Unfavorable Lease Liabilities		1,691		2,894		$ 20,103		25,305
Franchises Sold, Deferred Gain on Sale of Property | stores						14
Recognition of Note Receivable						$ 1,801
Franchises Sold, Recognition of Note Receivable | stores						16
Recognition of deferred gain						$ 2,450
Sale of Other Assets [Member]
Gain on Sale of Restaurants [Abstract]
Proceeds from sale		4,576		989		7,174		15,596
Gain on sales of other assets, net	[7]	1,169		$ 307	[1]	1,680		$ 4,652	[1]
Other Liabilities [Member] | Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchisees [Member]
Gain on Sale of Restaurants [Abstract]
Deferred Gain on Sale of Property		$ 2,658				$ 2,658
CANADA
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | stores			83										129

[1] Reclassifications have been made to the prior year presentation to include sales of restaurants previously reported in “Other operating expense, net” to conform to the current year presentation. Reclassifications have also been made to reflect the Bakery’s gain on sales of other assets as discontinued operations. See Note 1 for further details.

[2] Reclassifications have been made to the prior year presentation to include restaurants previously excluded from our system optimization initiative to conform to the current year presentation. See Note 1 for further details.

[3] Net assets sold consisted primarily of cash, inventory and equipment.

[4] During the three and nine months ended September 27, 2015, the Company recorded favorable lease assets of $185 and $25,992, respectively, and unfavorable lease liabilities of $1,691 and $20,103, respectively, as a result of leasing and/or subleasing land, buildings, and/or leasehold improvements to franchisees, in connection with sales of restaurants. During the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014, the Company recorded favorable lease assets of $1,814 and $49,206, respectively, and unfavorable lease liabilities of $2,894 and $25,305, respectively.

[5] The nine months ended September 27, 2015 includes a deferred gain of $2,658 related to the sale of 14 Canadian restaurants to a franchisee during the second quarter of 2015, as a result of certain contingencies related to the extension of lease terms. The deferred gain is included in “Other liabilities.” The nine months ended September 27, 2015 also includes a note receivable of $1,801 from a franchisee in connection with the sale of 16 Canadian restaurants, which was recognized as part of the overall loss on sale during the second quarter of 2015.

[6] During the nine months ended September 27, 2015, notes receivable from franchisees in connection with sales of restaurants in 2014 were repaid and as a result, we recognized the related gain on sale of $2,450.

[7] During the three and nine months ended September 27, 2015, Wendy’s received cash proceeds of $4,576 and $7,174, respectively, primarily from the sale of surplus properties. During the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014, Wendy’s received cash proceeds of $989 and $15,596, respectively, primarily from the sale of surplus properties and the sale of a company-owned aircraft.