Income Taxes Income Taxes Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2016	Jan. 03, 2016	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]
Income tax (provision) benefit at the U.S. Federal statutory rate		$ (81,945)	$ (67,389)	$ (22,257)
State income tax (provision) benefit, net of U.S. Federal income tax effect		(7,234)	(4,747)	(1,278)
Foreign and U.S. tax effects of foreign operations		4,389	4,089	2,886
Job tax credits, net		2,402	2,084	4,384
Dividends received deduction		3,455	0	1,424
Non-deductible goodwill		(7,435)	(9,389)	(9,875)
Valuation allowances		(6,075)	(665)	10,504
Non-deductible expenses and other, net		(1,706)	(99)	(1,845)
Provision for income taxes		(94,149)	(76,116)	(16,057)
Proceeds from dividends received		54,911	184	24,113
System Optimization [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]
Non-deductible goodwill		(8,987)	(9,389)	(7,471)
Valuation allowances		4,542
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | System Optimization [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]
Provision for income taxes			$ (70)
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | System Optimization [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]
Provision for income taxes		(1,587)		(5,122)
Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]
Proceeds from dividends received		$ 54,911
Distributions, including dividends	$ 54,911			$ 40,145