Area of a real estate property.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of the lessor's leasing arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Reflects the sum of all other revenue and income realized from sales and other transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Annual Base Rental

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Credit for aircraft fees paid by related party in conjunction with a Company aircraft management and lease agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Transactions with Related Parties Related Party Transaction Summary (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 30, 2014	Jan. 01, 2011 USD ($) ft²
QSCC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Area of Real Estate Property \| ft²						14,333
Annual Base Rental		$ 215				$ 176
QSCC [Member] \| Patronage Dividends [Domain] \| Cost of Sales [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party		890	$ 1,265	$ 1,516
QSCC [Member] \| Lease Income [Domain] \| General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party		193	185	185
The Management Company [Member] \| Use of company-owned aircraft [Domain]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party		0	0	375
Citation Air [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract					3 years
Former Executives [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Credit for Aircraft Fees Paid by Related Party	$ 375
TimWen [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
TimWen lease expense		11,602	11,843	6,064
TimWen [Member] \| Cost of Sales [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
TimWen lease expense		11,806	12,059	6,313
TimWen [Member] \| General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party		$ 204	$ 216	$ 249