Guarantees and Other Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Guarantees and Other Commitments and Contingencies	Guarantees and Other Commitments and Contingencies Guarantees and Contingent Liabilities Franchisee Image Activation Incentive Programs In order to promote Image Activation new restaurant development, Wendy’s has an incentive program for franchisees that provides for reductions in royalty and national advertising payments for up to the first two years of operation for qualifying new restaurants opened by December 31, 2020, with the value of the incentives declining in the later years of the program. Wendy’s also has incentive programs for 2017 available to franchisees that commence Image Activation restaurant remodels by December 15, 2017. The remodel incentive programs provide for reductions in royalty payments for one year after the completion of construction. In addition, Wendy’s had incentive programs that included reductions in royalty payments in 2016, 2015 and 2014 as well as cash incentives for franchisees’ participation in Wendy’s Image Activation program throughout 2014. The Company recognized expense of $4,369 for cash incentives in “General and administrative” during 2014. Franchisee Image Activation Financing Program Wendy’s executed an agreement in 2013 to partner with a third-party lender to establish a financing program for franchisees that participate in our Image Activation program. Under the program, the lender agreed to provide loans to franchisees to be used for the reimaging of restaurants according to the guidelines and specifications under Wendy’s Image Activation program. To support the program, Wendy’s provided to the lender a $6,000 irrevocable stand-by letter of credit, which was issued on July 1, 2013 and was cash collateralized. During 2016, the Company executed an agreement to terminate the letter of credit agreement that had been previously executed as part of the financing program. Other Loan Guarantees Wendy’s provides loan guarantees to various lenders on behalf of franchisees entering into pooled debt facility arrangements for new restaurant development and equipment financing to promote systemwide initiatives. Wendy’s has accrued a liability for the fair value of these guarantees, the calculation for which was based upon a weighted average risk percentage established at the inception of each program which has been adjusted for a history of defaults. Wendy’s potential recourse for the aggregate amount of these loans amounted to $955 as of January 1, 2017. As of January 1, 2017, the fair value of these guarantees totaled $135 and is included in “Other liabilities.” During 2014, Wendy’s provided a C$2,300 guarantee to a lender on behalf of a franchisee, in connection with the sale of Canadian restaurants to the franchisee under the Company’s system optimization initiative. As a result, the total amount of the guarantee was recorded as a deferred gain in 2014 and is included in “Other liabilities.” During 2012, Wendy’s provided a $2,000 guarantee to a lender for a franchisee, in connection with the refinancing of the franchisee’s debt which originated in 2007. Pursuant to the agreement, the guarantee is subject to an annual reduction over a five year period. As of January 1, 2017, the guarantee totaled $1,317 and Wendy’s has accrued a $145 liability for the fair value of this guarantee based upon a weighted average risk percentage established at the inception of the guarantee. Lease Guarantees Wendy’s has guaranteed the performance of certain leases and other obligations, primarily from former Company-operated restaurant locations now operated by franchisees, amounting to $62,909 as of January 1, 2017. These leases extend through 2050. We have not received any notice of default related to these leases as of January 1, 2017. In the event of default by a franchise owner, Wendy’s generally retains the right to acquire possession of the related restaurant locations. Wendy’s is contingently liable for certain other leases which have been assigned to unrelated third parties who have indemnified Wendy’s against future liabilities amounting to $712 as of January 1, 2017. These leases expire on various dates through 2021. Insurance Wendy’s is self-insured for most workers’ compensation losses and purchases insurance for general liability and automotive liability losses, all subject to a $500 per occurrence retention or deductible limit. Wendy’s determines its liability for claims incurred but not reported for the insurance liabilities on an actuarial basis. As of January 1, 2017, the Company had $32,774 recorded for these insurance liabilities. Wendy’s is self-insured for health care claims for eligible participating employees subject to certain deductibles and limitations and determines its liability for health care claims incurred but not reported based on historical claims runoff data. As of January 1, 2017, the Company had $3,265 recorded for these health care insurance liabilities. Letters of Credit As of January 1, 2017, the Company had outstanding letters of credit with various parties totaling $33,004, of which $6,165 were cash collateralized. The outstanding letters of credit include amounts outstanding against the Series 2015-1 Class A-1 Notes. The related cash collateral is classified as restricted cash and included in “Restricted cash” in the consolidated balance sheet. See Note 6 and Note 11 for further information. We do not expect any material loss to result from these letters of credit. Purchase and Capital Commitments Beverage Agreement The Company has an agreement with a beverage vendor, which provides fountain beverage products and certain marketing support funding to the Company and its franchisees. This agreement requires minimum purchases of fountain syrup (“Syrup”) by the Company and its franchisees at certain agreed upon prices until the total contractual gallon volume usage is reached. This agreement also provides for an annual advance to be paid to the Company based on the vendor’s expectation of the Company’s annual Syrup usage, which is amortized over actual usage during the year. The Company estimates future annual purchases to be approximately $8,900 in 2017, $9,200 in 2018 and $10,400 per year during the following three years. Based on current pricing and the expected ratio of usage at Company-operated restaurants to franchised restaurants, our total beverage purchase requirements under the agreement is estimated to be approximately $49,300 over the remaining life of the contract, which expires the later of reaching the minimum usage requirement or January 1, 2023. Beverage purchases made by the Company under this agreement during 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $12,839, $15,720 and $13,918, respectively. As of January 1, 2017, $43 is due to the beverage vendor and is included in “Accounts payable,” principally for annual estimated payments that exceeded usage, under this agreement. Capital Expenditure Commitments As of January 1, 2017, the Company had $11,325 of outstanding commitments, included in “Accounts payable,” for capital expenditures expected to be paid in 2017.

Guarantees and Other Commitments and Contingencies

Guarantees and Contingent Liabilities

Franchisee Image Activation Incentive Programs

In order to promote Image Activation new restaurant development, Wendy’s has an incentive program for franchisees that provides for reductions in royalty and national advertising payments for up to the first two years of operation for qualifying new restaurants opened by December 31, 2020, with the value of the incentives declining in the later years of the program. Wendy’s also has incentive programs for 2017 available to franchisees that commence Image Activation restaurant remodels by December 15, 2017. The remodel incentive programs provide for reductions in royalty payments for one year after the completion of construction.

In addition, Wendy’s had incentive programs that included reductions in royalty payments in 2016, 2015 and 2014 as well as cash incentives for franchisees’ participation in Wendy’s Image Activation program throughout 2014. The Company recognized expense of $4,369 for cash incentives in “General and administrative” during 2014.

Franchisee Image Activation Financing Program

Wendy’s executed an agreement in 2013 to partner with a third-party lender to establish a financing program for franchisees that participate in our Image Activation program. Under the program, the lender agreed to provide loans to franchisees to be used for the reimaging of restaurants according to the guidelines and specifications under Wendy’s Image Activation program. To support the program, Wendy’s provided to the lender a $6,000 irrevocable stand-by letter of credit, which was issued on July 1, 2013 and was cash collateralized. During 2016, the Company executed an agreement to terminate the letter of credit agreement that had been previously executed as part of the financing program.

Other Loan Guarantees

Wendy’s provides loan guarantees to various lenders on behalf of franchisees entering into pooled debt facility arrangements for new restaurant development and equipment financing to promote systemwide initiatives. Wendy’s has accrued a liability for the fair value of these guarantees, the calculation for which was based upon a weighted average risk percentage established at the inception of each program which has been adjusted for a history of defaults. Wendy’s potential recourse for the aggregate amount of these loans amounted to $955 as of January 1, 2017. As of January 1, 2017, the fair value of these guarantees totaled $135 and is included in “Other liabilities.”

During 2014, Wendy’s provided a C$2,300 guarantee to a lender on behalf of a franchisee, in connection with the sale of Canadian restaurants to the franchisee under the Company’s system optimization initiative. As a result, the total amount of the guarantee was recorded as a deferred gain in 2014 and is included in “Other liabilities.”

During 2012, Wendy’s provided a $2,000 guarantee to a lender for a franchisee, in connection with the refinancing of the franchisee’s debt which originated in 2007. Pursuant to the agreement, the guarantee is subject to an annual reduction over a five year period. As of January 1, 2017, the guarantee totaled $1,317 and Wendy’s has accrued a $145 liability for the fair value of this guarantee based upon a weighted average risk percentage established at the inception of the guarantee.

Lease Guarantees

Wendy’s has guaranteed the performance of certain leases and other obligations, primarily from former Company-operated restaurant locations now operated by franchisees, amounting to $62,909 as of January 1, 2017. These leases extend through 2050. We have not received any notice of default related to these leases as of January 1, 2017. In the event of default by a franchise owner, Wendy’s generally retains the right to acquire possession of the related restaurant locations.

Wendy’s is contingently liable for certain other leases which have been assigned to unrelated third parties who have indemnified Wendy’s against future liabilities amounting to $712 as of January 1, 2017. These leases expire on various dates through 2021.

Insurance

Wendy’s is self-insured for most workers’ compensation losses and purchases insurance for general liability and automotive liability losses, all subject to a $500 per occurrence retention or deductible limit. Wendy’s determines its liability for claims incurred but not reported for the insurance liabilities on an actuarial basis. As of January 1, 2017, the Company had $32,774 recorded for these insurance liabilities. Wendy’s is self-insured for health care claims for eligible participating employees subject to certain deductibles and limitations and determines its liability for health care claims incurred but not reported based on historical claims runoff data. As of January 1, 2017, the Company had $3,265 recorded for these health care insurance liabilities.

Letters of Credit

As of January 1, 2017, the Company had outstanding letters of credit with various parties totaling $33,004, of which $6,165 were cash collateralized. The outstanding letters of credit include amounts outstanding against the Series 2015-1 Class A-1 Notes. The related cash collateral is classified as restricted cash and included in “Restricted cash” in the consolidated balance sheet. See Note 6 and Note 11 for further information. We do not expect any material loss to result from these letters of credit.

Purchase and Capital Commitments

Beverage Agreement

The Company has an agreement with a beverage vendor, which provides fountain beverage products and certain marketing support funding to the Company and its franchisees. This agreement requires minimum purchases of fountain syrup (“Syrup”) by the Company and its franchisees at certain agreed upon prices until the total contractual gallon volume usage is reached. This agreement also provides for an annual advance to be paid to the Company based on the vendor’s expectation of the Company’s annual Syrup usage, which is amortized over actual usage during the year. The Company estimates future annual purchases to be approximately $8,900 in 2017, $9,200 in 2018 and $10,400 per year during the following three years. Based on current pricing and the expected ratio of usage at Company-operated restaurants to franchised restaurants, our total beverage purchase requirements under the agreement is estimated to be approximately $49,300 over the remaining life of the contract, which expires the later of reaching the minimum usage requirement or January 1, 2023.

Beverage purchases made by the Company under this agreement during 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $12,839, $15,720 and $13,918, respectively. As of January 1, 2017, $43 is due to the beverage vendor and is included in “Accounts payable,” principally for annual estimated payments that exceeded usage, under this agreement.

Capital Expenditure Commitments

As of January 1, 2017, the Company had $11,325 of outstanding commitments, included in “Accounts payable,” for capital expenditures expected to be paid in 2017.