Cash and Receivables Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 03, 2016
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash	$ 192,905	$ 281,877
Cash Equivalents	5,335	45,339
Cash and cash equivalents	198,240	327,216
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	57,612	42,869
Restricted Cash [Member]
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	57,612	42,869
Restricted Cash [Member] \| Accounts held by trustee for the securitized financing facility
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	29,096	29,327
Restricted Cash [Member] \| Accounts held by trustee for reinvestment in capital assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	22,014	0
Restricted Cash [Member] \| Collateral supporting letters of credit
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	6,165	13,210
Restricted Cash [Member] \| Trust for Termination Costs for Former Wendy's Executives
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	168	168
Restricted Cash [Member] \| Other
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	169	164
Deferred Costs and Other Assets [Member] \| Trust for Termination Costs for Former Wendy's Executives
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	$ 738	$ 1,191

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3044-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash Equivalents
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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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.

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Amount of short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash Equivalents
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

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- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

+ References

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- Definition

Cash and equivalents whose use in whole or in part is restricted for the long-term, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements.

+ References

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