Retirement Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure	Retirement Benefit Plans 401(k) Plan Subject to certain restrictions, the Company has a 401(k) defined contribution plan (the “401(k) Plan”) for all of its employees who meet certain minimum requirements and elect to participate. The 401(k) Plan permits employees to contribute up to 75% of their compensation, subject to certain limitations and provides for matching employee contributions up to 4% of compensation and for discretionary profit sharing contributions. In connection with the matching and profit sharing contributions, the Company recognized compensation expense of $4,704, $5,177 and $6,124 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Pension Plans The Wendy’s Company maintains two domestic qualified defined benefit plans, the benefits under which were frozen in 1988 and for which The Wendy’s Company has no unrecognized prior service cost. Arby’s employees who were eligible to participate through 1988 (the “Eligible Arby’s Employees”) are covered under one of these plans. Pursuant to the terms of the Arby’s sale agreement, Wendy’s Restaurants retained the liabilities related to the Eligible Arby’s Employees under these plans and received $400 from the buyer for the unfunded liability related to the Eligible Arby’s Employees. The measurement date used by The Wendy’s Company in determining amounts related to its defined benefit plans is the same as the Company’s fiscal year end. The balance of the accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of the plans’ assets at December 31, 2017 were $3,402 and $2,649, respectively. As of January 1, 2017, the balance of the accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of the plans’ assets were $3,609 and $2,641, respectively. As of December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2017, each of the plans had accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of the assets of the respective plan. The Wendy’s Company recognized $159, $177, and $149 in benefit plan expenses in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which were included in “General and administrative.” The Wendy’s Company’s future required contributions to the plan are expected to be insignificant. Wendy’s Executive Plans In conjunction with the Wendy’s Merger, amounts due under supplemental executive retirement plans (the “SERP”) were funded into a restricted account. As of January 1, 2011, participation in the SERP was frozen to new entrants and future contributions, and existing participants’ balances only earn annual interest. The corresponding SERP liabilities have been included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and “Other liabilities” and, in the aggregate, were approximately $2,476 and $3,101 as of December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2017, respectively. Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement that was entered into with our then Chief Executive Officer as of September 12, 2011, the Company implemented a non-qualified, unfunded, deferred compensation plan. The plan provided that the amount of the executive’s base salary in excess of $1,000 in a tax year will be deferred into the plan which accrues employer funded interest. The compensation deferred under the plan was distributed to our former Chief Executive Officer during 2016. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company implemented a non-qualified, unfunded deferred compensation plan for management and highly compensated employees, whereby participants may defer all or a portion of their base compensation and certain incentive awards on a pre-tax basis. The Company credits the amounts deferred with earnings based on the investment options selected by the participants. The Company may also make discretionary contributions to the plan. The total of participant deferrals was $259 at December 31, 2017, which is included in “Other liabilities.”

Retirement Benefit Plans

401(k) Plan

Subject to certain restrictions, the Company has a 401(k) defined contribution plan (the “401(k) Plan”) for all of its employees who meet certain minimum requirements and elect to participate. The 401(k) Plan permits employees to contribute up to 75% of their compensation, subject to certain limitations and provides for matching employee contributions up to 4% of compensation and for discretionary profit sharing contributions.

In connection with the matching and profit sharing contributions, the Company recognized compensation expense of $4,704, $5,177 and $6,124 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Pension Plans

The Wendy’s Company maintains two domestic qualified defined benefit plans, the benefits under which were frozen in 1988 and for which The Wendy’s Company has no unrecognized prior service cost. Arby’s employees who were eligible to participate through 1988 (the “Eligible Arby’s Employees”) are covered under one of these plans. Pursuant to the terms of the Arby’s sale agreement, Wendy’s Restaurants retained the liabilities related to the Eligible Arby’s Employees under these plans and received $400 from the buyer for the unfunded liability related to the Eligible Arby’s Employees. The measurement date used by The Wendy’s Company in determining amounts related to its defined benefit plans is the same as the Company’s fiscal year end.

The balance of the accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of the plans’ assets at December 31, 2017 were $3,402 and $2,649, respectively. As of January 1, 2017, the balance of the accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of the plans’ assets were $3,609 and $2,641, respectively. As of December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2017, each of the plans had accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of the assets of the respective plan. The Wendy’s Company recognized $159, $177, and $149 in benefit plan expenses in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which were included in “General and administrative.” The Wendy’s Company’s future required contributions to the plan are expected to be insignificant.

Wendy’s Executive Plans

In conjunction with the Wendy’s Merger, amounts due under supplemental executive retirement plans (the “SERP”) were funded into a restricted account. As of January 1, 2011, participation in the SERP was frozen to new entrants and future contributions, and existing participants’ balances only earn annual interest. The corresponding SERP liabilities have been included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and “Other liabilities” and, in the aggregate, were approximately $2,476 and $3,101 as of December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2017, respectively.

Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement that was entered into with our then Chief Executive Officer as of September 12, 2011, the Company implemented a non-qualified, unfunded, deferred compensation plan. The plan provided that the amount of the executive’s base salary in excess of $1,000 in a tax year will be deferred into the plan which accrues employer funded interest. The compensation deferred under the plan was distributed to our former Chief Executive Officer during 2016.

Effective January 1, 2017, the Company implemented a non-qualified, unfunded deferred compensation plan for management and highly compensated employees, whereby participants may defer all or a portion of their base compensation and certain incentive awards on a pre-tax basis. The Company credits the amounts deferred with earnings based on the investment options selected by the participants. The Company may also make discretionary contributions to the plan. The total of participant deferrals was $259 at December 31, 2017, which is included in “Other liabilities.”