Long-Term Debt Schedule of Long Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 17, 2018	Jun. 01, 2015
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 2,784,438	$ 2,754,402
Less amounts payable within one year	(31,655)	(30,172)
Total long-term debt	2,752,783	2,724,230
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	11,475	0	$ 0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	27,082
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	29,860	32,633	57,612
Restricted Cash
Debt Instrument
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	29,860	32,633
Accounts held by trustee for the securitized financing facility | Restricted Cash
Debt Instrument
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	29,538	28,933
Capital lease obligations, due through 2045
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	455,636	467,964
Series 2018-1 Class A-2-I Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 445,500	0		$ 450,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.573%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	3.815%
Series 2018-1 Class A-2-II Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 470,250	0		475,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.884%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	4.057%
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-I Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 0	855,313			$ 875,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.371%
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-II Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 870,750	879,750			900,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.08%
Anticipated Repayment Date	7 years
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	4.361%
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-III Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 483,750	488,750			500,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.497%
Anticipated Repayment Date	10 years
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	4.696%
7% debentures, due in 2025
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 90,769	89,514
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	8.60%
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 100,000
Other Debt Obligations
Debt Instrument
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ (32,217)	(26,889)
Series 2018-1 Class A-2 Notes
Debt Instrument
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal Annually through 2024				9,250
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2025				423,250
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2026 and 2027				4,750
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2028				427,500
Series 2018-1 Class A-1 Notes | Minimum
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.40%
Series 2018-1 Class A-1 Notes | Maximum
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.75%
Series 2018-1 Class A-1 Notes | Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 150,000
Line of credit, amount borrowed	$ 0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	26,746
Series 2015-1 Class A-1 Notes | Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity					$ 150,000
Line of credit, amount borrowed	0	0	$ 0
Series 2018-1 Senior Notes
Debt Instrument
Incurred Debt Issuance Costs	17,580	351
Series 2015-1 Senior Notes
Debt Instrument
Incurred Debt Issuance Costs		$ 561
Wendy's U.S. Advertising Fund
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 25,000