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Cash and Receivables Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 29, 2019	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash	$ 185,203	$ 209,177
Cash equivalents	114,992	222,228
Cash and cash equivalents	300,195	431,405	$ 171,447
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	34,539	29,860	32,633
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	58,512	55,107
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	358,707	486,512	$ 212,824	$ 275,949
Restricted Cash
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	34,539	29,860
Restricted Cash \| Accounts held by trustee for the securitized financing facility
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	34,209	29,538
Restricted Cash \| Trust for termination costs for former Wendy's executives
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	111	109
Restricted Cash \| Other
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	219	213
Advertising Funds Restricted Cash
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	$ 23,973	$ 25,247