Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2022	Jul. 04, 2021	Jul. 03, 2022	Jul. 04, 2021
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 96,281	$ 126,746	$ 171,162	$ 209,868
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(9,912)	(8,885)	(21,728)	(16,571)
Advertising funds deficit	(1,375)	(1,602)	(2,618)	(2,866)
Unallocated general and administrative	(61,637)	(63,114)	(123,983)	(115,736)
Depreciation and amortization	(33,428)	(30,761)	(66,659)	(62,303)
System optimization gains, net	152	30,766	3,686	31,282
Reorganization and realignment costs	(156)	(2,102)	(620)	(7,036)
Impairment on long-lived assets	(1,860)	(630)	(2,476)	(1,265)
Unallocated other operating income, net	5,673	4,232	8,639	7,708
Interest expense, net	(32,125)	(28,204)	(58,490)	(56,990)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(17,917)	0	(17,917)
Investment (loss) income, net	(4)	3	2,107	6
Other income, net	1,238	158	1,445	284
Income before income taxes	65,390	80,786	116,224	135,251
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	0	0	6	0
Unallocated general and administrative	(30,989)	(28,864)	(61,994)	(53,971)
Unallocated other operating income, net	305	192	321	256
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	163,632	159,747	301,516	305,771
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	126,999	126,650	231,823	238,737
Advertising funds deficit	(2,766)	(3,990)	(5,322)	(7,524)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	9,350	6,528	14,803	14,212
Advertising funds deficit	(1,084)		(1,922)
Other international-related advertising expense	880		1,522
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 27,283	$ 26,569	$ 54,890	$ 52,822