Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 03, 2021	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 03, 2021
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 98,135	$ 80,195	$ 269,297	$ 290,063
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(12,728)	(10,509)	(34,456)	(27,080)
Advertising funds deficit	(1,441)	(1,574)	(4,059)	(4,440)
Unallocated general and administrative	(62,523)	(62,840)	(186,506)	(178,576)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(34,252)	(30,940)	(100,911)	(93,243)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(888)	0	(888)	0
System optimization gains, net	452	1,437	4,138	32,719
Reorganization and realignment costs	(8)	(345)	(628)	(7,381)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(206)	(566)	(2,682)	(1,831)
Unallocated other operating income, net	11,843	3,092	20,482	10,800
Interest expense, net	(31,916)	(26,000)	(90,406)	(82,990)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(17,917)
Investment income, net	0	0	2,107	6
Other income, net	2,910	171	4,355	455
Income before income taxes	69,129	54,366	185,353	189,617
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(756)	(70)	(750)	(70)
Unallocated general and administrative	(31,517)	(30,744)	(93,511)	(84,715)
Unallocated other operating income, net	8,590	143	8,911	399
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	158,161	142,854	459,677	448,625
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	123,696	108,878	355,519	347,615
Advertising funds deficit	(2,779)	(8,979)	(8,101)	(16,503)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	8,560	6,949	23,363	21,161
Advertising funds deficit	(1,002)		(2,924)
Other international-related advertising surplus (deficit)	538		(984)
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 25,905	$ 27,027	$ 80,795	$ 79,849