Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2023	Jan. 02, 2022	Jan. 03, 2021
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 353,314	$ 366,960	$ 269,308
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(46,736)	(42,900)	(26,464)
Advertising funds (deficit) surplus	(8,325)	2,770	2,904
Unallocated general and administrative	(254,979)	(242,970)	(206,876)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(133,414)	(125,540)	(132,775)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	2,394	0	0
System optimization gains, net	6,779	33,545	3,148
Reorganization and realignment costs	(698)	(8,548)	(16,030)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(6,420)	(2,251)	(8,037)
Unallocated other operating income, net	23,683	14,468	8,397
Interest expense, net	(122,319)	(109,185)	(117,737)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(17,917)	0
Investment income (loss), net	2,107	39	(225)
Other income, net	10,403	681	1,449
Income before income taxes	243,505	240,578	152,795
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(742)	(753)	0
Unallocated general and administrative	(130,103)	(116,273)	(94,256)
Unallocated other operating income, net	9,001	394	190
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	619,630	583,616	514,164
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	480,498	450,117	393,314
Advertising funds (deficit) surplus	(11,000)	(25,000)	(14,600)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	30,432	27,386	20,119
Advertising funds (deficit) surplus	(4,116)
Other international-related advertising deficit	(1,099)
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 108,700	$ 106,113	$ 100,731