Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2023	Jul. 03, 2022	Jul. 02, 2023	Jul. 03, 2022
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 109,274	$ 96,281	$ 193,752	$ 171,162
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(13,787)	(9,912)	(27,047)	(21,728)
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)	1,315	(1,375)	2,421	(2,618)
General and Administrative Expense	(62,742)	(61,637)	(125,018)	(123,983)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(33,498)	(33,428)	(66,970)	(66,659)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	(2,266)	0	(3,848)	0
System optimization (losses) gains, net	(6)	152	(1)	3,686
Reorganization and realignment costs	(681)	(156)	(7,489)	(620)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(78)	(1,860)	(454)	(2,476)
Unallocated other operating income, net	3,791	5,673	6,057	8,639
Interest expense, net	(31,136)	(32,125)	(62,841)	(58,490)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	(1,266)	0
Investment (loss) income, net	(6,827)	(4)	(10,389)	2,107
Other income, net	7,573	1,238	14,909	1,445
Income before income taxes	78,884	65,390	134,165	116,224
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	23	0	23	6
General and Administrative Expense	(33,653)	(30,989)	(65,814)	(61,994)
Unallocated other operating income, net	106	305	128	321
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	178,012	163,632	335,756	301,516
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	142,947	126,999	268,177	231,823
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)		(2,766)		(5,322)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	8,531	9,350	15,977	14,803
Advertising funds surplus (deficit)	(658)	(1,084)	(1,206)	(1,922)
Other international-related advertising deficit	479	880	1,324	1,522
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 26,534	$ 27,283	$ 51,602	$ 54,890