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(22) Retirement Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 01, 2012 | Jan. 02, 2011 | Jan. 03, 2010
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
401K compensation expense | $ 7,944 | $ 10,179 | $ 10,641
Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
401K compensation expense | 7,944 | 10,179 | 9,743
Corporate [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
401K compensation expense | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 898
Defined Contribution Plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, maximum annual contribution per employee, percent | 75.00% |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 4.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Prior Plans [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 6.00% |  |
Prior Plans, Group A [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, maximum annual contribution per employee, percent | 50.00% |  |
Prior Plans, Group B [Member] | Wendy's Restaurants, LLC [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, maximum annual contribution per employee, percent | 75.00% |  |

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- Definition The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 11 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 70 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
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Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Maximum percentage of employee gross pay, by the terms of the plan, that the employer may contribute to a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | wen_
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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