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(10) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 01, 2012
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] |
Summary of components of goodwill |
|  | 2011 |  | 2010
Balance at beginning of year: |  |  |  |
Wendy’s Restaurants goodwill |  | $ | 1,370,996 |  |  | $ | 1,368,371 |
Accumulated impairment losses |  | (482,075 | ) |  | (482,075 | )
Total Wendy’s Restaurants goodwill |  | 888,921 |  |  | 886,296 |
Corporate goodwill adjustment |  | (5,277 | ) |  | (5,277 | )
Total The Wendy’s Company goodwill |  | 883,644 |  |  | 881,019 |
Changes in goodwill: |  |  |  |  |  |
Arby’s goodwill sold, net of accumulated impairment losses of $482,075 |  | (17,617 | ) |  | — |
Other restaurant acquisitions and dispositions |  | 5,626 |  |  | — |
Currency translation adjustment |  | (1,222 | ) |  | 2,625 |
Balance at end of year: |  |  |  |
Wendy’s Restaurants goodwill |  | 875,708 |  |  | 1,370,996 |
Accumulated impairment losses |  | — |  |  | (482,075 | )
Total Wendy’s Restaurants goodwill |  | 875,708 |  |  | 888,921 |
Corporate goodwill adjustment |  | (5,277 | ) |  | (5,277 | )
Total The Wendy’s Company goodwill |  | $ | 870,431 |  |  | $ | 883,644 |
Schedule of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets |
| Year End 2011 |  | Year End 2010
| Cost |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net |  | Cost |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net
Non-amortizable: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wendy’s trademarks | $ | 903,000 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 903,000 |  |  | $ | 903,000 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 903,000 |
Amortizable: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Franchise agreements | 353,262 |  |  | 54,853 |  |  | 298,409 |  |  | 353,771 |  |  | 38,077 |  |  | 315,694 |
Favorable leases | 108,304 |  |  | 24,961 |  |  | 83,343 |  |  | 134,445 |  |  | 27,867 |  |  | 106,578 |
Reacquired rights under franchise agreements | 1,215 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 1,214 |  |  | 15,716 |  |  | 4,172 |  |  | 11,544 |
Computer software | 36,817 |  |  | 18,495 |  |  | 18,322 |  |  | 39,649 |  |  | 17,891 |  |  | 21,758 |
| $ | 1,402,598 |  |  | $ | 98,310 |  |  | $ | 1,304,288 |  |  | $ | 1,446,581 |  |  | $ | 88,007 |  |  | $ | 1,358,574 |
Schedule of aggregate amortization expense |
Aggregate amortization expense: |
Actual for fiscal year (a): |
2009 | $ | 34,398 |
2010 | 36,662 |
2011 | 33,181 |
Estimate for fiscal year: |
2012 | $ | 29,248 |
2013 | 28,457 |
2014 | 27,548 |
2015 | 25,261 |
2016 | 23,315 |
Thereafter | 267,459 |
_____________________
(a) | Includes $2,763, $5,125 and $2,180 of impairment charges related to other intangible assets in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which have been recorded as a reduction in the cost basis of the related intangible asset.

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of the amount of amortization expense expected to be recorded in succeeding fiscal years for finite-lived intangible assets. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of goodwill by reportable segment and in total. Disclosure details may include, but are not limited to, the carrying amount of goodwill, goodwill acquired during the year, goodwill impairment losses recognized, goodwill written-off due to the sale of a business unit, goodwill not yet allocated, and any other changes to goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13854-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph c -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 47 -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. + Details
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