Carl's Jr.®

New Carl's Jr. Restaurant Breaks Sales Record in Bad Economy

Dec 18, 2008

Marysville, Wash. Unit Sets U.S. Sales Mark With $105K in First Week   CARPINTERIA, Calif. — December 18, 2008 — In the face of an avalanche of bad economic news in the U.S. and abroad, Carl’s Jr. is making news of a different kind; the new Carl’s Jr. restaurant in Marysville, Wash., posted a record-setting $105,063 in sales in its first seven days. The previous Carl’s Jr. opening record was held by the Covington, Wash. unit which opened earlier this year and is operated by franchisee Northwest Foods.   “Even during these tough economic times, customers still define value as getting quality food for a fair price,” said Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company of Carl’s Jr. “We obviously impressed the folks in the greater-Seattle market and look forward to continued expansion in the state of Washington.”   Rick Fortman, vice president of Carl’s Jr. operations, added, “The Carl’s Jr. staff in Marysville worked very hard to deliver excellent guest service with big smiles and warm hearts despite temperatures in the low 20s in a city covered in snow. This ensured that our new location is the place to go for juicy, delicious charbroiled burgers and friendly, dedicated service.”   The Marysville Carl’s Jr. opened for operation Tues., Dec. 9 and boasted lines out the door throughout the week. The record-setting crew in Marysville is led by general manager Michilla Govea, district manager Bob Marsh and regional vice president Gary Zurmuhle.   About Carl’s Jr. Carl’s Jr. is celebrating more than 65 years in the quick-service industry. What began as a lone hot dog cart in Los Angeles, Calif. in 1941 is today an international organization that employs nearly 30,000 people worldwide. Carl’s Jr. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the third fiscal quarter ended November 3, 2008, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,110 franchised, licensed or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 14 countries, including 1,185 Carl’s Jr. restaurants and 1,912 Hardee’s restaurants. For more information, or to find a Carl’s Jr. near you, visit <a href="http://www.carlsjr.com/">www.carlsjr.com</a>.  # # #