CKE Restaurants, Inc.

At Hardee’s, we believe the best Valentine’s are made from scratch ❤ That’s why we’re excited for the return of our Heart Shaped Biscuits, made with love each day by your local hometown Biscuit Bakers, and available even longer this year from Feb. 1-16. Come see us today, and grab some for your loved ones, friends, first responders, teachers, neighbors or whoever you want to share a little bit of goodness with this year. https://lnkd.in/ebM_ynSJ

If you’re one of the 16 million people that might call in “sick” after the big game, Carl’s Jr. gets it, and we’re not here to judge. This year, we’re bringing fans just what they need to recover emotionally, or physically, on what we’re declaring “National Hangover Day” with the help of social media powerhouse Alix Earle. But that’s not all - we’ve collaborated with Alix on the Hangover Burger, delivering a new twist that will satisfy any craving. And it’s free for My Rewards Members to celebrate, or lay in bed with, on February 10.    We’re excited to bring those feeling a little down a delicious remedy, and to have Alix usher in our modern brand voice while reminding our guests that Carl’s Jr. has always had what our guests crave.

Today, CKE Restaurants proudly celebrates the retirement of long-time international business leader Mike Woida. Throughout his distinguished 48-year career (yes, 48 years!), Mike has been a visionary leader and driving force behind the international expansion of both the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s brands. His determination helped advance our global presence with more than 1,000 restaurants outside of the US. The international footprint has doubled over the past eight years, with a presence in more than 35 countries. An expansion into the United Kingdom is planned for 2025, as the brand aims to reach 2,000 international locations over the next several years.    Upon reflection, Mike said, “Spending my entire career with one company has been a rare and rewarding experience. I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible teams both domestically and internationally, and the opportunities I’ve had to visit more than 50 countries and immerse myself in different cultures that have been invaluable in guiding and serving the international team and our franchise community. My career at CKE has far exceeded my expectations, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities it has provided me.” Mike’s career, mentorship and leadership serve as a shining example for us all, and we can’t thank him enough for his many contributions over the last 48 years.

Welcome to the Year of Goodness! Today, Hardee’s and multiplatinum artist Thomas Rhett announced a new partnership, celebrating shared values and interests like giving back to our community, family, first responders, and of course, college football. As part of the partnership, Thomas Rhett recently stopped by the restaurant to spend time with teams, thank them for their hard work and even try a hand at baking our famous Made-from-Scratch Biscuits himself. There’s much more goodness where that came from, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Yesterday, Carl's Jr. corporate, restaurant and franchise teams came together to provide meals for first responders at the California Highway Patrol's LA command center. In addition to statewide personnel, the center is currently housing 1,800 members of the U.S. National Guard, who were thankful for a quick bite to eat as they re-upped on supplies and headed back out to fight fires and support impacted communities. Thank you to everyone who is serving, in the unique way they can, during this difficult time. It means the world to our teams on the ground.

Happy New Year from CKE Restaurants and iconic global restaurants brands Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s! This year at Carl’s Jr., we leaned into our craveable flavors and bold, audacious brand personality with new advertising and creative campaigns, new core menu items like the cult favorite El Diablo burger and celebrity influencer partnerships. At Hardee’s, we embraced our brand anthem of “Goodness in the Making,” our commitment to quality ingredients, value and abundance, exceptional guest experiences and pride in the communities we call home. Across both brands, we’re thankful to have amazing guests, teams and partners. We’re looking forward to an even better 2025, and can't wait to see you in our restaurants very soon.

There are few things in life that evoke the warmth and nostalgia of the holidays like the scent of a freshly baked Hardee’s Cinnamon ‘N’ Raisin Biscuit. To celebrate its much-anticipated return, we treated some of the biscuits' most passionate fans to a special surprise: a limited-edition candle capturing that delicious aroma. Launched exclusively on Hardee’s Instagram, the 100 candles disappeared in under an hour, snapped up by our fastest-thumbed followers. It’s a testament to the love for this seasonal favorite and the goodness it brings along with it. Here’s to celebrating the little moments that make the holidays special!

In 1941, Carl N. and Margaret Karcher borrowed $311 against their automobile, and Margaret added another $15 from her purse, to purchase a hot dog cart. Today, the Carl's Jr. brand operates more than 1,000 restaurants across the U.S. and has a presence in 24 countries worldwide. For his visionary entrepreneurship and leadership, Carl N. Karcher was posthumously inducted into the Orange County Hall of Fame this week, with family, friends and longtime team members in attendance for the ceremony. Of the honor, son Carl Leo Karcher said, "I thank the Orange County Supervisors for inducting my dad into the Hall of Fame. He was a great leader for his family, employees and franchisees, and we miss him dearly.”

Exciting news from Tampico, Mexico this week, where Carl’s Jr. celebrated its 400th restaurant opening in the country! For more than 30 years, our international team has been dedicated to bringing the craveable flavors Carl’s Jr. is known for around the world to Mexico, and this is just the beginning. A big shoutout to our amazing Mexico operations team, led by Julio Luis S., our dedicated franchise partners, and of course, our loyal guests – this milestone wouldn’t be possible without you. Here’s to the delicious moments ahead. 🎉🍔

Nothing says goodness quite like scratch-made biscuits, friendly football rivalries and giving back to those in need. In that spirit, Hardee's has announced it’s teaming up with Atlanta-based nonprofit Caring For Others to serve those just beginning to recover from recent hurricanes. On November 16, our teams will come together for a tailgate-style fundraiser for hurricane relief at Hardee’s just outside of Athens, Ga. alongside multi-platinum entertainer Thomas Rhett who is known for his philanthropic efforts across the southeast, and for being a long-time University of Georgia football fan. For those local to the event, we encourage you to come out and share in some food, fun and community as we work to support those who need us most in this moment. Learn more about our partnership and the event here: https://lnkd.in/gSFyp3aG.