CKE Restaurants


CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., is the parent company of the Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Green Burrito, and Red Burrito fast food restaurant brands. The company's headquarters are located in Franklin, Tennessee. The name means "Carl Karcher Enterprises". On March 4, 2016, CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., announced that they would be consolidating their corporate offices in St. Louis, Missouri, and Carpinteria, California, and moving them to the Nashville, Tennessee, area at the Franklin Park office complex in Franklin, Tennessee. CKE's Anaheim, California, office will remain open.
As of December 2018, CKE Restaurants had a total of 3,664 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and 38 foreign countries and U.S. territories. It is a privately held company.

History

1960s

The company was incorporated in 1966 by Carl's Jr. founder Carl Karcher.

1990s

In 1996, CKE acquired Rally's and Taco Bueno. Rally's was later sold to Checkers in 1999. Checkers and Rally's now follow a similar concept as CKE has for its Carl's Jr. and Hardee's chains. Taco Bueno was sold in 2001 when private investment group Jacobson Partners purchased the chain for $72.5 million US dollars to help aid CKE Restaurants in a debt battle.
In 1997, CKE acquired Hardee's from Canadian-based company Imasco Limited.

2000s

In September 2000, Andrew Puzder was named CEO. Puzder served in this role until 2017.
In March 2002, CKE purchased Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc., acquiring with it direct ownership of the Green Burrito brand.
On February 26, 2010, THL Partners agreed to acquire CKE Restaurants Inc. However, CKE Restaurants was, instead, acquired by Columbia Lake Acquisition Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Apollo Management VII, L.P. in July 2010, after CKE accepted a $693.9 million takeover offer from Apollo Global Management, ending the earlier takeover agreement with THL Partners.
On November 20, 2013, Roark Capital Group agreed to acquire CKE from Apollo for $1.65-$1.75 billion.

Fundraising

CKE conducts an annual Stars for Heroes in-store fundraising campaign at both Hardee's and Carl's Jr. restaurants to benefit U.S. military veterans and their families. Since the program's launch in 2011, Stars for Heroes has raised nearly $5 million to date.

International

As of December 2018, there were a total of 3,664 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and 38 foreign countries and U.S. territories.