CKE Comp Sales Climb

On a quarterly basis, the Hardee's restaurants gained 2.9% compared with a 4.4% gain the year before, and for the full year Hardee's reported a dip of two tenths of a percent against a 7.4% increase the year before.

Both brands showed their biggest gains in the last four weeks of the fiscal year, a 5.8% gain for Carl's and a jump of 12.4% for Hardee's. That compared with increases of 2.7% and 2.3%, respectively, for the two chains in the last period of the previous fiscal year.

Andrew Puzder, president and CEO of CKE, attributed the most recent gains to "the combination of successful product introductions, our efforts to broaden our brands' appeal and favorable weather in our core markets." During the latest four-week reporting period, Carl's Jr. introduced the Jalapeno Burger and continued to promote other menu items.

On a two-year cumulative basis, Puzder noted, same-store sales at Carl's Jr. have increased more than 8% for the period and more than 10% for the fourth quarter, with average unit volumes for the period that were higher than any comparable period ever. Revenue for the fourth quarter from company-operated Carl's Jr. restaurants totaled approximately $135.1 million.

Puzder credited new menu items and promotions for the higher same-store sales at Hardee's, which also benefited from milder than normal weather in the Midwest and the Southeast. On a two-year cumulative basis, Hardee's same-store sales have increased almost 15% for the period and more than 7% for the fourth quarter. Revenue for the fourth quarter from company-operated Hardee's restaurants was approximately $131 million.

CKE operates a total of 3,163 franchised and company-owned restaurants in 43 states and in 13 countries, including 1,042 Carl's Jr. restaurants, 2,004 Hardee's restaurants and 101 La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill locations.