CKE Restaurants opens first Canadian Carl's Jr. restaurant, in Kelowna, British Columbia; entry into Canada is part of plan to double CKE's international presence to more than 700 restaurants in next five years

Cindy Allen

CARPINTERIA, California , June 22, 2011 (Business Wire) – CKE Restaurants, Inc. announced today that Jove Franchise Development Corporation (“Jove”) has opened the first Carl’s Jr.® restaurant in Canada. This restaurant is located in Kelowna, British Columbia. and is the first of five Carl’s Jr. restaurants Jove plans to open and operate in Canada. CKE plans to open additional Carl’s Jr. restaurants as part of a larger expansion across Canada in the coming years.

CKE’s entry into Canada is part of a strategic plan to accelerate franchise development in international markets and to double CKE’s international presence to over 700 restaurants within the next five years. CKE currently has active franchise development agreements in Vancouver, British Columbia and is actively seeking qualified franchise candidates throughout Canada.

”We are very pleased to welcome Jove Franchise Development Corporation to the Carl’s Jr. franchise family. With our longstanding history of successfully operating the Carl’s Jr. brand in the Western United States, it was a natural progression to open the brand in Western Canada,” said Andrew F. Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc. “We are confident that the strength of our brand combined with Jove’s management expertise and passion for our brand will secure a bright future for Carl’s Jr. in the Canadian market.”

"We are very excited to launch Carl’s Jr. in Kelowna, Canada with our great partner CKE Restaurants. We are determined to make Carl’s Jr. the destination of choice for consumers seeking premium charbroiled hamburgers, premium facilities and exceptional service,” said John Dowling, President of Jove Franchise Development Corporation.

Currently, CKE franchises 374 international restaurants, or approximately 12% of its total restaurants, between both its Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s® brands.

About Carl’s Jr.

Carl’s Jr. is celebrating 70 years in the quick-service industry. What began as a lone hot dog cart in Los Angeles, Calif. in 1941 is today a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the end of fiscal 2011, CKE, through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,159 franchised, licensed or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 18 countries, including 1,249 Carl's Jr.® restaurants and 1,899 Hardee's® restaurants. For more information, go to www.ckr.com or www.carlsjr.com. Carl’s Jr. social media sites include www.facebook.com/carlsjr, www.twitter.com/carlsjr and www.youtube.com/carlsjr.

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