New Carl's Jr. Unit Owned by Founder's Grandson Sets Sales Record

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Douglas, Ariz. Restaurant Sets U.S. Sales Mark with $108K in First Week

CARPINTERIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the third time in just seven months, a newly opened Carl's Jr.® has set a company sales record. The Douglas, Ariz. restaurant, owned and operated by MJKL Enterprises, posted $108,596 in sales in its first week. The previous Carl's Jr. one-week sales record of $107,638 was set in Jan. of this year in Porterville, Calif, while Marysville, Wash., held the previous record of $105,063 with their Dec. 2008 opening.

Proving that success in the fast food industry runs in the family, the Douglas unit is owned by Jason and Carl LeVecke, grandsons of Carl's Jr. founder Carl N. Karcher, and CEO and COO of MJKL Enterprises.

"I learned a lot of great things from my Grandfather about business and life in general," said Jason LeVecke. "Hard work, commitment to family and commitment to community were among the most important things my Grandfather taught me. The record-setting opening at our Douglas Carl's Jr. was the perfect combination of all three and far exceeded our expectations. I'm proud of the outstanding service from our staff, the overwhelming welcome into the Douglas community and knowing that the commitments to success my grandfather instilled in us are still strong throughout the Carl's Jr. system."

"Despite a continuing tough economy, especially in the Western states, Carl's Jr. is setting sales records in new markets, continuing to grow its unit count and giving customers what they want - premium quality burgers at fair prices," said Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's® chains. "Three record-setting openings in a span of seven months is an impressive feat. Maybe we need to bring some of the Wall Street analysts to Douglas, to see how small business is not just surviving, but thriving. I'm also very proud that the LeVecke's are carrying on the successful legacy of their grandfather, Carl Karcher."

Several members of the Karcher family are actively involved in Carl's Jr. and Hardee's operations as franchisees, including a brother, four children, seven grandchildren and several other relations. His son Carl L. Karcher is also a member of CKE Restaurants' Board of Directors.

The Douglas Carl's Jr. opened for business June 22nd and is the first Carl's Jr. in the market. The record-setting crew in Douglas is led by general manager Arturo Morales, regional vice president Esther Salinas, and vice president Sergio Lopez. The restaurant employs nearly 60 full- and part-time workers.

About MJKL Enterprises, LLC

MJKL Enterprises, comprised of five grandchildren of Carl's Jr. founder Carl Karcher, is headquartered in Guadalupe, Ariz. Starting with two Phoenix-area Carl's Jr. locations in 2001, the unyielding commitment to quality, service and cleanliness has led to multiple companies, franchising and operating 134 restaurants and convenience stores, including 59 Carl's Jr. restaurants; 60 Hardee's restaurants; twelve Pizza Patron® restaurants; and three Bill's Ghost and Spirit® convenience stores. Operating in seven states, including; Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee.

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 end of its fiscal 2010 first quarter, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,133 franchised, licensed or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 14 countries, including 1,205 Carl's Jr. restaurants and 1,915 Hardee's restaurants.

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