Entrepreneurial Spirit Lives on at CKE Restaurants, Inc.
In just a matter of months, the restaurant industry and CKE Restaurants in particular, lost two legends -- Carl's Jr.(R) founder, Carl Karcher, who passed away in January and Hardee's(R) founder, Wilbur Hardee, who passed away last week.
The two entrepreneurs paved the way for the two largest regional brands in the country with their drive, courage and tenacity. Karcher began the road to success with a lone hot dog cart and a dream in 1941 that grew to over 1,100 Carl's Jr. restaurants nationwide. Hardee was a master of recognizing public trends and capitalized on the drive-in craze with his namesake restaurant in 1960, establishing the foundation for the chain that is now close to 2,000 strong.
"These two men were among the most innovative and forward-thinking of their time," said Andrew F. Puzder, President and CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company to both the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands. "Their lives should be celebrated and recognized for their immense achievements. We always strive to be leaders in innovation and to further our growth in honor of their entrepreneurial spirits and to keep their legacies alive."
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