Cke Restaurants, Inc. Announces Hardee's(r) Refranchising Program Involving More Than 200 Restaurants In A Number Of Markets

Company Sells 25 Hardee's Restaurants as Initiative Launches

(Monday, April 09, 2007) - CKE Restaurants,
Inc. (NYSE: CKR) announced today the launch of a refranchising program that is
expected to involve more than 200 Hardee's(R) restaurant locations in a number
of markets across the Midwest and Southeast.
CKE president and chief executive officer Andrew F. Puzder commented, "I
am pleased to announce the Company's strategic launch of a refranchising
program that is expected to involve more than 200 company-operated restaurants
in a number of Hardee's markets in the Midwest and Southeast." Puzder
continued, "Refranchising these markets will accelerate their development and
will allow the Company to focus its own development efforts in its core
markets. It will also help the Company allocate its financial and operational
resources more efficiently and thereby facilitate our growth plans for
company-operated restaurants. We are in various stages of negotiations with
potential and existing franchisees for the sale of the great majority of these
restaurant locations. Most of the proposed transactions also include a
development agreement. We are very encouraged by the level of interest we are
seeing in the future of our Hardee's brand. We believe we are on the cusp of
significant growth for both Hardee's and Carl's Jr.(R) and it is encouraging
to find so many qualified individuals who share our vision."
As part of the program's launch, the Company recently sold 18 units in
eastern Atlanta, Ga. to franchise entity Biscuits and Burgers, LLC. As part
of the transaction, Biscuits and Burgers, LLC has committed to build 25 new
Hardee's restaurant locations in eastern Atlanta over the next seven years.
The Company intends to co-develop the Atlanta market.
The franchisees purchasing the 18 eastern Atlanta restaurants, Steve
Rosenfield and Buddy Brown, currently operate Hardee's restaurants in Montana
and Wyoming, as well as Carl's Jr. restaurant locations in Colorado and
California. With the purchase of these additional restaurants, Rosenfield and
Brown now own 50 restaurants under the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. flag.
Rosenfield owns an additional 21 Carl's Jr. restaurants with a different
partner.
Franchisee Steve Rosenfield remarked, "The Hardee's turnaround over the
past few years is undeniable, and we look forward to expanding our investment
in the brand through our recent purchase of these 18 restaurants in eastern
Atlanta, as well as building new Hardee's locations over the next seven years
in this market."
A second recent refranchising transaction involved the sale of seven units
in southern Alabama and Georgia, to franchise entity Ponder Enterprises, Inc.,
which intends to develop more restaurants in this market.
The franchisees purchasing the southern Alabama and Georgia restaurants,
Dan Ponder and Ernest Ponder, currently operate Hardee's restaurants in
Alabama, Florida and Georgia, and the purchase of these seven restaurants
brings the total number of Hardee's restaurants owned by Ponder Enterprises,
Inc. to 21. Dan Ponder serves as a member of CKE's Board of Directors.
Franchisee and director Dan Ponder commented, "CKE has committed itself to
strategic growth, and the Hardee's refranchising program seeks to achieve just
that. As a director of the Company, I support the initiative, and as a
franchisee, I'm pleased to expand my ownership in Alabama and Georgia with the
purchase of these seven restaurants."
CKE's Puzder added, "These transactions are very positive for the Company
and are further proof that the Hardee's brand is well beyond the turnaround
stage and is now firmly in a growth mode. We are pleased to enter into these
refranchising and development agreements, and look forward to completing the
refranchising of more than 200 restaurants in a number of our Hardee's
markets."
As of the fourth fiscal quarter ended Jan. 29, 2007, CKE Restaurants,
Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,105 franchised or
company-operated restaurants in 43 states and in 13 countries, including
1,087 Carl's Jr. restaurants, 1,906 Hardee's restaurants and 96 La Salsa Fresh
Mexican Grill(R) restaurants.
SAFE HARBOR DISCLOSURE
Matters discussed in this news release contain forward-looking statements
relating to future plans and developments, financial goals, and operating
performance that are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions.
Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could
cause the Company's results to differ materially from those described include,
but are not limited to, whether or not restaurants will be closed and the
number of restaurant closures, consumers' concerns or adverse publicity
regarding the Company's products, effectiveness of operating and product
initiatives and advertising and promotional efforts (particularly at the
Hardee's brand), changes in economic conditions, changes in the price or
availability of commodities, availability and cost of energy, workers'
compensation, employee health insurance costs and general liability premiums
and claims experience, changes in the Company's suppliers' ability to provide
quality and timely products to the Company, delays in opening new restaurants
or completing remodels, severe weather conditions, the operational and
financial success of the Company's franchisees, franchisees' willingness to
participate in our strategy, availability of financing for the Company and its
franchisees, unfavorable outcomes on litigation, changes in accounting
policies and practices, new legislation or government regulation (including
environmental laws), the availability of suitable locations and terms for the
sites designed for development, and other factors as discussed in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The
Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by law or the rules of the New York
Stock Exchange.
SOURCE CKE Restaurants, Inc.
-0- 04/09/2007
/CONTACT: John Beisler, VP - Investor Relations of CKE Restaurants, Inc.,
+1-805-745-7750, jbeisler@ckr.com/
CO: CKE Restaurants, Inc.; Hardee's

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