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CKE Restaurants & Americana Group Announce Expansion Agr
Upcoming Milestone
12.09.2008 – CARPINTERIA, Calif. – December 9, 2008 – CKE Restaurants, Inc.
(NYSE: CKR), franchisor and operator of Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s® restaurants, and
Americana Group S.A.K. have announced a new expansion agreement to build 12
Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Kazakhstan over the next five years. The Americana Group,
the second largest franchisee in the CKE system, currently operates 194 Hardee’s
restaurants in the Middle East and will open its 200th location in the first quarter of
2009.
CKE Restaurants and the Americana Group have a successful 30-year relationship
with plans for continued growth in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. As the most
active developer in the CKE system, the Americana Group has averaged 24 new
restaurant openings per year in the past three years with plans to open 27 Hardee’s
restaurants in 2009.
“We have a successful history with the Americana Group and are confident that they
will continue to demonstrate their knowledge, expertise and passion for the CKE
brands as they expand in new and existing markets,” said Andrew F. Puzder,
president and CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc. “International expansion remains a key
strategic focus at CKE.”
The Americana Group first opened Hardee’s in Kuwait in 1980 and currently
operates Hardee’s in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. In 2008, Hardee’s will serve 48,000,000 meals
to hungry guests across the Middle East and North Africa. Hardee’s has become
synonymous with quality food and superior hospitality while its innovative burgers
and sandwiches continue to set the brand apart from other quick-serve restaurants.
“The Americana Group knew that Hardee’s was the perfect brand to launch in Middle
East because of its commitment to premium quality food and excellent guest
service” said Amgad El Mofti, President of Kuwait Food Company. “We are now
seeing the second generatio