Anaheim, California - 11 July, 2002 -

Carl's Jr. will observe July 18 as Founder's Day, honoring the 61-year anniversary of Carl N. Karcher opening his first fast-food enterprise in Los Angeles, Calif. To celebrate Founder's Day, Carl's Jr. corporate officers will trade their business suits and briefcases for aprons and spatulas to serve patrons alongside restaurant crew members. "Founder's Day celebrates Carl's Jr. commitment to serving its customers with great food for more than 60 years," said Andy Puzder, president and CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl's Jr. "The executive management at Carl's Jr. knows that the heartbeat of our company is at the individual restaurant and crew level. Founder's Day gives everyone in our organization the opportunity to greet our guests face-to-face and thank them for their patronage." In July of 1941, Carl Karcher and his wife, Margaret, borrowed money on their Plymouth automobile to purchase a hot dog cart, from which they sold hot dogs, chili dogs and tamales on a busy street corner in downtown Los Angeles. After growing their business to four stands, they moved the enterprise to Anaheim, where they opened their first full-service restaurant in 1945. Carl's Jr. restaurants - so named because they were smaller versions of the original restaurant - opened in 1956. Carl's Jr., headquartered in Anaheim, is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. of Santa Barbara, Calif. CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR), through its subsidiaries, franchisees and licensees, operates more than 3,400 restaurants, including 2,330 Hardee's restaurants; 978 Carl's Jr. restaurants; 99 La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grills; 34 Green Burrito restaurants; and 28 Timber Lodge Steakhouses, in 44 states and 15 foreign countries.

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