CKE Restaurants Holdings opens 300th Hardee's in the Middle East

CKE Restaurants Holdings, parent company of well-known eateries including Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., recently opened its 300th Hardee's location in the Middle East -- an occasion company officials called a significant milestone.

The new restaurant, a Hardee's, opened its doors on April 21 in Yanboa, Saudi Arabia, under the umbrella of Al-Ahlia Restaurant Co., an offshoot of Hardee's franchisee Americana Group.

“As one of our pioneering international licensees, the Americana Group continues to be an invaluable partner that has demonstrated deep knowledge, expertise and passion for developing the Hardee’s brand abroad,” CKE Restaurants Holdings Chief Executive Officer Andy Puzder said. “This milestone shows the strength of our brand and business offering while also providing a testament to the commitment of our international franchise partners and international consumers.”

The first Hardee's in the Middle East was opened by the Americana Group in Kuwait in June 1980. With the opening of the new location, Hardee's now boasts 100 stores in Saudi Arabia. Other Americana Group-operated Hardee's stores are in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, Kazakhstan and Kurdistan.

“The opening of the 300th Hardee’s restaurant in the region is a very proud milestone for us in our history as a restaurant operator developing brands in the Middle East and as a partner with CKE,” Americana Group Chairman Marzouk Al Kharafi said. “We look forward to many more successful years working with the international leadership team at CKE.”

CKE has been concentrating on accelerated global expansion, and more than 1,000 new restaurants are planned. These stores will be located throughout North and South America, with emphasis on Latin America and Canada, as well as in Asia.

“The extremely capable and seasoned team at Americana have been tremendous partners and friends of our brand for more than three decades," CKE's president of international operations Ned Lyerly said. “Not only has Americana been instrumental in building our brand in the Middle East, their contribution to the success and growth of CKE internationally is highly valued."

CKE is based in Carpinteria, California. The company owns more than 3,500 restaurants (some franchised, some company-owned) in 42 states and 34 countries. For more information about CKE, visit www.ckr.com.