CKE Restaurants, Inc. Reports Period Three Same-Store Sales

CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) announced today period three same-store sales for the four weeks ended April 20, 2009, for Carl’s Jr.^® and Hardee’s^®.

"I am pleased with the progress our Hardee’s brand made, as same-store sales increased 3.6 percent in the third period – marking the twelfth consecutive period that Hardee’s has delivered positive same-store sales despite a very challenging economy,” said Andrew F. Puzder, chief executive officer. "Our premium product strategy, our successful execution of Hardee’s remodeling program, as well as our aggressive customer service improvement campaign fueled this improvement. Hardee’s continued to improve its trailing-13 period average unit volume in period three, reaching $1,009,000, which was up $5,000 from last period and up $50,000 from period three last year. During the period Hardee’s featured its Western Bacon Thickburger^® with Beer Battered Onion Rings, supported by a provocative ad featuring Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi. Hardee’s also featured the Texas Toast Breakfast Sandwiches and continued to promote its ¼ pound Little Thickburger^®.

"While same-store sales at Carl’s Jr. were down 3.6 percent for the third period, they improved by 340 basis points from period two’s same-store sales decline of 7.0 percent. As stated previously, we are working to return Carl’s Jr. to positive territory but will not resort to product-degrading and profit-eroding discounting to do so. California’s economy, where unemployment rates continue to soar is hindering this progress. Nonetheless, we are making progress. Carl’s Jr.’s two-year same-store sales trend continued to improve in period three as Carl’s Jr. achieved a modest gain of 0.2 percent, compared to a decline of 1.0 percent for period two and a decline of 2.2 percent for period one.

"Carl’s Jr.’s trailing-13 period average unit volume was $1,514,000 in period three, up from $1,509,000 for the same period last year. During the period, Carl’s Jr. continued its industry leading product innovations with the roll-out of the Kentucky Bourbon Burger™ and the Green Burrito^® Crisp Burritos. While many of our competitors are capitulating to massive discounting practices, we are managing our business for the long term, offering select budget items, while maintaining our premium product positioning.

"Carl’s Jr.’s same-store sales, excluding the negative impact of Easter traffic, improved throughout the period, partially due to our moving further away from the roll over of the highly successful Chili Cheese Burger and Chili Cheese Fries promotion from last year and partially due to our return to a premium burger product.”

For period three, consolidated revenue from company-operated restaurants (exclusive of all franchise-related revenue and royalties) was approximately as follows:

"Despite the challenging economy, period three company-operated restaurants revenue held fairly solid on a year-over-year basis,” Puzder concluded. "Carl’s Jr. delivered relatively flat revenues, primarily attributable to negative same store sales offset by revenue from new units. The decline at Hardee’s resulted primarily from the refranchising of our restaurants during the prior fiscal year.”

The Company will report same-store sales results for period four of fiscal year 2010, ending May 18, 2009, on or about May 27, 2009.

As of the end of its fiscal fourth quarter on Jan. 26, 2009, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,116 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 14 countries, including 1,195 Carl's Jr.^® restaurants and 1,908 Hardee's^® 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 that are often difficult to predict, are beyond the Company’s control and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations. 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, the effectiveness of operating initiatives and advertising and promotional efforts (particularly at the Hardee's brand), changes in economic conditions or prevailing interest rates, changes in the price or availability of commodities, availability and cost of energy, workers' compensation 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 the Company’s strategies, the availability of financing for the Company and its franchisees, unfavorable outcomes in litigation, changes in accounting policies and practices, effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting, new legislation or government regulation (including environmental laws), the availability of suitable locations and terms for the sites designated 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.