CKE Restaurants Inc.'s Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands continue to report negative sales results, according to the company's announcement of its period 12 company-operated same-store sales for the period ended Dec. 28, 2009.
Blended same-store sales were down 6.5 percent for the period. Comps at Carl's Jr. were down 8.9 percent, compared to a decline of 1.6 percent in the same period last year. Comps at Hardee's were down 3.2 percent, compared to positive comps of 3.2 percent in the same period last year.
"We believe the ongoing weakness in the overall economy coupled with poor weather conditions negatively impacted both brands' sales results during period 12," Andrew F. Puzder, CKE Restaurants chief executive, said in the earnings release. "In this environment, we will continue to focus on profitability, the excellent value-for-the-money of our premium products and new initiatives to improve same-store sales and increase market share."
To that end, Carl's Jr. recently introduced three new premium salads with warm grilled chicken, with ads starring reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian. Hardee's has re-introduced its popular Made from Scratch Blueberry Biscuits and continued to promote the Portobello Mushroom Melt Thickburger.
The company will report period 13 same-store sales results on or about Feb 3.
