Carl's Jr. continues to break company sales records as it enters into new markets. For the fourth time in the past 11 months, a newly opened Carl's Jr. has set a company sales record. The Leon Valley, Texas, restaurant, owned and operated by MJKL Enterprises, posted $115,536 in its opening week, breaking both the domestic and international sales marks.
The company's domestic growth strategy has been targeting the Texas market, particularly as its home state of California continues to face high unemployment.
The previous top-grossing opening for Carl's Jr., domestic or international, had been in Hermosillo, Mexico, with $112,712 in 2008. The prior domestic Carl's Jr. one-week sales record of $108,596 was recorded in July 2009 by an MJKL Enterprises-owned unit in Douglas, Ariz. The preceding records were Porterville, Calif., with a Jan. 2009 opening of $107,638, and Marysville, Wash., $105,063 for their Dec. 2008 opening.
Proving that success in the quick-service industry runs in the family, the Leon Valley unit is owned by Jason, Carl, and Margaret LeVecke, descendants of Carl's Jr. founder Carl N. Karcher. They also own the Carl's Jr. unit that held the previous domestic record in Douglas, Ariz.
"As we've always said, we learned a lot of great things from our grandfather about business and life in general that continue to benefit us today," said Jason LeVecke, CEO of MJKL Enterprises.
"Hard work, commitment to family and community were among the most important things my grandfather taught me. The record-setting opening at our Leon Valley Carl's Jr. was the perfect combination of all three and far exceeded our expectations."
Several members of the Karcher family are actively involved in Carl's Jr. and Hardee's operations as franchisees, including a brother, four children, seven grandchildren and several other relations. His son Carl L. Karcher also is a member of CKE Restaurants' board of directors.
"Each time after I congratulate the team, I've said Wall Street needs to take a long look at the success that the fast-food industry, and Carl's Jr. in particular, has achieved in this tough economy. Carl's Jr. is setting sales records in new markets, continuing to grow its unit count and giving customers what they want — premium quality burgers at fair prices," Puzder said.
The Leon Valley Carl's Jr., which opened for business Nov. 18, is the first Carl's Jr. in Leon Valley and the fifth Carl's Jr. in the greater San Antonio area. It also marks the 27th Carl's Jr. restaurant opened in Texas.
CKE Restaurants has franchise commitments to open 224 new Carl's Jr. units throughout Texas in the next 10 years, and will continue focusing on Texas for company-operated unit expansion as well.
