News

Oh, Canada! Carl’s Jr. opens first restaurant north of the border

June 21, 2011

CKE Restaurants Inc. has announced that Jove Franchise Development Corporation has opened the first Carl's Jr. in Canada. The new unit, located in Kelowna, B.C., is the first of five Carl's Jr. restaurants Jove plans to open and operate in Canada.

The entry into Canada is part of a strategic plan to accelerate franchise development in international markets and to double CKE's international presence to more than 700 restaurants within the next five years. CKE currently has active franchise development agreements in Vancouver, B.C., and is seeking qualified franchise candidates throughout the country.

"We are very pleased to welcome Jove Franchise Development Corporation to the Carl's Jr. franchise family. With our longstanding history of successfully operating the Carl's Jr. brand in the Western United States, it was a natural progression to open the brand in Western Canada," said Andrew F. Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants Inc. "We are confident that the strength of our brand combined with Jove's management expertise and passion for our brand will secure a bright future for Carl's Jr. in the Canadian market."

CKE franchises 374 international restaurants between both its Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands. Carl's Jr. recently opened new units in Panama City, Panama, and Istanbul, Turkey.