CKE Restaurants, Inc.(SM) Raises More Than $275,000 To Aid Hurricane Victims

CARPINTERIA, Calif., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CKE Restaurants, Inc. announced today that an in-store donation program created to aid hurricane victims raised more than $275,000. The fund-raising campaign, which began in September at all Carl's Jr.(R), Hardee's(R) and La Salsa(R) restaurants, was created to support the disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross. Restaurant guests who donated $1 toward relief efforts received a sticker reading, "I Supported Hurricane Relief Today." All funds raised during the program will be donated to the American Red Cross for relief efforts including food, shelter, counseling and financial assistance.

"We all witnessed the devastation and tragedy caused by these hurricanes," said Andrew Puzder, CEO and president of CKE Restaurants, Inc. "With the support of our entire franchise community, we mobilized our Carl's Jr., Hardee's and La Salsa restaurants nationwide as customer donation sites for the American Red Cross. Our guests responded generously, contributing more than $275,000 to this worthwhile cause."

"We are grateful for the support CKE Restaurants provided by activating these successful donation programs that enable customers to quickly and easily transform their compassion into action," said Kathleen Loehr, interim senior vice president of development for the American Red Cross. "This generosity is helping to provide the financial resources to respond to the needs of those affected by this horrible tragedy."

Soon after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, Puzder authorized a corporate donation of $100,000 to supply aid to the region. These funds allowed local Hardee's restaurants to feed hurricane victims, and included a contribution to the Independent Hardee's Franchisee Association (IHFA) fund to aid franchise restaurant employees whose lives were devastated by the storm. The balance of the corporate contribution will be pooled with the in-store funds collected, and donated directly to the American Red Cross, bringing the total donation to hurricane relief to more than $375,000.

As of the second fiscal quarter ended August 15, 2005, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,159 franchised or company- owned restaurants in 43 states and in 13 countries, including 1,032 Carl's Jr. restaurants, 2,011 Hardee's restaurants and 100 La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill restaurants.