Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s Franchise, Same Logo but Different Name and Marketplace #StartFranchise
StartFranchise.id – International franchise brands often raise the question: are they really different, or just wearing different names? That’s the case with Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, two fast-food franchises that share the same iconic star logo, similar menus, and a shared parent company, but they still operate under separate names across different regions of the United States.
Does the difference affect their selling point, or is it just a purely name difference? Check out this article to know more about Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s
Background: Two All-American Burger Giants with Different Origins
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s started out as completely separate companies, on opposite sides of the U.S.
Carl’s Jr. was founded in 1941 by Carl Karcher in Los Angeles, California. It started as a hot dog cart before evolving into a full-service hamburger restaurant. The “Jr.” in Carl’s Jr. actually came from a smaller version of Carl’s Drive-In Barbecue.
Hardee’s was born in 1960 in Greenville, North Carolina, founded by Wilber Hardee. It quickly gained popularity in the Southeast for its fresh biscuits and breakfast offerings.
Over the years, both brands grew independently with strong regional followings with Carl’s Jr. in the West, and Hardee’s in the East and South. It wasn’t until 1997 that Carl’s Jr’s parent company, CKE Restaurants, which is actually made by the founder of Carl’s Jr, Carl Karcher, acquired Hardee’s and brought both Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s under the same roof.
From that moment, the two began to share more and more: menu items, branding, and most importantly, franchise systems. But even today, they continue to operate under their original names in their respective territories, and that’s what keeps this story interesting.
Same Franchise Family, Different Names
To begin with, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s are sister brands under the same franchise parent company: CKE Restaurants Holdings. In fact, the merger happened back in 1997, when CKE ,originally the parent of Carl’s Jr. , acquired Hardee’s in a billion-dollar deal.
But since they are under the same franchise parent, why don’t they become one either as Carl’s Jr. or Hardee’s?
It’s all about regional brand loyalty. Carl’s Jr. has always been a staple on the West Coast, while Hardee’s dominates the East and Midwest in the United States. Instead of rebranding one into the other, CKE decided to maintain both names, while slowly aligning their branding and franchise operations.
The result from not merging into one? Two names, one franchise system and a loyal customer base on both sides.
Menu: Slight Differences Still Exist
While both Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s serve up iconic fast-food franchise classics, for example their juicy chairboiled burgers, chicken sandwich and tenders, biscuits, and breakfast menus — there are still subtle regional differences in what’s served.
Carl’s Jr. is known for its charbroiled burgers, especially the Famous Star, and leans into bold, edgy West Coast marketing.
Hardee’s, on the other hand, has a strong breakfast tradition, especially their made-from-scratch biscuits which shows a more “down-home” Southern appeal.
However, over time, CKE has worked to standardize the core menu across both franchise brands, with the major items now available coast to coast.
That said, regional taste still matters. So while Carl’s Jr. or Hardee’s loyal customer might find a similar burger franchise experience in both, the breakfast biscuit that’s a hit in North Carolina might not even appear on the menu in California.
Franchise Operations: United Under One System
As mentioned previously, even though they have different names, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s franchises operate under one system managed by CKE. This means:
One franchise support system
Unified supply chains
Shared branding guidelines
Aligned training and development programs
For international expansion, Carl’s Jr. is usually the chosen name. So in international franchise markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines, or Spain, you’re more likely to see Carl’s Jr. rather than Hardee’s.
According to the Carl’s Jr. franchising site, the company is actively expanding in international territories and offers a turnkey franchise opportunity that includes site selection, training, marketing support, and ongoing operations assistance.
Conclusion: Different Names, Same Powerful Franchise Backbone
In conclusion, to clear up all the confusion, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s are the same restaurants from almost all of the aspects, the only difference is in their name. Their franchise DNA is the same, with only minor differences in menu, regional focus, and marketing style.
In the world of fast-food franchises, both brands represent a strong, scalable, and globally recognized opportunity for franchisees. Whether you say “Hardee’s” or “Carl’s Jr.”, you’re still talking about a proven model that continues to grow across markets.
Future entrepreneurs or franchisees who are interested whether in Hardee’s or Carl’s Jr. for their opportunity in joining the fast food industry, check out the official Hardee’s or Carl’s Jr. franchising website to see the opportunities of the golden star lies in your area!
