A history of Hardee’s burger excellence

Burgers have been the love affair for the last few hundred years. It takes years of consistency and dedication to quality ingredients to build a brand that grows across the globe. Hardee’s Restaurants LLC is a renowned American fast-food restaurant brand. Since its inception in North Carolina in 1961, the company has been through many corporate ownerships.  

Hardee’s has been providing quality, delicious cuisine to communities for over 60 years. Their favorite items include Made From Scratch™ Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™.     

Today, Hardee’s and its sister brand Carl’s Jr run over 3700 stores in over 40 countries, including approximately 330 in the Middle East and Africa.   

1960s –  Wilber Hardee launches his first Hardee’s® restaurant on September 3, 1960, in Greenville, North Carolina. The menu featured 15-cent hamburgers, 10-cent fries, and 20-cent milkshakes. There were almost 200 Hardee’s establishments by the end of the 1960s. 

1970s – Hardee’s continues to extend its footprint and menu, including the inclusion of its iconic, fresh Made From ScratchTM Biscuits and Roast Beef Sandwich, which are still popular with guests today. 

1980s –  In the 1980s, Hardee’s opens its 2,000th site and expands its biscuit empire with the Cinnamon ‘N’ Raisin™ biscuit. 

1990s –  In 1997, CKE locations purchases Hardee’s, resulting in a chain of 3,828 locations in 40 states and ten foreign countries. 

2000s –  Hardee’s introduces the renowned Monster Thickburger as well as its signature range of Thickburgers®–delicious burgers prepared with premium third pound 100% angus beef patties. 

2010s – Today, Hardee’s is happy to continue serving the tasty, high-quality food that has made the restaurant a favorite among visitors throughout the Midwest and Southeast, while also exciting fans with new inventions such as Froot Loops® Mini Donuts. 

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