There were two periods of hard times for CKE corporation, one in the 80’s while Carl Karcher still had some influence and one in the late 1990s well after Carl had no say in the company’s daily operation.
In 1999 CKE stock fell from 40 to 9 as a result of problems from new management’s acquisition of the Hardee’s chain. Carl was 86 when he left his ceremonial position on the BoD.
The Karcher’s were absolutely wonderful people. It was a shame that they couldn’t keep the Business in the Family like the owners of In and Out have (so far).
It has to be said that if they were still running the Company, you would not see the kind of Advertising we see today. Of that I have no doubt. As I recall the Family was none too pleased with the tone of its Advertising many years ago.
The rub is that it works for the current incarnation of Carl’s Jr. in a very competitive marketplace. Even in S. CA, In and Out Burger is doing more advertising that I have ever noticed before.
All these guys are fighting for every dollar of revenue. I know some people in Management of a large CJ Franchise Group. With Government meddling, Taxation and the requirements that Obamacare has forced on them, they had to reinvent their entire Business Model to stay competitive.