Carl S Jr Restaurants

The owner of Carl's Jr. restaurants, bidding to become one of the nation's largest hamburger-chain operators, has agreed to acquire the 3,100-outlet Hardee's fast-food chain, sources said Sunday. The $325-million deal, which sources said will be announced this morning before the stock market opens, would dramatically expand the operations of Carl's Jr. parent CKE Restaurants Inc. beyond its Southern California base, giving it an immediate presence east of the Mississippi River.

CKE Restaurants, the parent company of the Carl's Jr. chain, reported solid gains in profit and revenue for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Jan. 27, but the company's stock price responded with a two-day decline. The stock fell Monday by $1.125 per share to $21.50 in New York Stock Exchange trading, then slipped 12.5 cents Tuesday to close at $21.375 Industry analysts tied the drop to profit-taking by shareholders.

The desert sun was setting as William P. Foley II, calm and cool as usual, munched popcorn and maneuvered a golf cart into his garage after 27 holes at a local resort. But the day was hardly over. In less than an hour, two busloads of Wall Street analysts and stockbrokers would converge on Foley's stylish weekend home in an exclusive neighborhood for a cocktail party to hear about plans for the newly reinvigorated Carl's Jr.

Will McDonald's Big Mac pricing strategy force Carl's Jr. and other fast-food operators to follow suit and slash their burger prices? Probably not, according to Tom Thompson, president and chief operating officer of CKE Restaurants Inc. "We believe that our guests expect a great burger at a good value--and that's what Carl's Jr. is delivering," Thompson said after hearing that the world's largest fast-food chain plans to lower the cost of its Big Mac to 55 cents.

Dennis Rodman, the NBA star who's returning to action after being benched for kicking a court-side cameraman, also is going back into the game for Carl's Jr., the Anaheim-based burger chain. Rodman, who will return to the Bulls' lineup next week, had been taken out of play by CKE Restaurants Inc., the parent company of Carl's Jr., after NBA officials suspended Rodman for 11 games.

Dennis Rodman, the NBA star who is returning to action after being benched for kicking a court-side cameraman, is also going back into the game for Carl's Jr., the Anaheim-based burger chain. CKE Restaurants Inc., the parent company of Carl's Jr., hopes to have television commercials featuring Rodman back on the air in time for Sunday's NBA All-Star game in Cleveland.

Basketball forward Dennis Rodman was benched Monday by Carl's Jr. After being suspended last week by the NBA for at least 11 games and fined $25,000 for kicking a courtside photographer, the Chicago Bull found himself suspended Monday as a pitchman for the Anaheim-based burger chain. "We decided, in light of what's gone on, to pull his commercial from our campaign," CKE Restaurants spokeswoman Suzi Brown said.

Basketball forward Dennis Rodman was benched Monday by Carl's Jr. After being suspended last week by the NBA for at least 11 games and fined $25,000 for kicking a court-side photographer, the controversial Chicago Bull found himself suspended as a pitchman for the Anaheim-based burger chain. "We decided, in light of what's gone on, to pull his commercial from our campaign," said CKE Restaurants spokeswoman Suzi Brown.

Carl's Jr. has opened a Carl's Jr. Jr. No, that's not a typographical error. A Jr. Jr. is a smaller version of the regular-sized burger stand that the Anaheim-based fast-food chain is opening at former Rally's double-drive-through restaurants. The smaller restaurants have a downsized menu and aren't open for breakfast. The first Jr. Jr. opened on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, and the chain's executives are studying operating results to see how customers react, Carl's Jr.

Carl's Jr. has put its food on ice--at the Pond of Anaheim, where the Mighty Ducks play. The Carl's Jr. location is behind section 226 on the Plaza level. The menu features typical Carl's Jr. fare, including burgers, fries and--for the adventuresome--onion rings. * Greg Johnson covers retail businesses and restaurants for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5950 and at greg.johnson@latimes.com