Winter weather hurts CKE sales

CKE Restaurants Inc. reported mixed results for its two brands in February, with winter weather taking a toll at Hardee's but new products helping sales at Carl's Jr.

Blended same-store sales fell 4.2 percent for the four weeks ended Feb. 22, compared with a drop of 0.6 percent the same period last year, said CKE, which recently agreed to a $918 million acquisition offer from a private-equity firm.

Carl’s Jr. saw same-store sales trends improve, with a drop of 2.6 percent in February, compared with a 3.6-percent decrease a year ago. CKE credited strong sales of the Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger and the new line of Grilled Chicken Salads for the improvement.

At Hardee’s, same-store sales dropped 6.2 percent, compared with a 3.2-percent increase the same period last year. Andrew Puzder, CKE's chief executive, blamed the difficult comparisons as well as severe winter weather in the Midwest and Southeast, Hardee’s core markets.