Carl's Jr's North Indian franchise partner aims to triple its presence

QSR chain Carl’s Jr is bringing the cult-favorite menu item EI Diablo, featuring two charbroiled all-beef patties, two strips of bacon, crispy Jalapeño POPPERS® Bites, melty pepperjack cheese and fiery habanero ranch sauce on a seeded bun, will rejoin an updated menu as a permanent addition.

El Diablo is an iconic representation of the Carl's Jr. brand, packed with outrageous ingredients and audacious personality. 

Its return to the menu permanently represents the brand's commitment to flavor and coincides with the debut of a new menu architecture that streamlines visuals for ease of ordering and allows guests to customize burgers according to the experience they're craving.

"We are focusing squarely on our big, bold and irresistibly craveable signature burgers. With this menu, we're democratizing flavor. No longer will our guests be confined to combo numbers or limited time offers – they'll be able to customize the flavors and experiences at different price points," said Jack Volpi, senior brand manager and menu transformation project lead.

The new menu represents the brand's emphasis on customizable, irresistible flavor. With this redesign, Carl's Jr. guests can experience their favorite burgers with more choices – such as premium options for popular burgers, like Famous Star® and Western Bacon Cheeseburger®, now available with an Angus patty.

Together with its franchisees, Carl's Jr. operates more than 1,000 restaurants across the U.S. and has a presence in 24 countries worldwide.

The Montana group, one of the fastest growing brand in food and beverages industry, has entered into an agreement with Jalandhar-based Kiscon Hospitality to set up 50 Carls Jr restaurants in India.

Montana Group also owns and operate brands like The Montana Club, The Treasury, Kingdom of Grills and has also on-boarded celebrity chef Harpal Sokhi for to add his desi tadka in the Fun & Young brand Dhadoom, Twist of Tadka, Broaster Chicken, The Treasury, BB Jaan and ready for the new Brand coming up soon in the market named BB Chick.

Kiscon Hospitality holds the franchise rights for California-based premium burger chain Carls Jr.
This partnership is set to invest $ 10 million with the goal of opening 50-plus new Carls Jr restaurants in three years, the company said on Saturday.

“With our $10 million investment, we are committed to upholding the brand's legacy while introducing it to a new generation of Indian consumers,” shared Monty Singh, founder and Chairman of the Montana group.
Reigniting the brand with the presence of 3,800-plus outlets globally in 39 countries Carl's Jr is serving chargrilled Californian burgers since 1941.

The partnership between the Montana group and KHPL signifies a commitment to revitalize and relaunch this brand in the Indian market, the company release said.

The collaboration aims to bring the essence of California's culinary excellence to discerning Indian consumers.

Creating 5000 direct and indirect jobs this joint venture between the Montana group and KHPL is not just about bringing premium burgers to India; it's about building a stronger future, added the release.

“This partnership marks an exciting chapter for Carls Jr in India. We're delighted to team up with the Montana group to reintroduce this iconic brand to Indian consumers. With our combined expertise, we aim to offer a true taste of California to our customers,” added Jappreet Singh, founder and Chairman of Kiscon Hospitality Pvt Ltd.

The parent company of Carl's Jr, CKE Restaurants Inc has announced a strategic partnership with RSMG Holding LLC and Retail & Food International Brand to introduce the iconic burger chain to South Florida.

As per an official press release, Carl's Jr. is set to debut its first Florida location in Doral by the end of 2023.

Chris Bode is the Chief Operating Officer of CKE Restaurants has expressed enthusiasm about introducing the renowned Carl's Jr. brand to South Florida.

Bode emphasized that Carl's Jr. is renowned for its irresistibly bold flavors, making it a perfect fit for the vibrant and audacious lifestyle of South Florida.

The region holds significant importance in CKE Restaurants' growth strategy, and the company is eagerly anticipating welcoming the South Florida community to savor their prepared menu offerings.

Ron Santolaya, along with partners Milko Grbic and Claudio Fernandez, leads RSMG, the company spearheading Carl's Jr.'s expansion in Florida.

As per the announcement, the team plans to commence construction on the inaugural Florida Carl's Jr. restaurant in the upcoming summer season.

CKE Restaurants and RSMG are actively seeking real estate partners that possess drive-thru capabilities to collaborate on the development of 35 Carl's Jr. locations throughout South Florida.

Ron Santolaya, expressed excitement about introducing the cherished CKE brands to Florida, starting with the grand opening of the Carl's Jr. location in Doral.

Santolaya highlighted the significance of this expansion, as it would mark Carl's Jr.'s first venture into the South Florida community, bringing with it a rejuvenating and novel dining experience for local residents.

Carl's Jr. has more than 1,000 locations across the western part of the U.S. and more than 300 restaurants in Mexico.

CKE Restaurant Holdings, owner and operator of iconic brands Carl's Jr. and Hardee's has partnered with OpenCity's AI proprietary voice ordering platform called "Tori", at select US restaurants.

These select drive-thru's have implemented Tori to maximize operational efficiency, increase speed of orders, and improve accuracy to enhance the overall customer experience.

"The implementation of OpenCity's AI technology at our drive-thru's has significantly benefited our business by enhancing the speed and accuracy of order processing, resulting in reduced wait times for customers and increased efficiency for our staff," said Phil Crawford, CTO of CKE Restaurants by adding that the AI technology has transformed their drive-thru experience, providing them with a competitive edge in the market and helping them to better serve their guests.

The process of engaging with Tori is seamless to the operation and guest experience. When guests arrive at the drive thru, guests will place their orders thru a digital interaction with Tori, and then pay the CKE associate for their meal at the pickup window.

Additionally, it has allowed Carl's Jr. and Hardee's associates to focus more on providing better customer service and preparing timely and freshly made orders.

"CKE is a global hospitality leader, and we're extremely honored and excited to partner with such a well-respected brand helping deliver the best-in-class drive-thru ordering experience for their guests", added Nick Belsito, CEO of OpenCity.

QSR chain Carl's Jr has partnered with Nocking Point Wines to launch Wine Pairing Bundle.

Two wines in the package have been chosen especially to go with the A.1 Double Cheeseburger.

“After the busy holidays, there is no better time to sit back and relax with a mouth-watering cheeseburger and a glass of red wine. That's why we are bringing back our partnership with Nocking Point Wines to celebrate the return of our A.1. Double cheeseburger,” shared Owen Klein, VP, Global Culinary Innovation, CKE Restaurants.

The Carl's Jr. Wine Pairing Bundle allows consumers to replicate a fine dining experience for an unbeatable price and the ability to enjoy on a night in, reported QSRWeb.com.

To determine the perfect pairing for the burger, the Carl's Jr. culinary team tasted a number of wines and settled on a red blend and pinot noir.

Wine Pairing Bundle will receive a promotional code that can be used to get a free A.1. Double Cheeseburger with a minimum purchase of $1 via the Carl's Jr. app or online ordering.

“We wanted to create a gastronomic moment that people can enjoy to unwind, relax, and reward themselves. The current Carl's Jr. steakhouse-inspired burger is the ideal way to indulge, and Nocking Point Wines' flavour brings out special and pleasant nuances from both the wines and the burger to make it even more enjoyable,” added Zac Albright, vice president of branded content at Nocking Point Wines.

CKE Restaurants Holdings has announced a digital and physical transformation for its restaurants over the next four to six years.

Owners of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants, its more than 500 locations across 20 markets will be updated, shared a company press release.

The reimaging will focus on renovations, technology advancements and streamlined operations contributing to improved guest, franchisee and team member experiences.

"The QSR industry is a game changing and unconventional group to be a part of — brands are constantly upping their game to meet the demands of today's evolving consumer," shared Matthew Walls, Chief Global Development Officer at CKE Restaurants.

CKE, along with its franchisee will invest a half a billion dollars in the projects, including $60 million from CKE's corporate division. Ninety-five percent of all restaurants have committed to the reimaging efforts.

Among the changes are: new signage, brand statement elements, freshly installed interior and exterior digital menu boards, upgraded lighting and bathrooms and subway tiling.

"CKE is known for having a finger on the pulse of what customers crave and we have continued to innovate our menus to lean into that, but we are the first to admit that our restaurants haven't kept up. Elevating two brands that are due for much-needed upgrades is no small feat, but one that our team is passionate about. This is just the beginning for the refreshed Carl's Jr. and Hardee's that consumers know and love,” added Walls.

Carl's Jr. and Hardee's have nearly 4,000 franchised or company-owned restaurants in 44 U.S. states and more than 35 international markets and U.S. overseas territories.

Carls’ Jr and Hardee’s parent company CKE Restaurant Holdings has partnered with customer loyalty and engagement platform Punchh to introduce an upgraded digital loyalty program for their outlets.

CKE rolled out Punchh's enhanced loyalty solution in phases to fully support both the Carl's Jr. and Hardee brands.

The implementation includes innovative new customer acquisition tools, marketing campaign automation, integrated offers, and data analytics.

Additionally, Punchh’s loyalty technology integrates directly into CKE’s unified digital commerce tech stack, which includes the Olo ordering platform for online ordering and delivery. Adding Punchh’s technology is the latest chapter in CKE’s digital journey that kicked off with Olo in late 2020.

“We are very excited about how this partnership with PAR will elevate our guest experience even further,” said Phil Crawford, CKE’s Chief Technology Officer. “Punchh provides a convenient solution to engage customers with their seamless in-store and online interfaces, making it easier than ever to reach our guests through multiple interconnected touchpoints. We look forward to seeing our brands continue to grow and adapt to the technology that is driving the restaurant industry’s success.”

CKE is the latest company to join Punchh’s rapidly growing roster of global enterprise brands. During the last year and a half alone, Punchh has gained more than 70 new customers including brands such as Taco Bell, Blaze Pizza, El Pollo Loco and more.

“It’s wonderful to be expanding our long-term relationship with CKE, with their selection of Punchh. A dynamic digital loyalty program is a cornerstone for a successful food-service operator. Coupled with our strategic hardware and software solutions, CKE is creating a truly unified commerce system,” said PAR Technology CEO, Savneet Singh. “We look forward to seeing our loyalty solution’s immediate and long-term impact on CKE’s brands systemwide.”

With both a U.S. and international footprint, Carl's Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee's Restaurants LLC have over 3,900 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 42 foreign countries and U.S. territories.

Parent of Hardy’s and Carl’s Jr, CKE Restaurants has opened its 300th Carl's Jr. restaurant in Mexico.

30 years after opening its first location in the country located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon in 1991.

Also Read: Carl's Jr's North Indian franchise partner aims to triple its presence

Mexico was the first international market for Carl’s Jr. where it opened its first restaurant in 1991 at San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon.

According to QSRweb.com it now serves over 6 million guests per month in the country.

The fast-food chain is also planning to open additional 100 restaurants in the country by 2024.

Globally, CKE owns nearly 1,000 Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants in over 40 countries with plans to double its International presence to 2,000 restaurants in the next five years.

May Interest: Carl's Jr. to spice up burger market

“As a country that has been integral to CKE International’s growth over the past 30 years, we’re thrilled to be celebrating the opening of Mexico’s 300th restaurant,” said Mike Woida, President, CKE International.

American burger chain Carl's Jr., has announced the opening of its new restaurant in Gurugram. Operated by Cybiz BrightStar Restaurants, which is owned by CybizCorp, the new restaurant has added new offerings to its menu such as char grilled chicken patties, premium all white meat chicken breasts and delectable mutton burgers to locals, the company said in a statement.

The company said, the launch is a part of their master franchise agreement in Northern and Western India, between Cybiz and CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., ('CKE'), parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, to bring 100 restaurants to India over the next 10 years.

Brad Sommer, VP, Franchise operations & development, CKE, said, "We're excited to continue expanding in India with the opening of a new restaurant at one of India’s most prime locations- Gold Course Road One Horizon Centre."

He further said, "Our premium yet affordably priced menu items really resonate with the diverse, rich flavours of the Indian palate, and we can’t wait for fans to try our thick, 100 percent unadulterated paneer patty coated with a rich spice blend or our 100 percent real white meat chicken breast marinated in a flavour mix of sauces and spices paired with a hand-scooped ice-cream shake."

Carl’s Jr. believes that Gurugram is an ideal location to showcase its authentic menu which is specially designed for the Indian palate including the option of a honey wheat or lettuce-wrapped burger, juicy mutton burgers with four different flavors- korma mutton, mint mutton, awesome onion mutton and mutton famous star.

The new restaurant will also offer an all-you-can-drink soft beverages bar and partial table service.

Samira Chopra, Director, Cybiz BrightStar Restaurants Pvt. Ltd.(Carl's Jr. India), said, "We are pleased to expand our brand to a whole new audience in Gurugram. Given the exceptional response we’ve had in Saket, Pacific Mall and Mall of India to our premium, bigger and char grilled burgers, we expect the same level of enthusiasm for the brand in Gurugram."

Following the launch in Gurugram, Carl’s Jr. will be opening additional restaurants in the Delhi/NCR region before moving to other territories with sub-franchisees, they said.

RI Bureau

Carl’s Jr, the Californian premium burger chain which entered Indian few months back is all set to give its fans in India an additional reason to rejoice having introduced beer in its Saket outlet from 8.00 pm onwards on October 23rd,  2015.

The brand has partnered with United Breweries (UB) Group and will be serving Kingfisher beer (for just Rs 99) along with its wholesome burgers to customers.

“We are excited to introduce beer to our customers at Carl’s Jr! We know that the youth today is looking for a differentiated experience while eating out and what can be better than a chilled beer to unwind. We understand that the QSR market in India is not offering enough variation for the youth. This launch allows us to establish a distinctive positioning in market saturated with children centric brands,” shared Sana Chopra, Executive Director, Carl’s Jr. India.

The launch of beer as an option reiterates the brand’s positioning as a QSR chain meant for the ‘Young and Hungry Boys and Girls’.

Internationally, beer and burgers are considered as the ‘holy’ combination of fast food. This launch will allow customers in India to enjoy a high-quality, international experience at ‘QSR speed and convenience’.

Post the launch on October 23rd, customers will be able to enjoy beer at Carl’s Jr. every day  from 11am till 12:30am. The brand also plans to host ‘Beer Game Nights’ every week on Wednesdays for customers to enjoy their drinks.

The brand will be offering beer as an option along with all of its burgers, in addition to several combos with Chicken Tenders, Chicken legs and Wings.

Adding to the same, Samira Chopra, Director, Carl’s Jr India, “The decision to offer beer to our customers is the outcome of a key insight into the QSR market in India. There are hardly any fast food chains offering the ‘beer and burger’ combo, that too at a reasonable price point. Kingfisher is a much loved beer from the UB Group and we are certain that customers will love the combination of our Californian burgers with it.”

The launch of beer comes in the backdrop of a strategic tie up with YouWeCan Ventures which establishes Yuvraj Singh as the official face of Carl’s Jr.

This association with a male youth icon and the introduction of beer this early, is indicative of a strong intention of the brand to break free from clutter and stand out among the youth.

As per Food Navigator Asia, India’s QSR segment is currently valued at Rs. 60 billion and is expected to grow by 26% each year. Furthermore, the country has the world’s largest youth population, about 356 million (United Nations report) and hence promises high potential for any QSR brand tailored towards it.

Carl’s Jr, the fourth largest burger chain, has opened its first restaurant in India at Saket.

Operated by CybizBrightStar Restaurants, which has signed a master franchise agreement with Carl’s Jr, the burger chain is targeting at opening around 100 restaurants in next five years time.

“We are excited to introduce Carl’s Jr to the India marketplace with the opening of our first restaurant in New Dehli. India represents a tremendous market opportunity and we see the potential for more than 1000 restaurants over time,” shared, Ned Lyerly, President,International at CKE Restaurants.

The restaurant has worked extensively on getting the premium products and some of the Indianised menu in their a la carte.

“We hope that our India customers will recognize that we’ve made a sincere effort to tailor our menu to the Indian palate by offering rich, intense flavors and a variety of innovative vegetarian options. We look forward to our Indian customers enjoying the same best-in-class customer service, premium quality and delicious menu items that we are known for globally,” added lyerly.

The restaurant features a special “Indian palate” menu that will include vegetarian options, beer on tap and an all-you-can-drink soft beverages bar.

“We are honored to be representing an iconic brand like Carl’s Jr.  This is a special moment for all of us here. We have been speaking about a differentiated gourmet experience, with this launch; we now finally offer the ‘Carl’s Jr’ experience to our fans here in India,” commented said Sam Chopra, Group Chairman and Founder of CybizCorp.

Carl’s Jr stands apart from other burger restaurants by offering freshly prepared, high-quality menu items, including its famous chargrilled burgers, Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™ and Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Shakes™ offering a superior dining experience that includes innovative menu items made-to-order and served hot and fresh at your table, all in a modern, upscale, spacious environment, stated the spokespersons at the conference.

“With high quality ingredients, a casual dining ambience and quick service, Carl’s Jr is the perfect fit for India. We can’t wait for burger lovers to get their first bite of Carl’s Jr’s iconic, big and juicy California-style burgers,” added stated Sana Chopra, Executive Director, CybizBrightStar Restaurants.

The restaurant chain is also planning to open two more outlets in Connaught Place and Pacific Mall, West Delhi in next few months extending to markets like Punjab, Chandigarh and Rajasthan.  

By RI Bureau

Cybiz BrightStar Restaurants, which holds the master franchise of Carl’s Jr burgers in India, has raised an undisclosed amount from cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s venture YouWeCan Venture.

Carl’s Jr which is opening its first restaurant in Delhi today is targeting at opening around five outlets this year.

"We're looking at opening about five restaurants in the current calendar year and between about 10 restaurants by the end of the fiscal year," shared Sam Chopra, Chairman, Cybiz Corp.

Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh will also be working as a brand ambassador to the company in India.

According to a national daily, You-WeCan Ventures is said to have put in about Rs 4 crore in the burger chain.

“The QSR space, especially burgers, has caught my attention in the last few months as the space has got a good response from Indian consumers. This is my first foray into this space and I am delighted to partner with an international brand of this repute," added Singh.

However when called, Nishant Singhal, cofounder and chief investment officer of YouWeCan Ventures, and Sam Chopra, chairman of Cybiz Corp, refused to share anything on the deal at this point of time.

Cybiz Corp has recently raised $2 mn to expand Carl's Jr restaurants from group of PE investors and aims to raise $20 Million in tranches for the company’s goal to expand the Carl’s Jr brand to 100 restaurants.

According to the reports, it is also estimated that the group has raised $3 million-$4 million till date at a valuation of about $30 million.

“We are planning to raise Rs 180- Rs 200 crore over the next two years,” added Chopra.

Other investors in the company include New Delhi-based Now Foods and Elara Capital. Cybiz BrightStar will use the funds to expand operations.

Carl’s Jr, Californian burger chain which earlier announced its entry in India by opening first outlet in April 2015 reschedules its entry by June.

Carl’s Jr is known for offering authentic American and premium-quality charbroiled burgers and freshly prepared, flavorful menu.

CKE Restaurants Holdings parent company of Carl’s Jr with system wide sales of over 4 billion USD, which has signed a development agreement with India’s Cybiz BrightStar Restaurants Private Limited, owned by CybizCorp looks Delhi-NCR as its key strategic market.

However, the burger chain is very active on its Facebook page and is regularly posting photos and updates about its burger.

The burger chain has also developed a full line of fresh and flavorful premium vegetarian options that suites Indian taste and preferences.

Many of these new items that are unique to the India market will be launched in addition to several signatures Carl’s Jr menu items known and loved around the world.

Carl’s Jr, the California-based burger chain, which announced its opening in April last month is planning to open 100 outlets across India in the next five years.

“We are planning to open 100 outlets in next five years and we see India as our largest market outside US,” said, Ned Lyerly, President, International, CKE Restaurants.

“India is in the middle of the burger revolution and we believe this is the perfect time for our brand to be launched in the country in terms of the size of the market, growth in the organised food services market, as well as evolution of the market,” added Lyerly.

However, the initial agreement is for up to 100 restaurants in the country and CKE believes there is potential for more than 1,000 restaurants in India over time. The restaurant chain will open its first five outlets in Delhi-NCR and then will expand its presence in other parts of the country.

“The burger chain has also developed a full line of fresh and flavourful premium vegetarian options that suites Indian taste and preferences. Many of these new items that are unique to the India market will be launched in addition to several signature Carl’s Jr menu items known and loved around the world,” said, Sam Chopra, Chairman, CybizCorp.