Carl N. Karcher dropped out of school in 8th grade but went on to build a fast food empire starting with a hot dog cart in 1945. He grew his business into the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's chains with over 3,000 restaurants worldwide. Though controversial at times, Karcher received many honors for his entrepreneurship and philanthropy before passing away in 2008 at age 90 after a battle with Parkinson's disease.

1. By Shermeen Alsadon

3. Carl N. Karcher is a foodservice pioneer who was
born in 1917 on a farm near Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
After eighth grade, Carl dropped out of school to
work on the family farm. Later on, Carl moved from
Ohio to Anaheim, California where he worked at his
uncle’s feed and seed store. His uncle offered him $18
per week where Carl worked six days a week, 12
hours a day. Three years later, Carl was offered a job
by one of his uncle’s customer who owned a bakery.
He started as a bread wrapper at that store, and
shortly after he was promoted to a sales and delivery
position.

4. On November 30, 1939 Carl got married to
Margaret Heinz. Their marriage lasted more than
66 years were they had 12 Children, 51
grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren.

5. On July 17, 1941 Carl
and Margaret
purchased a hotdog
cart for $326 (paid $15
from their saving and
borrowed on his
Plymouth Super
Deluxe). As the
business grew, Carl
opened “Carl’s Drive-
In Barbecue” in
Anaheim, California on
January 16, 1945. In
1956 the first “Carl’s Jr.
Restaurant” was
opened.

7.  3, 000 restaurants and 30,000 employees
worldwide
 3,036 franchised and company operated
restaurants in 43 states and 13 countries,
including 1,121 “Carl’s Jr. Restaurants”, and
1,915 “Hardee’s Restaurants”

8. Dominican Republic
Brazil
Puerto Rico
Denmark
Costa Rica
New Zealand
Australia
Singapore
Russia
Vietnam
Thailand
Turkey
China

9.  Quality
 A priority on restaurant fundamentals
 Employee take pride in what they do
 Quality ingredients make a difference
 Innovation
 Products are unmatched
 Think outside the box
 Technological advancements
 Continuous Improvements
 Remain relevant to the customers

10. CKE’s brands “Carl’s Jr.” and “Hardee’s” offer
different, crave able fare prepared with quality
ingredients that meet our exacting standards.
Their attention is operational excellence, guest
service, and products improvement to keep
guests coming back for more.

11. “Never Give Up”

12. “To be the best burger chain worldwide”

13. Carl was a devoted Catholic and a lifelong
member of the Republican Party. He contributed
heavily to anti-abortion groups. In 1978, he
worked towards requiring public schools in
California to fire any known gay or lesbian
teachers. This initiative failed when former
governor and soon-to-be President Ronald Regan
came against it and calling the action too
disturbing.

14. Carl was fined $688,000 for insider trading in
1988, after allegedly advising close family
members of which stock in the company is best to
buy. In 2002, a group of Carl’s Jr. employees sued
the company stating that they were fired for
complaining about racial discrimination from
their bosses. The company ended up paying
$255,000 to settle the case outside of the court. The
company reached $9M in settlement after
wrongly categorizing managers and general
managers as excused from California’s wage and
hour laws.

15. In 2005, Carl’s Jr. was accused of “Hamburger
porn” after a television ad presenting a bikini
wearing Paris Hilton eating a Carl’s Jr. Burger
while washing a car in a supposedly salacious
manner.

16. Throughout Carl’s journey he was awarded and
honored 21 times. First award he received was the
Order of Malta when he was knighted in 1976.
His last award was in 2007 where he was honored
with a star on the Anaheim/Orange County Walk
of Stars as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and
community pillar.

17. Carl N. Karcher passed away in 2008 about a
week from his 91st birthday, after a Parkinson’s
disease and a stroke effect that left him incapable
of continuing a public life. Currently his legacy is
continuing through the empire he continued
building throughout his life.

18.  I admire that fact that with a eight grad
education he was able to build an empire with
$326. Also, he never gives up.
 I am a fan of Carl’s Jr. burger and restaurant
seating since I visited in Turkey with my
family
 He shows that nothing is ever impossible
instead everything is possible with well and
hard work

19.  Carl N. Karcher, 90, Founder of Carl's Jr. Hamburger Chain, Is Dead. (2008,
January 12). The New York Times. Retrieved , from
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/business/13karcher.html?_r=0
 Carl's Jr.?. (n.d.). bestbusinessfranchise.com. Retrieved , from
http://www.bestbusinessfranchise.com/article-print-252.html
 Fast Food Nation. (n.d.). Google Books. Retrieved , from
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&dq=what+was+carl+n+karcher+philosophy&source=bl&ots=DmVlVS1oKj&
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 Orange Coast Magazine. (n.d.). Google Books. Retrieved , from
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 . (n.d.). . Retrieved , from
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Nicholas-Karcher&pid=101355351