CARPINTERIA, Calif. – June 27, 2011 – CKE Restaurants, Inc. and its Carl’s Jr.® and
Hardee’s® restaurants raised more than $1 million for military families and veterans during the
spring fundraiser that launched Stars for Troops, the chains’ new charitable program. The three
week in-store fundraising campaign harnessed the national reach of both brands and the
generosity of its customers to rally behind the patriotic cause. The funds raised will assist
military families and veterans through national charity partnerships with Homes for Our Troops
and USA Cares.

The inaugural Stars for Troops fundraising campaign kicked off in early May at Hardee’s and
Carl’s Jr., and ran for three weeks. To participate, restaurant guests donated $1 in support of
military charities. For each $1 donation, guests received a commemorative “Stars for Troops”
cut out to personalize and place on display in the restaurant; in addition, they received
restaurant coupons valued at more than $10 to use toward future purchases.

“I am proud to announce that we raised more than $1 million in the inaugural Stars for Troops
fundraising effort,” said Andrew F. Puzder, chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants.
“Advocating for our military families and veterans is a cause close to my heart and the hearts of
our CKE employees, our franchisees and guests. Our customers’ contributions will go toward
building homes and providing basic necessities for our injured veterans, as well as providing
them and their families with crucial financial and advocacy support. I’ve had the opportunity to
shake the hands of those helped by Homes for Our Troops and USA Cares in the past several
months and I’m pleased with the campaign’s tremendous success.”

“The funds raised in the Stars for Troops campaign will significantly help us to provide injured
veterans and their families with homes that will help restore their freedom and independence,”
said Dawn Teixeira, executive director for Homes for Our Troops. “Since 2004, Homes for Our
Troops has committed to rebuilding the lives of 100 military families through the gift of a
mortgage-free, specially adapted home. This commitment is set to be fulfilled in 2011. Thanks to
the generosity of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s customers, we can look to building 100 more.”

“USA Cares has been working directly with active duty soldiers, veterans, Guard and Reserve
members and their families every day since 2003,” said Bill Nelson, executive director of USA
Cares. “The Stars for Troops campaign raised not only much-needed funds to support these
families who have fallen between the cracks of the government support structure, but also
improved public awareness of the thousands of brave men and women who sacrificed their
health in the name of our freedom.”

Previous to Stars for Troops, CKE Restaurants helped raise more than $4.1 million over six
years in support of breast cancer screenings and research – surpassing the $1 million mark in
both 2009 and 2010. The idea for such a fundraising drive began with the Carl’s Jr. franchise
group, the Star Franchise Association, in 2005. Hardee’s franchise group, the International
Hardee’s Franchise Association, joined the fundraising program in 2007. CKE Restaurants is
dedicated to an annual fundraising campaign, which raises money for a cause important to
guests, franchisees, employees, and their families. It was these groups who helped choose the
new campaign focus and subsequent beneficiaries.

The more than $1 million raised through the 2011 Stars for Troops fundraiser will directly
support both local and national programs of Homes for Our Troops and USA Cares throughout
the entire year. In addition, certain funds have been earmarked to benefit regional veterans and
military groups with existing ties to individual Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurant communities.

For more information, pictures, video, links, regional event listings, stories, employee and
partner stories, visit Stars for Troops on Facebook. To learn more about the Stars for Troops
national beneficiaries, see the video posted on the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's YouTube pages or
visit them directly at www.homesforourtroops.org and www.usacares.org.