Hardee's And Carl's Jr. Are Getting Ready For A Major Facelift

Known for their charbroiled hamburgers, Hardee's and Carl's Jr. sell crave-worthy fast food that rivals major franchises like Burger King and McDonald's. Whether you indulge in the jalapeño Angus burger or the Beyond Meat sandwich, there are no wrong choices at Hardee's or Carl's Jr. Founded in 1941 by Carl Karcher, the burger chain was originally a Los Angeles-based hot dog stand. Once the fast food joint added burgers to the menu, it exploded into fame and eventually transformed into the Carl's Jr. we know and love today. 20 years later, the company acquired Midwest restaurant chain Hardee's for $327 million. Karcher kept the restaurant's name for marketing purposes but transformed the menu into an exact replica of a Carl's Jr. menu (per Mental Floss).

Now, the thriving sister franchises are indistinguishable aside from their names. In addition to their mouth-watering burger, chicken, and breakfast options, Hardee's and Carl's Jr. are also recognized for their branding. Their mascot, a lop-sided star with a spirited smile plastered to its face, can be spotted from a mile away. As it turns out, the emblazoned star is getting a makeover along with further updates to the restaurant's color scheme, employee uniforms, food packaging, signage, and general advertising initiatives (per QSR).

The franchise-wide uphaul is expected to cost a whopping $500 million in investments. The pricey rebranding is already underway and will continue through fall 2022. Upwards of 95% of the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. storefronts have committed to the remodeling, however, chief global development officer Matthew Wall expects a 100% buy-in by the end of the year (per Nation's Restaurant News).

Working with international design agency Design Bridge, the burger joint will transform its mascot, introduce modern fonts to its signage, add flair to food packaging and merchandise, upgrade drive-through menus, and even redesign the restaurant lighting structure (per QSR). One of the non-superficial upgrade initiatives will positively impact the lives and working experiences of the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. employees. NRN reports that the multi-million dollar facelift includes implementing better-working equipment for both front and back-of-house employees.

Although Hardee's and Carl's Jr. may look different in the coming months, the ethos of the restaurant remains intact — serve affordable, indulgent, and wonderfully messy fast food to the masses.