CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, is combining its operations and supply chain management under new Chief Operating Officer John Dunion, the company announced on Tuesday.
The new structure is designed to improve operations and execution across the company’s entire U.S. business, which totals about 2,800 mostly franchised units for the two brands combined. CKE has 3,800 locations globally.
Dunion first joined CKE in 1996 and was most recently the company’s chief supply chain officer. Dunion previously worked for Unigate Restaurants, Jack in the Box and Taco Bell before coming to CKE.
Ned Lyerly, CKE’s CEO, called Dunion “an excellent leader with a penchant for team building” and said that he has “an excellent rapport with our franchisees.”
Carl’s bought Hardee’s in 1997, creating CKE Restaurants. Carl’s is a largely West Coast chain while Hardee’s is centered in the Southeast. The two companies have nearly identical branding and advertising and have had many of the same products over the years, though some CEOs in the past have sought to split the concepts to give them more unique identities.
Meanwhile, CKE named Brian Cassidy senior vice president of Carl’s Jr. operations, where he will oversee company and franchise operations for the brand. Cassidy has been with the company since 2017.
Todd Huetinck was named senior vice president of supply chain management. He will focus on food and packaging purchasing in addition to distribution and quality assurance. Huetinck has been with CKE since 2006.
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