Carl’s Jr. has launched a $6 value meal a day before McDonald’s own $5 Meal Deal is slated to go into effect.
Carl’s 2 for $6 Double Take offers customers a choice of any two of the following: French Toast Dips, small Hash Rounds, a Spicy Chicken Sandwich, a six-piece order of Chicken Stars, a small order of fries, a small cheeseburger, or a Spicy Lil’ Cheeseburger.
The chain of more than 1,000 restaurants, part of CKE Restaurant Holdings, based in Franklin, Tenn., which also owns the Hardee’s concept, is also bringing back its Double Teriyaki Burger and Teriyaki Char Chicken sandwich.
Both the sandwiches and the two-for-six deal will be available through Aug. 13
The burger is made with two beef patties, sliced grilled pineapple, melted Swiss cheese, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, and teriyaki sauce on a seeded bun.
The chicken sandwich is the same build, but with a broiled chicken breast replacing the burger patties.
The burger is also available as a single, starting at $6.99. The double starts at $8.49, as does the chicken sandwich, but pricing will vary based on location as Carl’s Jr. is mostly franchised.
“Carl’s Jr. guests are extremely passionate, whether it’s about bringing back the El Diablo burger, bringing back the Teriyaki lineup or delivering the flavors they crave on a budget,” Carl’s Jr. vice president of marketing Anthony Nguyen said in a press release announcing the new deal and the return of the teriyaki sandwiches. “We’re excited to give the people what they want — big, bold, innovative flavors at every price point that will keep them coming back for more.”
The El Diablo Burger — two beef patties, two strips of bacon, jalapeño poppers, pepper Jack cheese, jalapeño pepper coins, and habanero ranch sauce on a bun — was brought back as a permanent item in April, starting at $8.99
The Double Teriyaki Burger is being promoted as part of a new marketing campaign with the theme “Need Burger, Get Burger.” This particular commercial depicts a customer in a car-repair shop with burgers on his mind; he drives his car off of the vehicle lift on which it’s being serviced when he mis-hears “bumper” as “burger,” badly damaging his car, but satisfying his craving for the new item.
This sort of off-the-wall marketing began earlier this year when Carl’s Jr. gave away burgers on the Monday after the Super Bowl, and ran commercials falsely anticipating the chaos that would ensue.
The irreverent brand positioning is part of an effort by CKE chief marketing officer Jennifer Tate to separate Carl’s Jr. from its more staid sibling, Hardee’s.
Unlike Carl’s Jr., which operates primarily in the West, Hardee’s restaurants are mostly in the Midwest and Southeast and its brand positioning is more about wholesomeness and scratch cooking.
The two chains, which have been part of CKE since that company bought Hardee’s in 1997, have had an on again, off again, sort of relationship, with the parent company sometimes trying to merge the two brands and at other times separating them.
The latter is currently in effect.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]