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Super-Size This!
January 31, 2008
Joe Keohane, in the current "issue" of Portfolio.com, describes CEO Andrew Puzder's efforts at CKE Restaurants as an "audacious go-for-bloat approach," having introduced (and heavily advertised) products like the Monster Thickburger (just as McDonald's was backing away from super-sizing meals in 2004) and, more recently, 700-calorie smoothies. Declares Keohane:
"That message may be revolutionary or totally evil or maybe both, but in any case, it goes like this: Anyone can make Americans fat (hell, everyone already has), but only one fast-food company can make them fat and allow them to feel good about it, even get them to feel like they're making a statement and striking a blow against the forces of political correctness. It's downright Jeffersonian in its own weird way, and judging by the growth of both chains, it's working extraordinarily well."
Now if only the stock price would grow. Yesterday, the company stock (CKR) closed at $12.53 a share, or $11 off its 52-week high. Still, Keohane's story is an entertaining read about a most unusual company.
Size matters: Spicy BBQ Thickburger
Posted by David Farkas on January 31, 2008 | Comments (0)