
Hardee’s Trademarks
Please note: Gerben IP does not represent Hardee’s. This page is provided for informational purposes and reflects information available in public USPTO records.
September 21, 2023
Hardee’s Restaurants LLC is an owner and operator of a chain of fast-food restaurants specializing in burgers. The American restaurant chain has major locations throughout the Southern and Midwestern United States.
Apart from its signature burgers, the company is also known for offering desserts, breakfast sweets and sides, chicken, and beverages.
Hardee’s is operated by CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc., one of many corporate owners the company has had since its establishment in 1961.
Let’s dive into the company’s history, international franchises, and trademarks.
Hardee’s History
Wilber Hardee founded Hardee’s on September 3, 1960. The business picked up quickly, and within a year, Hardee was looking to expand the business. He contacted James Gardner and Leonard Rawls to discuss the potential expansion of his restaurant.
In May 1961, the first company store opened in Rock Mount, North Carolina, under the management of Rawls and Gardner. The store was located on North Church Street in Rock Mount.
This location survived as one of the longest-lasting Hardee’s stores before it was demolished in 2007. It was replaced by a veteran’s park named for Jack Laughery, a military veteran, and Hardee’s former chairman.
According to Hardee, Gardner and Rawls won a controlling share of the restaurant over a game of poker. After losing a controlling stake in his company, Wilber Hardee sold the rest of his shares to the duo.
However, Gardner and Rawls dispute that version of the story, claiming that Hardee’s had very little capital and their input saved the company from financial collapse.
After buying out Wilber Hardee, Gardner and Rawls started franchising the chain in 1961. They sold the first franchises to a small group of longtime acquaintances and friends. These franchisees later formed their own companies and built hundreds more franchised locations.
In 1963, with Rawls as president, Hardee’s went public. Gardner took the position of vice president until he stepped down in 1966 to pursue his political ambitions. He would win the United States House of Representative seat in 1966.
In 1964, Hardee’s menu comprised a 15-cent hamburger, 20-cent cheeseburger, 10-cent French fries, 15-cent apple turnovers, 12-cent milk, 10-cent coffee, 10-cent drinks, and 20-cent milkshakes in the standard chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors.
The restaurant created strawberry-flavored milkshakes by adding berry syrup to vanilla milkshakes and mixing it with a spindle.
By the end of the 60s, Hardee’s had expanded to over 200 restaurants in the Midwest and Southwest U.S. The company had also reached the international market, opening its first location in Germany.
At this time, Hardee’s started an expansion drive into the mid-Atlantic states, most notably southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Hardee Northern Inc., a subsidiary of Acme Markets and one of Hardee’s franchisees, undertook the expansion.
Continuing its expansion, Hardee’s acquired Sandy’s, an Illinois fast-food chain in 1972. Hardee’s continued its rapid location growth throughout the 70s, spurred on by the sales of the chain’s two key sandwiches, the “Big Deluxe” and “Big Twin.”. By the end of the 1970s, with a lot of capital at hand, Hardee’s acquired another chain, the Utah-based Dee’s Drive-In.
Imasco Limited, a Canadian company, acquired Hardee’s in 1981. In 1982, Imasco acquired another burger giant, Burger Chef, for $44 million from General Foods.
Imasco converted most Burger Chef locations into Hardee’s restaurants. Other locations existing near Hardee’s were converted into other brands. However, some remain permanently closed.
Imasco later sold Hardee’s to CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc. The April 1997 deal closed for $327 million. The merger created a mega-chain comprising 3,828 locations, 3,152 of which were Hardee’s outlets in 40 states and 10 foreign countries.
Hardee’s International Franchises
Hardee’s has several international franchises in Pakistan and the Middle East. Most of these franchises are owned and operated by Americana Group. In June 1980, Americana Group opened the first Hardee’s restaurant in Kuwait. It was also the first Hardee’s restaurant in the Middle East.
By 2016, there were over 300 Hardee’s restaurants across Asia and the Middle East, specifically in Bahrain, Iraq, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Hardee’s attempted to open franchises in Singapore, setting up the first one in 1984. However, in 1988, the remaining three outlets closed. South Korea marked another international franchising failure for the company, with the store opening in 1990 and closing in 2004 due to poor sales.
Hardee’s Trademarks
Hardee’s has sought or obtained federal trademark registration for about 36 trademarks. These include “THE FRISCO,” “MONSTER THICKBURGER,” “BURGER CHEF,” and “MONSTER ANGUS BURGER.”
In October 1963, Hardee’s obtained federal trademark registration for “THE FRISCO.” The company uses the trademark for its hamburger sandwiches.
Hardee’s obtained federal trademark registration for “MONSTER THICKBURGER” on August 25, 2009, and also uses the trademark for its hamburger sandwiches.
On February 23, 206, Hardee’s obtained federal trademark registration for “BURGER CHEF.” The company uses the trademark for its sandwiches and restaurant services.
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- LET'S GET DOWN TO BISCUITS
- MY REWARDS
- ALL KINDS OF GOODNESS
- Logo #1
- MONSTER ANGUS BURGER
- HARDEE'S
- HARDEE'S
- THE REALLY BIG HARDEE
- FLAVOR LIT BY FIRE
- REAL FOOD. MADE RIGHT. SERVED PROUD
- HARDEE'S
- BURGER CHEF
- HARDEE BREAKFAST PLATTER
- BURGER CHEF
- BURGER CHEF
- BURGER CHEF
- CRISPY CURLS
- MONSTER BISCUIT
- THICKBURGERS
- HARDEE'S CHARBROILED THICKBURGERS
- HOME OF THE THICKBURGER
- FRISCO BREAKFAST SANDWICH
- THICKBURGER
- TRIM IT.
- LOW CARB IT.
- VEG IT.
- HASH ROUNDS
- MONSTER THICKBURGER
- WHERE AMERICA GOES FOR BREAKFAST!
- HOT MELTS
- BIG COUNTRY
- RISE AND SHINE
- HARDEE'S
- TAILGATE PACK
- BURGER CHEF
- BURGER CHEF
- HARDEE'S FRISCO
- HARDEE'S
- MONSTER BURGER
- HARDEE'S
- THE FRISCO
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Computer application software for mobile devices, namely, software for use with incentive programs to promote the sale of food and beverage items for consumption on or off the premises. FIRST USE: 20220800. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220800.
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S Customer loyalty services and customer club services, for commercial, promotional and/or advertising purposes; arranging and conducting incentive programs to promote the sale of food and beverage items for consumption on or off the premises; arranging and conducting incentive reward programs featuring offers, deals and rewards to customers and members to promote the sale of restaurant services; online ordering services in the field of restaurant take-out and delivery. FIRST USE: 20220800. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220800.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20220800. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220800.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Biscuits; Coffee; Sandwiches; Tea; Cheeseburger sandwiches; Hamburger sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20220921. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220921.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20220921. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220921.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Hamburger sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20211201. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20211201.
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S Online retail store services featuring virtual goods in the nature of, food, and beverages, authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); digital retail store services featuring downloadable and non-downloadable virtual goods in the nature of food items and beverages authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); retail store services featuring virtual goods in the nature of access tokens for use in online virtual worlds; conducting a loyalty incentive program whereby individuals can earn real world and virtual rewards to use toward the purchase of real and virtual foods and beverages; administration of a rewards program featuring virtual rewards that can be redeemed in the real or virtual world to promote the sale of foods and beverages; online retail store services featuring virtual foods and beverages authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
IC 042. US 100 101. G & S Providing temporary use of non-downloadable software that gives users the ability to upload, modify and share virtual reality content, augmented reality content, mixed reality content, information, experiences and data; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software offering virtual food and beverage products authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); providing online non-downloadable software for storage of multimedia files containing artwork, text, audio, and video files authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); providing online non-downloadable computer software for facilitating commercial transactions authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Virtual restaurants, namely, providing online restaurant services featuring food and drink available for home delivery; operating a virtual restaurant online featuring home delivery.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Downloadable multimedia files containing artwork, text, audio, and video relating to restaurants, foods, and drinks authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); Downloadable virtual goods, namely, downloadable image files of and computer programs featuring foods and drinks authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital tokens; Downloadable virtual goods, namely, image files of and computer programs featuring virtual foods and drinks for use in online virtual worlds, authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); Downloadable software for viewing non-fungible tokens (NFTs); Downloadable software for use in electronically storing, sending, receiving, accepting and transmitting non-fungible tokens (NFTs); Downloadable software for providing access to virtual restaurants, foods and drinks.
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S Entertainment services, namely, providing online virtual worlds featuring restaurants, food, and drink for recreational, leisure or entertainment purposes.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Hamburger sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20200325. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20200325.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20191230. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20191230.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20180508. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20180508.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20171027. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20171027.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Prepared or packaged meals consisting primarily of sandwiches. FIRST USE: 19570503. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19570503.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Prepared entrees consisting primarily of eggs and breakfast meat. FIRST USE: 20130000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20130000.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20151202. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20151202.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20151202. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20151202.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Meat; frozen, prepared or packaged meals consisting primarily of meat, fish, poultry or vegetables. FIRST USE: 20151202. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20151202.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20151202. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20151202.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20151202. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20151202.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Fried potatoes. FIRST USE: 19900101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19900101.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20070115. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20070115.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Hamburger sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20020901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20021024.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20051116. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20051116.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20041101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20041101.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Sandwiches. FIRST USE: 19920812. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920812.
IC 030. US 046. G & S hamburger sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20020901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20021024.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20090731. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090731.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20090731. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090731.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20090731. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090731.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Fried potatoes. FIRST USE: 19800000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19800000.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Hamburger sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20041114. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20041114.
IC 042. US 100 101. G & S restaurant services. FIRST USE: 19960228. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19960228.
IC 042. US 100 101. G & S restaurant services featuring a variety of sandwiches for consumption on or off the premises. FIRST USE: 19930826. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19930826.
IC 029. US 046. G & S restaurant menu items, namely, breakfast platters consisting primarily of combinations of eggs, ham, bacon, and sausage, and also including [ pancakes, ] biscuits, orange juice and coffee. FIRST USE: 19831200. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19831200.
IC 030. US 046. G & S [ restaurant menu items, namely, breakfast platters consisting primarily of pancakes, and also including eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, biscuits, orange juice, and coffee ]. FIRST USE: 19831200. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19831200.
IC 030. US 046. G & S breakfast entrees consisting primarily of biscuits with chicken, beefsteak, sausage, bacon, eggs, ham, cheese, cinnamon and coffee. FIRST USE: 19820200. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19820200.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S clothing; namely, [sweaters,] shirts, caps, hats, visors, [shoes,] sweatshirts, [sweat pants,] jackets and shorts. FIRST USE: 19600901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19611021.
IC 042. US 100. G & S restaurant services; namely, providing fried chicken meals for consumption on or off the premises. FIRST USE: 19920901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920901.
IC 042. US 100. G & S restaurant services. FIRST USE: 19780401. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19780401.
IC 042. US 100. G & S restaurant services. FIRST USE: 19570503. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19570503.
IC 042. US 100. G & S restaurant services specializing in a variety of sandwiches for consumption on or off the premises. FIRST USE: 19920504. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920504.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Hot dogs, chili, mayonnaise, beefsteaks, cheese, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, milk, [ vegetable-derived shortening, ] pickle chips, [ garden salads, ] eggs, sausage, bacon, [ chicken wings, ] processed potatoes, fried chicken and roast beef. FIRST USE: 19600901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19611021.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Mustard, milk shakes, apple turnovers, [ cherry turnovers, ] coffee, tartar sauce, [ meat sauce, ] tea, ketchup, fish sandwiches, steak sandwiches, hamburger sandwiches, hot chocolate, ham sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, ice cream, frozen confections, [ frozen yogurt, ] biscuits, [ pancakes, ] gravy, tortillas, cookies [ and pizza ]. FIRST USE: 19600901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19611021.
IC 032. US 045 046. G & S carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks and orange juice. FIRST USE: 19600901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19611021.
IC 030. US 046. G & S hamburger sandwich. FIRST USE: 19740400. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19740400.
IC . US 100. G & S Restaurant Services. FIRST USE: 19600901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19611021.
IC . US 046. G & S Hamburger Sandwiches. FIRST USE: 19340406. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19340406.