8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                        Date of Report: January 15, 1998

                              CKE RESTAURANTS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                       1-13192                33--0602639
- ----------------------------          -----------             -------------
(State or other jurisdiction          (Commission             (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                File Number)        Identification Number)

             1200 North Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, California 92801
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (714) 774-5796
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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Item 5.  Other Events

         On January 15, 1998, CKE Restaurants, Inc. ("CKE") announced that CKE
has entered into a Letter of Intent with Advantica Restaurant Group, Inc. and
Spartan Holdings, Inc. regarding a proposed transaction pursuant to which CKE
agreed to purchase from Spartan Holdings, Inc. all of the issued and outstanding
shares of common stock of Flagstar Enterprises, Inc. ("FEI"), an Alabama
corporation and its subsidiaries for a purchase price of approximately
$369,100,000 in cash and the assumption of $45.6 million in capital lease
liabilities plus up to $38.1 million in liabilities. Such purchase price is
subject to adjustment based on the net operating liabilities of FEI as of the
closing date.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release - January 15, 1998 - CKE Restaurants
                           Announces Plans to Purchase Hardee's Franchises from
                           Advantica Restaurant Group.


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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                CKE RESTAURANTS, INC.

Dated: January 27, 1998                         /s/ CARL A. STRUNK
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Carl A. Strunk
                                                Executive Vice President
                                                Chief Financial Officer





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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         99       Press Release - January 15, 1998 - CKE Restaurants Announces
                  Plans to Purchase Hardee's Franchises from Advantica
                  Restaurant Group.

EX-99

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                                                                    NEWS RELEASE

FOR:            CKE Restaurants, Inc.

CONTACT:        Andrew F. Puzder
                805.898.7134                        [CKE RESTAURANTS LETTERHEAD]

                Loren Pannier
                714.778.7109

              CKE RESTAURANTS ANNOUNCES PLANS TO PURCHASE HARDEE'S
                   FRANCHISES FROM ADVANTICA RESTAURANT GROUP

        ANAHEIM, Calif. - January 15, 1998 - CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:CKR)
("CKE") parent of Hardee's Food Systems, Inc. ("Hardee's") announced today that
it has signed a letter of intent to purchase from Advantica Restaurant Group,
Inc. ("Advantica") its 557-unit Hardee's franchise subsidiary for approximately
$369 million in cash plus the assumption of certain liabilities. The parties
anticipate the transaction will close by the end of March.

        CKE's Hardee's subsidiary currently owns and operates 867 Hardee's
restaurants and is the franchisor or licensor for 2,181 additional units.
Advantica currently is Hardee's largest franchisee. Following the closing,
Hardee's will own and operate 1,424 units and will be the franchisor or
licensor for 1,624 units.

        Advantica's Hardee's subsidiary produced $603 million in revenues in
1996. Revenues for the first three quarters of 1997 were $417 million.
Additionally, as part of the transaction, Advantica, which was formerly known
as Flagstar Companies, Inc., will dismiss its pending arbitration claim against 
Hardee's.

        "This purchase, at an attractive price, is a significant step toward
balancing Hardee's franchise and company store system," said William P. Foley
II, CKE's chairman and chief executive officer. "It allows us to commit the
necessary resources and efforts to these units to support the growth and
development of our brand. In addition, the opportunity to improve operating
margins through the direct ownership of these restaurants will enhance CKE's
shareholder value."

                                   -- more --
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CKE Restaurants, Inc.
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        Rory J. Murphy, Hardee's president and chief operating officer, said,
"This is a great strategic step for our brand. We will, in a single stroke,
significantly increase our revenues without comparably increasing our expenses
due to the obvious operating efficiencies and synergies inherent in absorbing
557 restaurants that are already Hardee's. We also believe that this purchase
will have a very positive impact on the franchise community as a whole by
eliminating a potentially contentious dispute and reemphasizing our commitment
to increase the profitability of the entire Hardee's system. I am extremely
excited by this purchase."

        CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries and its franchisees and
licensees, operates 696 Carl's Jr. and 26 Rally's quick-service restaurants,
including 115 Carl's Jr./Green Burrito dual-brand locations, primarily located
in California, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona and Mexico; 3,048 Hardee's quick-service
restaurants in 39 states and 11 foreign countries including 79 Carl's
Jr./Hardee's dual-brand locations; 109 Taco Bueno quick-service restaurants, 95
JB's Restaurants, and six Galaxy Diner restaurants.


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