In the ever-shifting landscape of consumer expectations, CKE Restaurants—parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s—finds itself under scrutiny for its outdated animal welfare practices. While many food industry leaders are adopting cage-free systems and prioritising humane treatment, CKE continues to confine egg-laying hens to cramped, barren cages, exposing a stark disconnect between their marketing narratives and reality. As competitors lead the charge towards ethical progress, this resistance to change leaves CKE lagging behind—a glaring example of an industry player clinging to the past while others shape a more compassionate future