These are powerful occasions for a lot of companies throughout company America, a lot of whom are cutting down on business travel and perks on the highway. And in these occasions, one firm’s coverage on enterprise journey goes viral: In keeping with a current Wall Street Journal article, Cracker Barrel staff reportedly should observe a brand new coverage that they have to eat at Cracker Barrel eating places whereas touring for work.
However in accordance with Cracker Barrel, that’s not precisely true.
“The coverage for workers to dine at Cracker Barrel whereas touring for enterprise, every time sensible primarily based on location and schedule, is not new,” Cracker Barrel defined to Quick Firm in an e mail assertion. “Additionally, it isn’t the one place that our staff could eat when on the highway, as beforehand reported. The change was to additional restrict reimbursement of alcoholic drinks beneath the coverage.”
Nonetheless, backlash to the reported coverage comes throughout a tough patch for the American restaurant chain identified for its Southern allure, marked by declining sales, and more customer backlash over a current botched try and rebrand.
In August, Cracker Barrel unveiled a new campaign starring nation music artist Jordan Davis that revamped its “Outdated Timer” brand and menus, and lightened up the restaurant’s eating rooms, to the dismay of longtime prospects. (The response may be summed up by one TikTok consumer who posted, “I favor the darker cozier look, I additionally don’t like change.”) The corporate was quickly compelled to stroll again the plans, and later stated it wouldn’t change the logo.
Cracker Barrel financials
Shares of Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ: CBRL) had been down lower than 1% in noon buying and selling on Tuesday on the time of this writing.
The Tennessee-based chain’s first quarter fiscal 2026 earnings missed expectations, with whole income at $797.2 million, down 5.7% in comparison with the prior yr first quarter; same-store restaurant gross sales down 4.7% over the prior yr quarter, and comparable retailer retail gross sales down 8.5%.
