Cracker Barrel is cutting costs with a new dining policy requiring traveling employees to dine exclusively at company-owned locations.
Details on Cracker Barrel’s new dining policy for employees while traveling
The Wall Street Journal received an internal memo that the company wanted employees to schedule trips later in the year, dine primarily at Cracker Barrel locations and pay for alcoholic beverages without reimbursement unless approved by senior management, according to The Independent and the Detroit Free Press.
The new dining rule was enacted as the country-themed restaurant chain has faced financial issues in recent years. Cracker Barrel lost an estimated $94 million due to its failed rebrand efforts last year.
The company faced backlash from longtime fans and President Donald Trump over the last few months after Julie Felss Masino, the company’s president and CEO, unveiled makeover changes to the brand, including a new, controversial logo in August, Blavity reported.
Cracker Barrel acknowledges backlash: ‘We’re truly grateful for your heartfelt voices’
Many fans shared their grievances about the changes on social media, with some threatening to boycott the restaurant chain. The company released a statement, acknowledging what critics had to say about the new logo and remodeling of its locations nationwide.
“If the last few days have shown us anything, it’s how deeply people care about Cracker Barrel. We’re truly grateful for your heartfelt voices,” the statement read, according to The Independent. “You’ve also shown us that we could’ve done a better job sharing who we are and who we’ll always be.”
After a short time, the company reverted to the “Old Timer” logo, which had been part of the Crack Barrel brand for more than 48 years.
“We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have,” the company’s statement mentioned, obtained by the Detroit Free Press. “Our new logo is going away and our ‘Old Timer’ will remain.”
Cracker Barrel CEO speaks out after controversial changes
In an interview with the Glenn Beck Podcast, Masino opened up about the backlash she and the company received from the logo change, Blavity reported.
“All I’ve wanted to do was help people love this brand the way I love this brand, the way Doug loves this brand, the way everyone who works here [does],” Masino said. “The story of America is on the walls. And they thought, when we [changed the logo], that we were saying that we didn’t care about that, and that was not the intent.”
Masino apologized to Cracker Barrel fans over the changes and said she regretted making the move.
“I feel like I’ve been fired by America,” she said. “That’s probably worse.”
The post Cracker Barrel Has New Strict Dining Rule Amid Backlash: Here’s What To Know appeared first on Blavity.
