According to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, Cracker Barrel employees are expected to dine at Cracker Barrel restaurants during company road trips, whenever it is practical. In an internal message, the company clarified, “Employees are expected to dine at a Cracker Barrel store for all or the majority of meals while traveling, whenever practical based on location and schedule.” Alcohol purchases during these trips also require prior approval from a supervisor.
The company confirmed the existence of these guidelines, specifying that this policy about travel expense had been effective since June 2024. Cracker Barrel emphasized that employees are allowed to eat at other establishments and stated, “The policy for employees to dine at Cracker Barrel while traveling for business, whenever practical, based on location and schedule, is not new,” in a statement to NBC News. It was clarified that the rule change was mainly to further restrict reimbursement for alcoholic beverages.
This corporate guideline from Cracker Barrel came to light in an article focused on “travelscrimping,” a term used to describe companies cutting travel expenses due to economic constraints. These measures might include asking employees to stay at cheaper accommodations or buy groceries instead of dining out.
Cracker Barrel has faced criticism previously related to its corporate decisions. Last year, the company faced backlash over efforts to change its iconic logo. The original logo featuring the “Old Timer” on a chair with a barrel was proposed to be replaced with a new design deemed “too woke” by former President Donald Trump and others. Following significant feedback from the public, Cracker Barrel reverted to the original logo.
Reflecting on customers’ responses, the company acknowledged, “We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our ‘Old Timer’ will remain.”