Overview
- A leaked memo reported by The Wall Street Journal said traveling staff are expected to eat at Cracker Barrel for all or most meals when practical, based on location and schedule.
- Cracker Barrel now states the guidance is not new and that employees may eat elsewhere, emphasizing that the recent change focused on tightening alcohol reimbursement.
- Alcohol purchases on business trips are generally not reimbursed without prior approval from senior leadership, with workers otherwise paying out of pocket.
- The memo also followed broader directives to curb travel spending, reflecting ongoing cost controls after revenue fell 5.7% year over year in the quarter ending Oct. 31, 2025.
- The renewed scrutiny comes after a 2025 rebrand backlash that coincided with a sharp market-value drop and continued pressure to stabilize traffic and sales.