From The Hill: Cracker Barrel is making a “promise” to customers after its new logo sparked backlash from fans of the restaurant chain.
Last week, Cracker Barrel announced that, as part of an ongoing makeover, the chain’s new logo would ditch the eponymous barrel. In the new trimmed-down logo, seen below, the old-timey look of the man with a barrel is gone, as are the words “Old Country Store.” Instead, the new emblem features a simpler design with just “Cracker Barrel” written on a gold background. The shape of the gold background and font have also been changed.
The change had fans – including President Donald Trump – furious. The company’s stock also dropped by $94 million in one day.
The backlash against the once-beloved restaurant chain has been monumental, not only due to the change in logo, but also because the company has begun remodeling their 660 restaurants across the nation with a more modern look, abandoning the old-fashioned homey feel so many customers loved.
The outrage has grown even more with the revelation that the company has been pushing the woke LGBTQ agenda and sponsoring ‘pride’ events.
Cracker Barrel released a statement on their Facebook page Monday morning, in an effort to quiet the growing backlash.
However, the post has already received nearly 9,000 comments, and the majority are still ripping the company to shreds.
The statement from Cracker Barrel reads:
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. You’ve also shown us that we could’ve done a better job sharing who we are and who we’ll always be.
What has not changed, and what will never change, are the values this company was built on when Cracker Barrel first opened in 1969: hard work, faily, and scratch-cooked food made with care. A place where everyone feels at home, no matter where you’re from or where you’re headed.
That’s the Cracker Barrel you’ll always find.
The things people love most about our stores aren’t going anywhere: rocking chairs on the porch, a warm fire in the hearth, peg games on the table, unique treasures in our gift shop, and vintage Americana with antiques pulled straight from our warehouse in Lebanon, Tennessee.
We love seeing how much you care about our “old timer.” We love him too. Uncle Herschel will still be on our menu (welcome back Uncle Herschel’s Favorite Breakfast Platter), on our road signs, and featured in our country store. He’s not going anywhere – he’s family.
While our logo and remodels may be making headlines, our bigger focus is still right where it belongs… in the kitchen and on your plate: serving generous portions of the food you crave at fair prices and doing it with the kind of country hospitality that brightens your days and creates lasting memories.
Meatloaf, chicken n’dumpplins, country fried steak, sides that taste like Sunday supper, and yes, the world’s best pancakes, they’re all still here, with a few new dishes joining the menu. Whether you’re a long-tie fan or a first-time guest, we want you to feel at home around our table.
We also want to be sure Cracker Barrel is here for the next generation of families just as it has been for yours. That means showing up on new platforms and in new ways, but always with our heritage at the heart.
We take that responsibility very seriously. We know we won’t always get everything right the first time, but we’ll keep testing, learning, and listening to our guests and employees. At the end of the day, our promise is simple: you’ll always find comfort, community, and country hospitality here at Cracker Barrel.
Uncle Herschel wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Thank you for caring so much and come see for yourself the country hospitality that makes Cracker Barrel feel like home.
Love, Cracker Barrel
But, folks aren’t buying it… not for one second. Below are just some of the comments pouring in:
Put it back! Put it ALL BACK to the way it was, and just maybe people will believe your sincerity. Until then, it’s just words, and at this point, those words are like nails on a chalk board.
Nobody asked for a remodel for modern dining! A lot of folks go to Cracker Barrel for nostalgia!!!!
It’s not Sunday supper, it’s Sunday dinner which happens right after church. Sunday supper is a bowl of cereal bc you ate so much dinner.
If it works, don’t change it. We go there for the downhome feel. The antiques on the walls are part of that.
His name is Uncle Herschel. First you took his breakfast away, now you remove him. You think bringing the breakfast back is going to save face?
You took him off your sign. Put him back!!!😡
I saw a billboard with the new logo when we left the Tennessee State Fair in Lebanon Saturday night, there was no Uncle Herschel anywhere.
You even changed the wording on the peg games! Who’s feelings are going to be hurt by playing this silly game? 🤪 I guess a sense of humor went out the door, too.
What I loved most is the dark cozy feeling, oil lamps, and antiques on the walls, and you got rid of all 3…
While you’re at it, put the lanterns back on the tables, too.
Even the rocking chairs aren’t the same😭
Stop baking the biscuits, then freezing them and microwaving them!
Many Cracker Barrel locations are in the South, and the country theme was a big part of the appeal. Before making such drastic changes, consider what your core customers want. The food and service needed improvement, but the decor wasn’t broken. Let’s hope you’re not intentionally trying to drive the business into the ground.
Ok so here’s the deal. The food has been subpar for a while, but people still kept coming back. Why? Because for some of us it’s the nostalgia. We long to visit people and places that we can’t anymore, a time that no longer exists. For some of us it’s like stepping back into a time where things were simple. That was amplified by the simple tools and signs on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. We want to see real antiques that real people used in their daily lives and imagine the stories that are attached to them, not some replica that was made in China.
Fire your rebranding dept and go back to what has made Cracker Barrel a great icon. Good food, good service and keep the country store.
You had an iconic logo and you changed it to fit “modern times”. The classic look is what took people back in time so to speak. This ranks right up there when Coca-Cola tried to change their formula in the 80s. It was move that was a major mistake.
Sorry, but you’re trying to fix something that isn’t broken. I’m Done!
READ MORE from The Hill.
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