Cracker Barrel Pushes Back at Reports of 'New Dining Rule'

Cracker Barrel was accused of having a "new dining rule," and it's being mocked online. But the company says wait a minute, the rule isn't new, and it's not exactly what's been reported.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the supposed new dining rule went "down like a stale biscuit." The newspaper called the rule a "recent mandate," adding that it "highlights a new era of ‘travel scrimping’ as companies tighten budgets."

But does Cracker Barrel actually have a new dining rule?

Cracker Barrel Clarified Its Dining Policy After the Wall Street Journal Report

According to USA Today, Cracker Barrel clarified the "rule" after the Wall Street Journal reported that it was requiring traveling employees to only eat at Cracker Barrel.

"A recent mandate at Cracker Barrel highlights a new era of belt-tightening that is stripping work travel of whatever shred of glamour it had left," The Wall Street Journal wrote on X.

"The policy for employees to dine at Cracker Barrel while traveling for business, whenever practical based on location and schedule, is not new," Cracker Barrel told USA Today. "Also, it is not the only place that our employees may eat when on the road, as previously reported."

According to Courier Post Online,the initial report claimed the company "expects employees to eat at Cracker Barrel when traveling, per a report on a leaked memo."

The Wall Street Journal cited a memo that allegedly indicated "that 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." That quote did already contain exceptions due to "location and schedule."

The company did recently change its employee travel policy but told USA Today the change would "further limit reimbursement of alcoholic beverages under the policy."

The Wall Street Journal reported that employees were told, of the alcohol policy, "Exceptions for special occasions must be pre-approved by an E-Team member."

People reacted negatively on social media. "Work trips used to mean perks. Now it’s receipts, limits, and no fun — peak belt-tightening at Cracker Barrel," one page wrote on X.

"Travel is no longer business class and five-star hotels, it's all about saving costs now," wrote another person. But some people sided with the company. "That just makes good cents! Why should they support the competition? (Yes, I intended to use that spelling of cents)," wrote one person.

The dining policy controversy comes on the heels of the company's logo controversy.

Cracker Barrel Previously Scrapped a Logo Change After Customers Revolted

Cracker Barrel scrapped plans to change its iconic logo after customer criticism erupted. The company announced that the "Old Timer" logo would remain.

The company called itself a "proud American institution" when it announced the logo wasn't changing. "The things people love most about our stores aren't going anywhere," the company wrote in a news release.

"We also want to be sure that Cracker Barrel is here for the next generation of families," the company wrote. The company's market value took a hit after the logo controversy.

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