Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FLASHBACK: Cracker Barrel CEO says brand isn't relevant and needs a new plan. Here are 3 changes coming soon.
CBS News ^ | May 24, 2024 | Aimee Picchi

Posted on 08/22/2025 10:26:33 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Cracker Barrel has long been known for its combination of rustic charm and country dishes like biscuits and gravy. But its new CEO said that the old approach isn't working any longer — and she's planning some major changes.

"We're just not as relevant as we once were," Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino said on a May 16 conference call to discuss her plans to update the restaurants.

Masino, a former Taco Bell executive who stepped into the role of Cracker Barrel CEO in August, said the company "has lost some of its shine" and needs a "transformation" to continue to appeal to its current customer base and draw new diners. Cracker Barrel's sales have flatlined, with revenue for its most recent quarter unchanged at $935.4 compared with a year earlier, while its stock has tumbled 40% so far in 2024.

Its challenges range the gamut from prices to menu options, she added, citing a recent in-house study that compares Cracker Barrel with its competitors, based on food, experience, value and convenience. To be sure, Cracker Barrel isn't alone in struggling to keep customers coming back, as other food chains have recently reported problems with convincing inflation-weary consumers to return. But the company notes other concerns.

"[W]e are not leading in any area," Masino said. "[T]he reality is we've lost some market share, especially at dinner."

The company is now planning to make several changes to help refresh the brand and bring back its customers.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Food; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: budlight; crackerbarrel; dei; firejuliemasino; girlboss; gowokegobroke; juliefelssmasino; juliemasino; lowertheprices
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-135 next last
To: MinorityRepublican

Masino, a former Taco Bell executive....


I think I see the problem.


61 posted on 08/23/2025 4:13:53 AM PDT by nesnah (Infringe - act so as to limit or undermine [something]; encroach on)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981

“...You could claim the same about Obama but that would not be true either. This is deliberate....”

Exactly. She’s a puppet and knows exactly what she’s been sent to do...


62 posted on 08/23/2025 4:22:16 AM PDT by lgjhn23 ("On the 8th day, Satan created the progressive liberal to destroy all the good that God created...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Aria

I used to directly work for one of the women on this list. And she’s a black woman no less. But I will say she was extremely competent.


63 posted on 08/23/2025 4:23:21 AM PDT by bigdaddy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Wake. Woke. Broke.


64 posted on 08/23/2025 4:30:26 AM PDT by bigbob (If thou doth eff around, thou wilt findeth out)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinB

Recently I was watching a video on formerly popular restaurants that no longer exist or barely exist anymore. I recognized almost all of them.

We actually have one of the few remaining ponderosas left near us, and a captain D’s( which is great, not near as greasy and they promote at the drive through that your meal will take some time to prepare because they only make the food as it is ordered, and food is always hot)

Almost everyone of them ceased to exist because of bad management, often the companies were bought by another company that had no idea how to run a restaurant, and CB seems to be following that pattern

Probably going to drop the sour dough bread and biscuits and gravy and replace with kale and fake meat….😂

Only thing left is to get mulvany as spokes person, works every time 😎🤡


65 posted on 08/23/2025 4:33:50 AM PDT by blitz128
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: HIDEK6

Most CEOs are the same megalomaniac narcissists with no regard for anything outside of themselves.

Very few have any actual entrepreneurial ability and the best most can ever accomplish is not screwing up something that already works.

Put them in charge of a struggling enterprise that needs change and all you will do is hasten its downfall.

And women bring another complication: they tend to be highly conforming so they usually wind up making a product or institution like everything else in that market. As you can see with what is happening with Cracker Barrel that turns it into just another bland corporate offering with nothing to distinguish it from any other.


66 posted on 08/23/2025 4:48:55 AM PDT by hopespringseternal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy

Women run Yeungling Brewing Company. I can’t think of a better managed company.


67 posted on 08/23/2025 4:51:30 AM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) "Diggin the scene with a gangster lean" (Mayfield, Curtis) )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I’m no business executive but if your company has become “irrelevant” perhaps you should try advertising. When is the last time you saw a C.B. ad? I can’t recall ever seeing one.


68 posted on 08/23/2025 4:52:50 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (The DemocRATic party is a treasonous America hating cult.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
When you put this in charge of your old country diner company. Hahahahaha.


69 posted on 08/23/2025 4:53:06 AM PDT by Vision (“Our Democracy” means "Our Slush Fund." The Left is hate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

If they stopped using pre-cooked food, a practice that started during COVID, their customer base might return.


70 posted on 08/23/2025 4:55:11 AM PDT by yuleeyahoo (“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” - the deep-state)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HIDEK6

Yep - she’s an idiot and Cracker Barrel is nuts to have hired her....maybe she hasn’t noticed that, around lunch time, most Cracker Barrel parking lots are full and there’s lines outside the door.... but she’s gonna “fix” it....


71 posted on 08/23/2025 4:57:37 AM PDT by trebb (So many fools - so little time...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MayflowerMadam

-——“I can make better at home”———

“””””I can, too. I just don’t want to. Every day. For the rest of my life.”””””

Love that clean, simple answer.


72 posted on 08/23/2025 5:00:28 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Vision

If those glasses were designed to make the wearer look intelligent then I don’t mind sayin’...They need more work.


73 posted on 08/23/2025 5:04:16 AM PDT by equaviator (Nobody's perfect. That's why they put pencils on erasers!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

They need to dump the new CEO and fix their buggy online ordering ap. The menu and food is good. Restaurant’s nationwide are suffering, and not just Cracker Barrel.


74 posted on 08/23/2025 5:06:44 AM PDT by eastexsteve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HIDEK6

Check out CBRL’s institutional ownership.

She was put there to do exactly what she’s doing.


75 posted on 08/23/2025 5:10:19 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

The self licking ice cream cone, management team.


76 posted on 08/23/2025 5:11:49 AM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) "Diggin the scene with a gangster lean" (Mayfield, Curtis) )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

“Masino, a former Taco Bell executive….”

I think I see the problem.

L


77 posted on 08/23/2025 5:16:03 AM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gnome1949

Country-folksy, diner comfort food. It is supposed to be plentiful, uninspiring, and common.


78 posted on 08/23/2025 5:17:10 AM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) "Diggin the scene with a gangster lean" (Mayfield, Curtis) )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

She could be correct, because the customers are probably aging out. However, the solution is not to eliminate the heritage of the company but to offer new things in the style of what made Cracker Barrel famous, down home cooking.
__________________________
Does anyone know what good old home cooking is anymore?


79 posted on 08/23/2025 5:31:01 AM PDT by iontheball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MayflowerMadam

Well, that option will disappear since RV’s pollution is causing climate change! But BLM can practice for their next “protest” in the parking lot…. That will increase business!


80 posted on 08/23/2025 5:34:58 AM PDT by Lockbox (politicians, they all seemed like game show host to me.... Sting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-135 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson