Employees Say Cracker Barrel Served Day-Old Biscuits, Microwaved Meatloaf Amid Cost-Cutting Push
Workers told outlets the chain baked and froze biscuits, reheated meatloaf in microwaves and scaled back kitchen prep as the company weathered backlash over a new logo and remodel plans
Cracker Barrel employees told news outlets that the restaurant chain served day-old biscuits and microwaved meatloaf as part of cost-saving changes to food preparation, allegations that add to a wider public relations crisis that prompted the company to abandon a controversial logo redesign and pause planned store remodels.
Workers who spoke to The New York Post and a TikTok user who posted a viral video described procedures they said were ordered by management: baking biscuits a day ahead and freezing them for reheating in hot boxes, cooking meatloaf in advance and reheating slices in a microwave, and preparing vegetables in pans in an oven rather than in large pots on the stove. The employees linked the changes to staffing cuts for prep cooks.
A veteran cook quoted by The Post said the chain moved away from rolling out fresh bread to speed service and reduce costs, adding that customer complaints about biscuits being "rubbery" or "like a rock" were common. The TikTok user, identified as shaggy_shagg, posted footage of frozen meatloaf at an unidentified Cracker Barrel location and said it was sometimes "still cold" when served.
Employees also told The Post that vegetables once simmered in large pots were now baked the day before in pans, a change they said diminished flavor and texture. The staff attributed the shift in part to a labor shortage after prep cooks were laid off, which they said drove management decisions intended to boost efficiency.
Cracker Barrel has about 650 locations across the United States. The allegations come after the company last month rolled out a revised logo that removed its long-used "old timer" silhouette and barrel design, a move that prompted sharp criticism from loyal customers and some public figures. The company said it listened to guests and reversed course, restoring the traditional logo and announcing it would suspend remodels.
"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," Cracker Barrel said in a statement after the backlash. The company also said it had suspended remodels, adding that restaurants not yet remodeled would not be changed.
The logo episode coincided with a market reaction: the company lost nearly $100 million in market value after the redesign, and shares rose as much as 2.3 percent in after-hours trading when the company announced it would revert to the previous branding. The reshuffle of branding and store plans drew public commentary from former President Donald Trump and Cracker Barrel co-founder Tommy Lowe, both of whom criticized the redesign.
Cracker Barrel Chief Executive Julie Felss Masino took the helm in November 2023. The company did not respond to detailed questions about the food-preparation claims, according to Daily Mail, which reported the employee accounts. Cracker Barrel's public statement focused on the branding and remodel decisions; the company did not provide a separate statement addressing the specific food-preparation practices described by employees.
The accounts from workers add to scrutiny of the chain's operational choices as it balances cost management and guest expectations. The Post and the viral TikTok video were the principal sources of the worker allegations; the company has not publicly confirmed the specific changes described by staff. Daily Mail said it reached out to Cracker Barrel for comment and was awaiting a response.