Cracker Barrel dethroned as Republican diners flee – Business News
Cracker Barrel dropped from the fastest-growing US breakfast chain to final place as Republican prospects fled within the wake of its “woke” brand fiasco — even after it backtracked on its controversial strikes, in line with knowledge shared with The Post.
The Southern-style eating chain – recognized for its chicken-fried steak, biscuits and grits – noticed its growth charge plunge 8% from mid-August to early September, knocking it off its prime spot as the fastest-growing breakfast chain tracked by analysis firm Consumer Edge.
Waffle House, in the meantime, loved a 1% uptick in gross sales growth – taking excessive spot and knocking Cracker Barrel to the underside of the pack — beneath IHOP and tied with Denny’s.
Its share of Republican diners, in comparison with different casual-dining chains, has plummeted about 50 foundation factors, in line with knowledge from Consumer Edge. BACKGRID
Cracker Barrel’s share of GOP diners, in comparison with different casual-dining chains, dropped half a proportion level within the first two weeks of September from the identical period final yr, in line with knowledge from Consumer Edge.
It’s an particularly painful loss for the Tennessee-based eating chain, which is about 30% more depending on its GOP prospects than opponents like Chili’s, Applebee’s, IHOP and Denny’s, in line with the analysis firm.
Cracker Barrel didn’t instantly reply to The Post’s request for remark.
Cracker Barrel – an old-timey chain recognized for its tchotchkes and porch chairs – confronted heated backlash final month from prospects and even President Trump after it revealed a new brand that erased its beloved folksy farmer Uncle Herschel.
Its rebranding marketing campaign additionally included some reworked eating places with brighter white portray and fewer knickknacks, which prospects complained ruined Cracker Barrel’s attraction.
A pointy stock decline shaved more than $100 million from the embattled company’s valuation as traders panicked over the widespread blowback.
Cracker Barrel reversed course on its brand – however it wasn’t enough to forestall the restaurant from shedding a chunk of its market share of GOP diners. Clint Brewer Photography / BACKGRID
Cracker Barrel reversed course on Aug. 26 – however it wasn’t enough to forestall the restaurant from shedding a chunk of its share of GOP diners.
It additionally misplaced some of its market share of Democrat and impartial diners, although this impression was much less pronounced, in line with Consumer Edge.
“Oftentimes, political affiliation is not an interesting demographic variable that our clients care about,” Michael Gunther, head of insights at Consumer Edge, informed The Post.
“Recently, it’s becoming more interesting with what happened with American Eagle [and] Cracker Barrel.”
American Eagle confronted criticism online over its racy denim marketing campaign with Sydney Sweeney, which used the phrase “great genes” as an alternative of “jeans” when discussing the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress – which some critics slammed as a nod to eugenics.
It took some time for the Cracker Barrel backlash to work its means into buyer knowledge.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino introduced the brand reversal in August. FOX News
“It’s pretty clear there was a slight delayed reaction,” Gunther informed The Post.
“It wasn’t like, boom! And that could be also because this is not something people go to every day.”
In a assertion in August, Cracker Barrel thanked prospects “for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel” as it introduced the outdated brand would stay.
Earlier that day, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: “Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before.”
“They got a Billion Dollars worth of free publicity if they play their cards right. Very tricky to do, but a great opportunity,” he wrote, including that it’s time to “Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again.”
