Cracker Barrel ripped as it half-apologizes for – Business News
Cracker Barrel coughed up a lame apology on social media over its controversial revamp — and obtained slammed by clients in response, with one griping that the restaurant’s beloved “Uncle Herschel” mascot had been “kicked to the curb.”
The chain has ditched its old-timey decor in favor of white paint, fewer tchotchkes and brighter lighting — and has likewise scrubbed mainstays from its brand, together with Uncle Herschel, a folksy farmer carrying overalls which had been half of the design since 1977.
Wall Street’s considerations over the rebrand — which has been ripped by longtime critics as soulless and “woke” — have despatched the stock plummeting 17% over the previous month.
Cracker Barrel issued a assertion on Monday with a “promise” to company. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
“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,” Cracker Barrel insisted in a Monday assertion that was posted on Instagram and Facebook.
“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,” the Tennessee-based company added.
In response, fed-up clients gave Cracker Barrel an earful.
“You kicked Uncle Herschel to the curb. Now you are paying the price. Own it and stop making excuses,” an Instagram person commented.
“Eating Sunday Supper in a place that looks like a car dealership does not say vintage Americana.”
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino has led the restaurant reworking. FOX News
Another person chimed in: “The biggest insult to your customers is acting like you hear them but doing the complete opposite”
Said a third: “I seriously don’t know what the purpose of this post was because you make it very clear that you have heard each of us, and you don’t care. Great choice in leadership right there.”
Yet one other instructed: “Maybe someone can open a new chain, call it Uncle Hershell’s (sic), and decorate it the way Cracker Barrel was, with a gift shop, and everybody will flock there and Cracker Barell (sic) will go under!”
Cracker Barrel’s previous brand included a cracker barrel and Uncle Herschel. Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel’s new brand is smooth and minimal. Cracker Barrel
The company tried to assuage outraged clients, saying it will keep the rocking chairs on its porches, fireplaces, peg video games at tables, knickknacks in reward retailers and antiques across the restaurant.
Last week, Cracker Barrel introduced that Uncle Herschel’s Favorite — a breakfast platter together with two eggs and your alternative of ham, fried catfish fillet, crispy chicken tenders or a New York strip steak — would return within the fall after the longtime menu staple was scrapped in 2022.
Customers weren’t impressed.
“Uncle Herschel would have shown you to the door,” one fumed on Monday.
“The restaurant is failing because YOUR FOOD QUALITY and SERVICE HAS SLIPPED HUGELY! Logo rebranding and tons of white paint are not going to fix that. Get rid of the SYSCO truck that pulls in with all that processed food and start cooking for real!”
Customers eating at an old-style Cracker Barrel restaurant. Universal Images Group through Getty Images
Another blasted the apology as a lesson in “How to write ‘We don’t care what you think’ in 14 paragraphs and make it sound sweet.”
Cracker Barrel – which confronted blowback two years in the past when it swapped out some wood rockers with rainbow ones to have a good time Pride – introduced its plans to transform eating places final summer season.
That got here after CEO Julie Felss Masino admitted the chain is “just not as relevant” as it was once.
It began the $700 million transformation course of throughout its more than 660 eating places in May.
