Fox Information contributor Liz Peek argues Cracker Barrel’s emblem change was pointless on ‘The Backside Line.’
They’re shaking issues up.
Steak ‘n Shake is taking extra pictures at Cracker Barrel after the shop’s disastrous rebranding, in what’s changing into a supersized meals struggle.
Cracker Barrel confronted widespread backlash after unveiling a brand new, modernized emblem that ditched its longtime imagery. The simplified emblem featured solely the corporate’s identify in black lettering over a yellow barrel form. Lacking was the picture of “The Previous Timer” — an aged man leaning on a barrel — that has been a part of Cracker Barrel’s branding since 1977.
A not too long ago revealed redesign of restaurant interiors additionally upset loyal prospects. The chain swapped its kitschy Americana knickknacks for a minimalist, fashionable aesthetic, a change that additional stoked buyer outrage.
CRACKER BARREL CEO SERVES UP LEFTOVER CORPORATE BRANDING TO UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS
Steak ‘N Shake has continued to assault Cracker Barrel on social media.
Steak ‘N Shake jumped on the anti-Cracker Barrel bandwagon by mercilessly lambasting the corporate on social media, and calling for CEO Julie Felss Masino to be fired of their newest missive towards the beleaguered “Previous Nation Retailer.”
In an X publish Tuesday, Steak ‘N Shake launched a picture of a MAGA-style crimson hat with the phrase “Fireplace Cracker Barrel CEO” printed on the crown. The publish claimed the hat can be on sale quickly. Steak ‘N Shake didn’t return Fox Information Digital’s request for remark and didn’t affirm if the hat would really be on sale.
One other crimson hat posted by Steak ‘n Shake options the slogan “Biglari was proper about all the pieces,” a takeoff on a preferred Trump marketing campaign hat. Sardar Biglari is the CEO of Steak ‘n Shake and one in all Cracker Barrel’s largest traders. Fox Enterprise reported that Biglari lobbied arduous towards Cracker Barrel’s rebranding efforts.
“The plan the Board has adopted includes reworking the items with new cubicles and banquettes, which haven’t been a part of retailer interiors up to now. But the issue lies not within the seating however in getting extra folks to take a seat in it. We don’t imagine altering the furnishings and altering the decor are going to alter the Firm’s trajectory or clear up the Firm’s underlying downside of declining site visitors,” Biglari wrote in a scathing 7-page 2024 letter to Cracker Barrel shareholders.
CRACKER BARREL DISMISSES CRITICS AS ‘VOCAL MINORITY’ WHILE RIVAL RESTAURANT ADDS TO BACKLASH
The Steak ‘n Shake CEO went on to slam the Cracker Barrel board as out of contact and unskilled in enterprise. (Photograph by Paul Weaver/SOPA Photos/LightRocket by way of Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
The Steak ‘n Shake CEO went on to slam the Cracker Barrel board as out of contact and unskilled in enterprise.
“We imagine the questionable transformation plan is indicative of a poorly constituted board that can’t relate to the Cracker Barrel model or its prospects. It lacks turnaround expertise, and is critically lacking the ability set wanted to deal with the underlying enterprise challenges,” he wrote.
Steak ‘N Shake’s posts towards Cracker Barrel didn’t finish with the mocking crimson hats. In one other publish Tuesday, the quick meals joint posted a screenshot of President Trump’s recommendation for Cracker Barrel to return to its previous, and once more referred to as for the Cracker Barrel CEO to be fired.
“The woke CB administration has even much less competence than your predecessor. The CEO wants to listen to ‘You are Fired’ from her board,” the publish stated.
When information of Cracker Barrel’s rebranding controversy first broke, Steak ‘N Shake waded into the controversy to criticize the chain for allegedly abandoning its heritage.
“Generally, folks wish to change issues simply to place their very own persona on issues. At CB, their objective is to simply delete the persona altogether. Therefore, the elimination of the “old-timer” from the signage. Heritage is what received Cracker Barrel this far, and now the CEO needs to simply scrape all of it away,” Steak ‘N Shake posted on Aug. 21.
Cracker Barrel didn’t return Fox Information Digital’s requests for remark.
Cracker Barrel’s inventory took a dive when the controversy erupted. On Monday, the corporate misplaced $143 million in market worth.
Steak ‘n Shake CEO Sardar Biglari is one in all Cracker Barrel’s prime traders and lobbied closely towards the rebrand. (JIM WATSON/AFP by way of Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Cracker Barrel introduced on Tuesday that it will scrap plans for the brand new emblem and maintain the previous one.
“We thank our company for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We stated we’d hear, and we have now. Our new emblem goes away and our “Previous Timer” will stay,” Cracker Barrel wrote.
Steak ‘n Shake responded to the information by tweeting, “Brand is a symptom of an even bigger downside! The $700 million rework is insane! It is bland, soulless, and an pointless waste of cash. As a substitute, use this cash to maintain costs all the way down to help American households. And whilst you’re at it, return to creating recent biscuits every single day. Fireplace the CEO!”
