Cracker Barrel to launch a fast casual in 2016

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is developing plans for a new fast casual concept.

Specific details about the concept such as a name and menu information are not yet available from the family-dining company, but Cracker Barrel spokeswoman Janella Escobar said the goal is to open the first store or stores by the end of July 2016.

Fast casual restaurants typically do not offer full table service and are categorized between fast food and casual dining. It's a segment of the dining industry that is gaining speed, led by popular brands such as Chipotle and Panera Bread.

"We believe, and third-party consumer research supports, that the Cracker Barrel brand is the most unique and differentiated brand in full-service dining, with high levels of customer loyalty and satisfaction," Escobar wrote in an email. "We expect our fast casual concept to leverage the strength of our brand while providing a different type of guest experience."
 

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