Kitchen workers at Cracker Barrel will undergo additional training as the chain prepares to roll out several new menu items for the holidays.
The 660-unit family-dining chain on Monday announced an “enhanced training program” for general managers, kitchen production staff and grill cooks aimed at ensuring the quality of both classic recipes and new holiday dishes.
Cracker Barrel is working to recover after a new logo and remodel package sparked fierce online backlash in late August.
Though it walked back both the logo and the remodels, the outcry took a toll on the chain’s traffic. Transactions declined 8% following the logo launch in August, and are expected to remain down by 4% to 7% for the next 12 months.
In an effort to right the ship, Cracker Barrel is refocusing on food quality, customer experience and its heritage as a nostalgic, all-American brand. It has resumed baking biscuits fresh daily, for instance, following reports that it had switched to freezing and reheating them. And now it is doubling down on kitchen execution with more training.
“The trainings will ensure passionate Cracker Barrel teams are abundantly prepared to bring cherished dishes to life—and directly to your table—each and every time,” the company said in a press release.
More training was already part of Cracker Barrel’s three-year, $700 million turnaround plan under CEO Julie Masino. In addition to new branding, Cracker Barrel had been working to improve consistency and execution in its restaurants. It switched from batch cooking to prepping food closer to when it was ordered, which made things easier on staff. And it was seeing an impact. In September, it reported a 19-point improvement in hourly turnover as a result of those investments.
The latest round of training comes ahead of the winter holidays, which are typically a busy time for Cracker Barrel. And it aligns with the launch of several seasonal menu items.
Those include Country Fried Turkey, Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, Turkey Sausage, and Broccoli Cheese Casserole, all of which are returning to the menu, and a new Breakfast Burger featuring a beef patty topped with bacon, a sunny-side-up egg, two slices of American cheese and Cracker Barrel’s Hashbrown Casserole.
Cracker Barrel is also bringing back heat-and-serve Thanksgiving feasts for large groups. They start at $114.99, the same price as last year.
“The holidays are a time to celebrate and make lasting memories with the people that matter to us most, and nothing brings people together like a scratch-made, comforting meal,” said Thomas Yun, Cracker Barrel's recently re-hired VP of menu strategy and innovation. “At Cracker Barrel, we love being a place where folks can focus on their loved ones—whether they're joining us in-restaurant for a delicious meal with a heaping side of our signature country hospitality or setting the table with one of our convenient Heat & Serve meals.”
Cracker Barrel’s stock is down more than 37% since unveiling its new logo on Aug. 19.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.