What is Cracker Barrel’s new dining rule? Leaked memo outlines limits on food and alcohol expenses for employees

Cracker Barrel has introduced a new internal policy that limits where its employees can eat while traveling on company business, according to a leaked internal memo obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Cracker barrel new dining rule applies at the corporate level and places fresh restrictions on employee expenses during work trips.

As per the memo, “employees are expected to dine at a Cracker Barrel store for all or the majority of meals while traveling, whenever practical based on location and schedule.” Traditionally, employees on business trips are provided with a company card to cover expenses such as food and transportation. However, under the new rule, employees may have to cover certain food costs themselves if they choose to eat elsewhere, the-sun explains.

The policy also tightens rules around alcohol purchases. Employees will no longer be reimbursed for alcohol bought during business travel unless they receive special approval from senior executives. 'Exceptions for special occasions must be pre-approved by an E-Team member,' the Daily Mail quotes the internal memo.


Last August, Cracker Barrel unveiled a new logo and removed its iconic mascot, Uncle Herschel, the man leaning on a barrel, as part of a minimalist redesign. The move sparked immediate backlash, with MAGA influencers branding the update as “woke.” US President Donald Trump also publicly urged the restaurant chain to return to its classic branding.

Cracker barrel new dining rule comes at a time when the company is facing layoffs, shrinking sales, and fallout from its rebranding push, which erased close to $100 million in market value at that time.