Cracker Barrel tightens travel policy amid declining sales

Cracker Barrel employees must pay for their own alcohol when traveling for work — and should dine out at the Tennessee-based restaurant chain whenever possible, according to an internal message to staff.

“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,” said the message from Cracker Barrel management, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Cracker Barrel is also reportedly cutting off its traveling workers from booze, restricting alcohol purchases from being expensed.

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“Exceptions for special occasions must be pre-approved,” said the message, also according to the Journal.

However, the policy for employees to dine at Cracker Barrel as much as possible is not new, the company told Fox News Digital. Nor is it the only place that employees may eat when on the road, as previously reported, the company said.

Cracker Barrel no longer allows employees to expense alcohol when traveling for work. (iStock)

The change was to further limit reimbursement of alcoholic beverages under the policy, the company said.

Cracker Barrel added beer and wine to its menu in 2021.

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The policy tweak comes after Cracker Barrel faced scrutiny last year over a botched logo redesign and cosmetic changes to its restaurants that were met with public backlash.

Cracker Barrel added alcohol to its menu back in 2021. (iStock)

Many longtime customers claimed that the restaurant’s food has deteriorated over the years as favorites disappeared from the menu and kitchen shortcuts replaced earlier practices.

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During an investor call in December, Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino said first-quarter results “were below our expectations amid unique and ongoing headwinds” and that “recovery will take time.”

The company reported that sales were down 5.7% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, which ended in October, compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.

The Hamburger Steak is among the returning classic Cracker Barrel menu items. (Cracker Barrel)

Cracker Barrel announced last month that it was bringing back some classic menu items – Hamburger Steak and Eggs in the Basket – to win back customers.

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“Although our recovery will take time, our teams are more committed than ever, and we are confident that we will regain momentum,” Masino told investors in December.