Cracker Barrel clarifies viral employee dining rule policy

Cracker Barrel clarifies viral employee dining rule policy
Portrait of Melina KhanMelina Khan
USA TODAY
Feb. 3, 2026, 12:23 p.m. ET

Deeper
Dive
BETA
Which retailers now offer grocery delivery like Costco and Walmart?

What is the new employee travel guideline on alcohol reimbursement at Cracker Barrel?

How did Cracker Barrel's logo controversy affect its 2025 sales?

Which retailers now offer grocery delivery like Costco and Walmart?

What's making headlines today?

Do Cracker Barrel employees have to eat at Cracker Barrel restaurants while traveling? Not exactly.

After a Jan. 30 report in The Wall Street Journal said Cracker Barrel is pushing its staff to only eat at its locations when traveling, the chain said the policy is not a requirement.

"The policy for employees to dine at Cracker Barrel while traveling for business, whenever practical based on location and schedule, is not new. Also, it is not the only place that our employees may eat when on the road, as previously reported," Cracker Barrel said in a statement to USA TODAY...