Cracker Barrel is parting ways with the CEO whose rebrand attempt nearly a year ago sparked a customer revolt that the company still hasn’t shaken.
The Lebanon, Tennessee-based chain said Monday that CEO Julie Masino will step down next month, ending a tenure that survived a shareholder vote just eight months ago only to be undone by sales that never bounced back.
David Deno will take over as CEO on Aug. 10. Ms. Masino will remain with the company in an advisory role until Oct. 9. Mr. Deno previously led Bloomin’ Brands, parent of Outback Steakhouse, from 2019 to 2024, and held executive roles at Best Buy and Yum Brands, which owns KFC and Taco Bell.
Ms. Masino’s trouble began in August, when Cracker Barrel unveiled a simplified logo as part of a broader push to modernize the 660-restaurant chain and attract younger diners. The backlash was swift, and the company quickly reversed course. But the damage lingered: Same-store sales fell 1.8% in the fiscal quarter that ended May 1, and shares dropped 4% Monday morning.
In November, shareholders voted to keep Ms. Masino in place despite pressure from activist investor Sardar Biglari, who argued the board was “out of touch with Cracker Barrel’s customer base.” Board member Gilbert Davila lost his own reelection bid amid the fallout and resigned.
Read more:
• Cracker Barrel CEO steps down a year after logo debacle
This article was constructed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published by a member of The Washington Times’ AI News Desk team. The contents of this report are based solely on The Washington Times’ original reporting, wire services, and/or other sources cited within the report. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Steve Fink, Director of Artificial Intelligence, at sfink@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
