Founding and Expansion
- Cracker Barrel was founded in 1969 by Dan Evins, a representative for Shell Oil.
- The first store was opened in Lebanon, Tennessee.
- The company initially positioned its stores near Interstate Highway exits in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States.
- Cracker Barrel expanded across the country during the 1990s and 2000s.
- As of August 10, 2023, the chain operates 660 stores in 45 states.

Menu and Theme
- Cracker Barrel's menu is based on traditional Southern cuisine.
- The appearance and decor of each location resemble an old-fashioned general store.
- Wooden rocking chairs line the front porch of each store.
- A stone fireplace adds to the cozy atmosphere.
- Decorative artifacts from the local area are displayed throughout the store.

Charitable Activities
- Cracker Barrel engages in charitable activities.
- The company provided assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
- Cracker Barrel also supports injured war veterans.
- The company partners with country music performers for various charitable events.
- These activities contribute to the company's positive social impact.

Controversy and Policy Reversal
- In the early 1990s, Cracker Barrel faced controversy over its hiring policy.
- Founder and CEO Dan Evins implemented a policy that discriminated against individuals with non-heterosexual preferences.
- The company received massive public backlash and faced pressure from shareholders.
- Shareholders, including the New York City Employee Retirement System, threatened to vote out upper management.
- As a result, Cracker Barrel reversed the policy.

Business Operations
- Cracker Barrel is officially known as Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
- The company operates both restaurants and gift stores.
- The corporate offices are located in Lebanon, Tennessee.
- Cracker Barrel stores are strategically positioned near Interstate Highway exits.
- The chain has successfully expanded its presence across the United States.

Cracker Barrel (Wikipedia)

This article is about the restaurant chain. For the cheese brand, see Lactalis. For the cheese brand in Australia, see Warrnambool Cheese and Butter.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., doing business as simply Cracker Barrel, is an American chain of restaurant and gift stores with a Southern country theme. The company was founded by Dan Evins in 1969. Its first store was in Lebanon, Tennessee; the corporate offices are located at a different facility in the same city. The chain's stores were at first positioned near Interstate Highway exits in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States, but expanded across the country during the 1990s and 2000s. As of August 10, 2023^[update], the chain operates 660 stores in 45 states.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

Trade name	Cracker Barrel
Type	Public
Traded as	Nasdaq: CBRL S&P 600 component
ISIN	US22410J1060
Industry	Restaurants
Founded	September 19, 1969; 54 years ago (1969-09-19)
Founder	Dan Evins
Headquarters	Lebanon, Tennessee , United States
Number of locations	660 (2023)
Area served	United States
Key people	William W. McCartten (Director and executive chairman) Julie Felss Masino (President and CEO)
Products	Southern Cuisine (breakfast foods • seafood • chicken platters • Dumplings • Steaks • Kids Menu • Pork Dishes • Salads • Sandwiches • Beef Platters • Desserts)
Services	Food General store
Revenue	US$3.268 billion (FY 2022)
Operating income	US$153 million (FY 2022)
Net income	US$131.88 million (FY 2022)
Total assets	US$2.295 billion (FY 2022)
Total equity	US$2.295 billion (FY 2022)
Number of employees	73,000 (2022)
Subsidiaries	Logan's Roadhouse (1999–2006) Rocking Chair, Inc. (2002–present) Maple Street Biscuit Company (2019–present)
Website	www.crackerbarrel.com

Cracker Barrel's menu is based on traditional Southern cuisine, with appearance and decor designed to resemble an old-fashioned general store. Each location features a front porch lined with wooden rocking chairs, a stone fireplace, and decorative artifacts from the local area. Cracker Barrel partners with country music performers. It engages in charitable activities, such as its assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina and injured war veterans.

During the early 1990s, the company became the subject of controversy when founder and CEO Dan Evins instituted an official company policy prohibiting the hiring of any individual whose "sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values." Following massive public backlash and large shareholders such as the New York City Employee Retirement System threatening to vote out the entirety of upper management, the company reversed the policy.