August 28, 2025

Cracker Barrel, the famous Southern-style restaurant chain, faced a big surprise after changing its logo. The new logo dropped the famous "Old Timer" figure—a man sitting by a barrel—and replaced it with a plain text design. But this simple change created a huge uproar! Fans and social media users were quick to express their anger. The restaurant is loved for its charming, old-fashioned feel, and removing the iconic figure seemed like losing its soul. Even former President Donald Trump joined the party, urging Cracker Barrel to "go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before," in a Truth Social post. The backlash was so strong that Cracker Barrel’s stock took a dive, plunging over 12% in a single day. The company quickly realized its mistake. They announced with warmth and honesty, "We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our 'Old Timer' will remain." This reversal made quite a splash, and shares jumped over 8% right after the announcement! Trump cheered the change, saying, "Congratulations 'Cracker Barrel' on changing your logo back to what it was. All of your fans very much appreciate it." The brand acknowledged, "If the last few days have shown us anything, it’s how deeply people care about Cracker Barrel. You’ve also shown us that we could’ve done a better job sharing who we are and who we’ll always be." Founded in 1969 in Lebanon, Tennessee, Cracker Barrel now has over 600 locations across the US, famous for its welcoming porch with rocking chairs and a charming gift shop. Inside, guests enjoy beloved Southern comfort food like mashed potatoes, hash brown casserole, and macaroni and cheese. David Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision PR Group, called the rebranding a "flop," saying the old logo reflected the "southern, whimsical atmosphere in the stores." In the end, Cracker Barrel stayed true to its roots. They said, "At Cracker Barrel, it's always been – and always will be – about serving up delicious food, warm welcomes, and the kind of country hospitality that feels like family. As a proud American institution, our 70,000 hardworking employees look forward to welcoming you to our table soon."

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Tags: Cracker barrel, Logo change, Donald trump, Branding backlash, Restaurant, Southern hospitality,