Cracker Barrel To Open Its First 'Fusion Prototype' Efficiency-Focused Restaurant In June

Cracker Barrel is set to open the first iteration of its new restaurant — a spinoff of the popular full-service family restaurant chain — in Morganton, North Carolina, on June 22, the company has confirmed.

The restaurant, described as a "fusion prototype," will reportedly feature updated equipment that will help reduce food waste.

The new concept is part of the company's strategy to "enhance, expand, extend" Cracker Barrel's menu offerings, guest experiences, and demographic reach.

Cracker Barrel currently operates over 600 locations across 42 states.

"We're really excited about the learnings that are going to come from the new design," CEO Sandra Cochran said during a recent earnings call. "That will give us an opportunity to improve new stores going forward. But it will allow us to begin to understand better potential retrofit opportunities."

The company is also in the process of developing a fast-casual restaurant concept, which is slated to open during 2016.