FOOD NEWS
What Cracker Barrel Doesn't Want Customers To Know
By Jacob Smith
In 1991, Cracker Barrel introduced a policy that prevented members of the LGBTQ+ community from being hired, and they fired employees based on their sexuality.
LGBTQ+ Staff
The policy was rescinded a few weeks after being introduced, and Cracker Barrel has since implemented various training schemes focused on diversity and inclusion.
A 2004 DOJ investigation of 50 Cracker Barrel restaurants found that there were various instances of discrimination against black customers.
Black Customers & Staff
At a similar time, approximately 12 Cracker Barrel employees claimed that Black employees were segregated from white employees and were often given non-customer-facing roles.
Furthermore, a former Cracker Barrel employee revealed in a TikTok video that some Cracker Barrel employees refer to Black customers by the code word 'Canadians.'
In 2020, customer Tamra Hawkins visited a Cracker Barrel in East Windsor, Connecticut, and took a video of a noose hanging from the ceiling.
Inappropriate Décor
After public outcry, the offensive item was removed from the store, resulting in a multi-million dollar redecorating plan that encompassed every Cracker Barrel establishment.
Cracker Barrel once again made headlines when it fired employee Joe Koblenzer for giving a homeless man a corn muffin and condiments free of charge.
Fired Kind Employee
Giving away free food was against company policy, but over 5,500 people signed a petition demanding that Koblenzer be rehired, resulting in bad press for Cracker Barrel.
At the height of its popularity, the hit reality TV series "Duck Dynasty" ended up collaborating with many brands, and one of those brands was Cracker Barrel.
Duck Dynasty
However, when cast member Phil Robertson made several anti-gay comments, Cracker Barrel announced that it would pull some of the "Duck Dynasty" merchandise from its stores.
Loyal customers protested this move, which caused Cracker Barrel to backtrack on its original comment, resulting in an apology to its patrons on its Facebook page.