A CRACKER Barrel employee has revealed the truth behind the popular restaurant chain’s “homestyle cooking” that is pledged to customers.
Kitchen staff and servers have exposed other realities that they have faced working for the company.
The Cracker Barrel employee provided a behind the scenes look at their kitchens and posted it on social media[/caption]
They revealed frozen meatloaves which are allegedly cooked in the microwave[/caption]
They stated that sometimes the meatloaf is even served still cold[/caption]
It comes after the restaurant underwent different controversy for changing their logo[/caption]
In a video posted to social media, one Cracker Barrel staff provided a behind the scenes look at how to food is stored at the restaurant.
It appears filmed inside one of the restaurant’s kitchens, and the footage shows stacks of trays which are allegedly filled with pre-packaged meatloaf.
It comes with the caption “How we serve your meatloaf at Cracker Barrel!”.
The staff member can be heard asking viewers of the video which was posted to X: “Want to know how your meat loaf is cooked?
“We throw it in a microwave and then we serve it you,” they added.
“And sometimes it’s still cold.”
Another X account shared the video and wrote: “Cracker Barrel employees no longer care about their jobs after their woke CEO destroyed the heritage.”
Weight loss influencer Kari Felkamp purportedly read a letter from a Cracker Barrel employee that the chain was being upended by the current CEO Julie Felss Masino who was slashing kitchen jobs and serving “frozen food” to cut on costs.
They suggested a gag order had been placed on employees who have been asked not to speak about how the food is made.
Masino is also claimed to have fired a number of cooks when she came to the company two years ago.
A number of other staffers are said to have spoken out now, and the The New York Post reports them describing changes to the restaurant where “now our food is like fast food”.
Previously, the fired kitchen workers “cooked our country homemade food”, but now “it’s all frozen in a bag off of a truck”.
“We are basically turning into a fast food restaurant,” the letter added.
The employee also revealed significant cuts on restaurant staff and part-time workers who were not able to work 32 hours a week.
This has been linked to the company subsequently not need to offer health insurance at these hours.
Servers who are also unsuccessful in selling enough take-out or “shareable” menu items are having their hours cut, according to the employee who works in a small town.
“We have families to feed and bills to pay,” they stated.
She claimed that Masino “has not only laid off many of her long term employees but now expects the least paid employees to do more”.
The revelations come after the 55-year-old company received some backlash about a new a logo it unveiled last month, which got rid of the iconic barrel and folksy mascot “Uncle Herschel”.
Recent Cracker Barrel Changes
Cracker Barrel has made drastic changes to some of its locations after financial struggles recently.
- New decor – Cracker Barrel is piloting a remodel of its restaurants using a different color palette, updating lighting, offering more comfortable seating, and simplifying decor and fixtures.
- Tweaking prices – Lowering prices at some locations as well as raising prices in others due to the location of the chain.
- New menu items – In more than 10 locations, Cracker Barrel has tested 20 new items, including green chili cornbread and banana pudding.
However, the following week reverted on the matter after President Trump weighed in, and announced the “Old Timer” would be brought back.
The President wrote on his Truth Social: “Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before.
“They got a Billion Dollars worth of free publicity if they play their cards right. Very tricky to do, but a great opportunity.”
Cracker Barrel is reported to have had a call with the White House.
The company then said in a statement: “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.”
The Sun have contacted Cracker Barrel for comment.
