Cracker Barrel | Diversity Employer

Our Story

Rising above America’s Interstate highways, a familiar sign greets travelers and local communities alike. Eggs break, biscuits bake, the scent of homestyle cooking rises. A cash register dings, chairs rock, checkers pass the time.

In 1969, a Tennessee man named Dan Evins saw an unmet need. The Interstate was expanding—connecting people to new places—but people on the move couldn’t count on a consistent, quality place to stop along the way. To stretch their legs, refuel, and find a good meal at a fair price. Evins had a vision to build an old country store to meet their needs—a place that preserved the ingredients of country life to share with travelers on the road and families from nearby.

Fast forward to today and you’ll find that Cracker Barrel is a strong and vibrant business, grounded by a clear mission. Our brand is about being a home-away-from-home for everyone we welcome to our table. In some ways, it’s about coming home to the charm of a simpler time and place. But our business doesn’t stand still. We strive to strike a thoughtful balance between preserving all the little things that make us special while making changes that tomorrow’s guests will expect.

Our Mission

Pleasing People is not just about setting a great meal in front of our guests, but serving them with warmth. It’s about welcoming guests to sit near our hearth, rekindle connections, and rejuvenate the spirit. It’s about a setting and décor that invites people to step back into a less distracted time in America. And among us – the people who work at Cracker Barrel – it’s about values like kindness and decency, respect and humility passed down from the start.

Indeed, our people bring our mission to life. We are committed to hiring people who understand what goes into serving others—and once on the job, we provide them with the opportunity to grow their skills and grow with our company. Make no doubt; our people are our greatest asset.

Pleasing People and making guests feel the way they do each time they dine and shop with us requires care and precision. Every detail, no matter how small, is important to making a big and lasting impression. Details like lighting our lamps at 5 p.m. every afternoon – in every store. The way the peg games on every table are made by the same Tennessee company in just the same way, store by store. The way our 100% pure natural syrup is served warm in an individual glass bottle for every guest. Or the fact that you’ll always find warmth around our fireplace at the first chill of fall. Our emphasis on operational excellence – doing things right, and doing them consistently – coupled with our methodical focus on hiring, training and retaining dedicated people has enabled us to continually expand while maintaining the quality and experience that guests expect.

Diversity and Inclusion at Cracker Barrel

Everyone Feels At Home

"As we say in our People Promise, Cracker Barrel values what everyone brings to the table. We are committed to hiring, developing and retaining diverse talent that not only reflects the communities we serve but enriches our company and each other.

--Cracker Barrel CEO"

We have a responsibility to live up to our mission of Pleasing People each day, ensuring that every member of our team and every guest feels at home, feels cared for like family, and feels like they belong. Also guiding our way is the sense of belonging we strive to deliver as part of our People Promise.

Our teams work hard to create a culture of hospitality that’s welcoming, respectful and inclusive to everyone who walks through our doors. Our food and decor celebrate warm memories of the past, and our inclusive culture and beliefs help us make way for an even brighter future, together. Discrimination, either overt or through unconscious bias, has no place at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

At Cracker Barrel, we believe it’s impossible to take care of our guests without taking care of our employees first. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) exist to do just that – for employees to feel valued, respected, included and connected through a wide range of programs, events, and community outreach projects based on shared interests or aspects of diversity – while helping Cracker Barrel advance our business.

Currently, there are six ERGs in Cracker Barrel:

LGBT Alliance
Promoting LGBT Awareness and Building Workplace Inclusion

United Cultural Awareness Network (UCAN)
Focused on enhancing multi-cultural experiences, this ERG was developed and is led by African American, Hispanic, and Latino employees.

Women’s Connect
Inspiring Women Leaders

Veteran & Military Volunteers (VERG)
Supporting employees and brand initiatives by providing Veteran-centric consultation and support to recruiting, retention and marketing programs.

B-Well
Improving the employee experience by sponsoring health and wellness activities that nurture employees’ physical, emotional, financial and intellectual wellbeing.

Millennial ERG (MERGE)
Growing Millennial Talent and Strengthening the Cracker Barrel Brand