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Cracker Barrel Q2 same-store sales fall almost 22%; company begins to test virtual brandsCracker Barrel Q2 same-store sales fall almost 22%; company begins to test virtual brands

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store reported a challenging second quarter as COVID-19 spikes caused more closures and restrictions around the holidays

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

February 23, 2021

3 Min Read
Cracker Barrel earnings
Cracker Barrel's off-premise sales continue to grow as dining room closures affect performance.Cracker Barrel

Joanna Fantozzi

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. reported a same-store sales decrease of 21.9% for the second quarter ended Jan. 29, though off-premise sales grew 78% and now encompass nearly a third of total sales, the company said in an earnings call Tuesday. While the Lebanon, Tenn.-based family-dining chain expects to see modest improvements in the first quarter of 2021, the second quarter was challenged by increased COVID-related dining room closures and restrictions as cases spiked again around the country and travel again significantly decreased.

Cracker Barrel CEO Sandra Cochran also said that the company was continuing to invest in their first ghost kitchen in Indianapolis, which they first reported on in fall 2020. While th...

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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