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Cracker Barrel is getting ready to open a catering-only ghost kitchen, expand Maple Street Biscuit Company in 2021Cracker Barrel is getting ready to open a catering-only ghost kitchen, expand Maple Street Biscuit Company in 2021

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. reported a 39.2% decrease in same-store sales as full-service dining begins the slow climb back up from COVID-19-related challenges

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

September 15, 2020

3 Min Read
Cracker Barrel earnings
Cracker Barrel has many short and long-term goals amid sales challenges.Cracker Barrel

Joanna Fantozzi

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. is hopping on the ghost kitchen trend train, as the family-dining chain confirmed in a Q4 earnings call on Tuesday that they are looking to convert one of their restaurants in Indianapolis to a catering-only kitchen to handle large-scale catering orders, some individual third-party delivery orders, and to supplement surrounding store needs for off-premise during busy times, like during the holidays. Cracker Barrel will be testing this new catering-only kitchen, in addition to a grab-and-go format, in 2021.

“People use the term ‘ghost kitchen’ to mean a lot of different things,” CEO Sandra Cochran said. “We’re thinking about this in terms of opportunity for Cracker Barrel [….] the cateri...

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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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