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Cracker Barrel same-store sales growth improves, but still negative, as off-premise expands to 25% of restaurant salesCracker Barrel same-store sales growth improves, but still negative, as off-premise expands to 25% of restaurant sales

Cracker Barrel’s Q1 same-store sales improved to negative 16.4% from last quarter, driven by dining-room capacity, new menu items, and the growth of off-premise

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

December 3, 2020

2 Min Read
Cracker Barrel earnings
Cracker Barrel is still struggling, but off-premise sales has led to their steady improvement as the pandemic continues.Cracker Barrel

Joanna Fantozzi

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.’s Q1 2021 same-store sales growth is still negative at -16.4%, but the Lebanon, Tenn.-based family-dining chain is seeing marked improvement from last quarter’s -39.2%, driven by the success of their off-premise options and new menu items, as well as increased dining room capacity, the company said in a quarterly earnings call Thursday.

The demand for off-premise options — including third-party delivery, takeout and curbside pickup — “remains strong,” Cracker Barrel CEO Sandra Cochran said in Thursday’s earnings call, as same-store sales off-premise growth increased 122% for the first quarter ended Oct. 30, compared to the same quarter last year, and off-premise now represents about 25...

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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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