Overview

• Cracker Barrel said Monday it could have communicated the change better and stressed that Uncle Herschel will stay on menus, road signs and in stores, with core values unchanged.
• Leaders defended the redesign as research-driven, saying most feedback has been positive and describing online critics as a vocal minority; a spokesperson cited 87% favorable responses in testing.
• The update replaces the longtime character-and-barrel mark with a minimalist, text‑first logo and comes alongside remodeled dining rooms, an updated menu and the “All the More” campaign.
• Public reaction has been highly politicized, with conservative activists linking the move to past DEI ties and media figures on both left and right weighing in, including MSNBC hosts dismissing the outrage.
• Brand experts told CBS News the change undercut the chain’s heritage and story, even as the company pursues a broader modernization to attract younger customers after years of slowing growth.