{"id":57673,"date":"2026-07-28T06:54:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T06:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/57673\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T06:54:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T06:54:27","slug":"julie-masino-cracker-barrel-ceo-who-oversaw-logo-change-steps-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/57673\/","title":{"rendered":"Julie Masino, Cracker Barrel CEO Who Oversaw Logo Change, Steps Down"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cracker Barrel named a new chief executive on Monday, nearly a year after the company\u2019s rebranding effort caused an online backlash<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Julie Masino will step down as the top executive next month, the company said in a statement. David Deno, a former chief of Bloomin\u2019 Brands, will succeed her. Ms. Masino will stay with the company until October.<\/p>\n

Last August, the company briefly changed its original logo \u2014 which featured an \u201cOld-Timer\u201d in overalls sitting in a chair and leaning on a barrel \u2014 to a simpler one that featured just the words Cracker Barrel in a smooth, brown font.<\/p>\n

Some claimed that the design changes removed the logo\u2019s Southern charm and that the establishment long aligned with conservative social norms had succumbed to \u201cwokeness.\u201d The company, based in Lebanon, Tenn., reverted<\/a> to the original logo within days.<\/p>\n

Mr. Deno will also join Cracker Barrel\u2019s board of directors. He was chief executive at Bloomin\u2019 Brands, which includes Outback Steakhouse and other restaurants, from 2019 to 2024. He is currently on the boards of Panera Brands and Krispy Kreme.<\/p>\n

\u201cCracker Barrel is a truly iconic American brand, defined by its unique combination of warm country hospitality, timeless appeal and deep connection with guests across generations,\u201d Mr. Deno said in a statement. \u201cI am honored to lead the Cracker Barrel team and look forward to unlocking the full potential of this remarkable brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokeswoman for Cracker Barrel declined to comment on the executive changes, referring instead to the company\u2019s statement. The restaurant chain said Mr. Deno had been appointed after a \u201ccomprehensive succession planning<\/a> and search process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms. Masino is set to receive more than $4.6 million in severance pay, according to a regulatory filing. Mr. Deno will receive a base salary of $1 million, along with an annual bonus and company equity.<\/p>\n

Same-store sales for Cracker Barrel\u2019s restaurants fell 2.6 percent in the three months that ended on May 1, compared with a year earlier, and foot traffic declined 6.7 percent. Overall revenue fell nearly 3 percent during the quarter, to $797.4 million.<\/p>\n

Ms. Masino joined Cracker Barrel in 2023 after serving as the president of Taco Bell\u2019s international operations. She led the company during its \u201cAll the More\u201d campaign, which in addition to the logo change replaced the restaurant\u2019s wooden, country kitsch aesthetic<\/a> with bright, minimalist walls and crisp d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\n

But many longtime customers lamented the remodel on social media. In one TikTok post<\/a> that was widely shared last year, a user walks through a revamped location with a grim soundtrack and caption: \u201cWhen Cracker Barrel took away the last piece of nostalgia you had left.\u201d<\/p>\n

The response harks back to 2022, when the addition of meatless sausages to the menu also set off a furious online debate<\/a> over values and so-called wokeness.<\/p>\n

In a statement<\/a> last August, Sarah Moore, Cracker Barrel\u2019s chief marketing officer, defended the changes, including a new seasonal menu: \u201cOur story hasn\u2019t changed. Our values haven\u2019t changed. With \u2018All the More,\u2019 we\u2019re honoring our legacy while bringing fresh energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the time, the chain\u2019s value had dropped by almost $100 million<\/a>. On Monday afternoon, after the news of Ms. Masino\u2019s departure, shares of the company\u2019s stock had dropped around 3 percent.<\/p>\n