Cracker Barrel CEO departs a year after Trump joined backlash over logo change

July 27 (Reuters) - Cracker Barrel CBRL.O on Monday said Julie Masino would step down as its CEO, nearly a year after the company faced criticism from conservatives, including U.S. President Donald Trump, for a short-lived decision to change its decades-old logo.

Here are the details:

• Masino will step down as CEO on August 10 after about three years in the role and will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until October 9.
• Cracker Barrel named restaurant industry veteran David Deno as its new top boss.
• In August 2025, the company faced backlash on social media for its decision to modernize its logo and stores and replace its decades-old "Old-Timer" signage which featured the image of an overalls-clad man known as "Uncle Herschel" leaning against a barrel.
• Cracker Barrel reverted to its old logo and also dropped a plan to roll out a more modern store layout.
• The company said in September 2025 that the backlash had hit store traffic, and forecast annual revenue below estimates.
• Cracker Barrel's shares fell nearly 52% last year, but have doubled so far this year. The stock was down about 4% after the CEO change was announced on Monday.
• Deno was most recently the CEO of Florida-based restaurant chain Bloomin' Brands BLMN.O and has also held senior positions at electronics retailer Best Buy BBY.N as well as Yum Brands YUM.N.
• Last week, Cracker Barrel said it had divested part of its Maple Street Biscuit business, and expected to exceed its core profit outlook for fiscal 2026.