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Cracker Barrel hires Herschel, fake apologies, and AI will kill us by 2036
Description
Story of the Week (DR):
Cracker Barrel CEO is out after MAGA backlash to "Uncle Herschel" logo change MM
Before Julie Masino was brought in, Cracker Barrel was facing a slow-moving existential crisis:
Their primary core customer base (older generations and rural highway travelers) was naturally shrinking, and younger diners were simply not replacing them.
Kitchen tech, supply chains, and digital ordering lag behind competitors like Texas Roadhouse or Olive Garden.
Some great fake populism from Fox: Cracker Barrel to pay for outgoing CEO’s security, $4.6M severance after failed rebrand
Cracker Barrel names David Deno CEO
Burger King
Yum! Brands and Pizza Hut for 15 years, including serving as CFO and COO.
Quiznos CEO.
Best Buy: Served as President of Asia and CFO for Best Buy's International Division
Bloomin' Brands for 12 years: CEO, CFO and Chief Administrative Officer
Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Bonefish Grill
Board Memberships
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (2016-)
Panera Brands (2024-): Audit Committee Chair
Krispy Kreme (2016-)
Bloomin' Brands (2019–2024)
Peet's Coffee (2006-2012)
Macalester College: Former Chair of the Board of Trustees (1998-2022).
From Cracker Barrel to Boeing, Companies Are Turning to Retired CEOs
These retired CEOs are being hired to be "fixers." They are brought in to cut costs, repair supply chains, restore investor confidence, a