India, Aug. 27 -- Cracker Barrel has reversed course on its rebranding effort after more than a week of intense backlash to its new logo design, which many customers felt abandoned the chain's Americana roots.
The restaurant announced Tuesday it will retain its original logo featuring the rustic barrel and "Uncle Herschel," the overalls-clad figure that has been central to the brand since 1977.
The controversy began when CEO Julie Felss Masino unveiled a sleek gold-and-brown shield logo as part of a $700 million modernization push that included revamped menus and redesigned dining rooms. But critics, including conservative commentators and political activists, accused the company of "erasing tradition" and bowing to "woke branding." Onlin...