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Cracker Barrel's Q3 2025 Earnings: Navigating Contradictions in Pricing, Labor Costs, and Traffic Trends
Generated by AI AgentEarnings Decrypt
Thursday, Jun 5, 2025 1:29 pm ET1min read
Pricing strategy and tariff pressure, labor cost management and efficiency, pricing strategy and impact on average check, traffic trends and strategic focus, G&A expense management are the key contradictions discussed in Old Country Store's latest 2025Q3 earnings call.
Revenue and Sales Trends:
- Cracker Barrel reported total revenue of $821.1 million for Q3, up 0.5% from the prior year quarter.
- Restaurant revenue increased by 1.2% to $679.3 million, while retail revenue decreased by 2.7% to $141.8 million.
- The growth in restaurant revenue was driven by positive comparable store restaurant sales and strategic pricing.
Operational and Labor Improvements:
- The company achieved a significant improvement in hourly turnover by approximately 14 percentage points compared to the prior year quarter.
- Labor and related expenses were 37.1% of revenue, a 70 basis point decrease from the prior year, primarily due to menu pricing and improved productivity.
- These improvements are attributed to the company's back-of-house optimization initiative and its focus on labor efficiency.
Tariff Management and Strategic Adjustments:
- Cracker Barrel anticipates the net tariff impact to Q4 EBITDA will be approximately $5 million.
- The company is actively mitigating tariff impacts through vendor negotiations, alternate sourcing, and strategic adjustments to product SKUs and themes.
- These actions are aimed at reducing costs and minimizing the impact of tariffs on financial performance.
Menu and Marketing Initiatives:
- Cracker Barrel's Q3 saw a positive response to its spring promotion, featuring shrimp dishes, and the expansion of its pancake platform.
- The company is investing in advertising and integrated marketing efforts to promote the return of Campfire meals, which is expected to drive sales.
- These initiatives are part of a broader effort to refine the brand and engage with both existing and new guests.
Revenue and Sales Trends:
- Cracker Barrel reported total revenue of $821.1 million for Q3, up 0.5% from the prior year quarter.
- Restaurant revenue increased by 1.2% to $679.3 million, while retail revenue decreased by 2.7% to $141.8 million.
- The growth in restaurant revenue was driven by positive comparable store restaurant sales and strategic pricing.
Operational and Labor Improvements:
- The company achieved a significant improvement in hourly turnover by approximately 14 percentage points compared to the prior year quarter.
- Labor and related expenses were 37.1% of revenue, a 70 basis point decrease from the prior year, primarily due to menu pricing and improved productivity.
- These improvements are attributed to the company's back-of-house optimization initiative and its focus on labor efficiency.
Tariff Management and Strategic Adjustments:
- Cracker Barrel anticipates the net tariff impact to Q4 EBITDA will be approximately $5 million.
- The company is actively mitigating tariff impacts through vendor negotiations, alternate sourcing, and strategic adjustments to product SKUs and themes.
- These actions are aimed at reducing costs and minimizing the impact of tariffs on financial performance.
Menu and Marketing Initiatives:
- Cracker Barrel's Q3 saw a positive response to its spring promotion, featuring shrimp dishes, and the expansion of its pancake platform.
- The company is investing in advertising and integrated marketing efforts to promote the return of Campfire meals, which is expected to drive sales.
- These initiatives are part of a broader effort to refine the brand and engage with both existing and new guests.
Earnings Decrypt
Discover what executives don't want to reveal in conference calls
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