Cracker Barrel CEO Steps Down After Logo Rebrand Backlash, Names David Deno
Cracker Barrel announced on July 27, 2026, that CEO Julie Masino will step down effective August 10, following a controversial logo redesign and $700 million rebranding effort that sparked customer backlash and criticism from President Donald Trump. David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands, will succeed her. Masino remains in an advisory role until October 9. The company operates approximately 660 locations across 43 states and recently reported mixed financial results amid declining same-store sales.
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Cracker Barrel CEO Exit and Surprising Replacement Pick
Cracker Barrel's CEO Julie Masino has exited the company, surprising analysts given her recent success in stabilizing the brand after a controversial logo redesign in 2025. Her replacement, whose identity is not fully detailed in the snippet, previously oversaw a stock decline at his last job, raising questions about the board's decision. Masino had helped steady the company following the logo firestorm, which had sparked customer backlash. The article, published by Fortune on July 30, 2026, highlights the unexpected nature of both the departure and the choice of successor, suggesting potential strategic shifts or internal disagreements at the struggling restaurant chain.
Cracker Barrel CEO Exit and Surprise Replacement by Former Outback Steakhouse CEO
Cracker Barrel announced CEO Julie Masino is stepping down next month, surprising Wall Street after recent financial improvements and a stock doubling this year. She will be replaced by David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands (Outback Steakhouse), aged 69. Deno's appointment raises questions due to his spotty track record: during his 2019-2024 tenure at Bloomin' Brands, shares fell 15% and Outback sales stagnated while competitors grew. Masino faced intense backlash over a logo redesign that sparked political controversy, including attacks from President Trump and online bots, leading her to reverse the change. The company cited no reason for her departure, though she retains personal security services. Cracker Barrel continues to struggle with an aging customer base (43% over 55, only 23% under 34) and recent comparable-store sales slipped 2.5%.
Cracker Barrel to pay outgoing CEO $4.6M severance and security costs after failed rebrand
Cracker Barrel announced that outgoing CEO Julie Masino will receive $4.63 million in severance over two years, plus continued security services, following her departure after a failed rebranding effort. The rebrand, part of a $700 million overhaul, included removing the 'old timer' from the logo and changing restaurant interiors, sparking customer backlash and hurting sales. Masino will step down as CEO on August 10 and remain as an advisor until October 9. David Deno will replace her. The company reported a 2.6% decline in comparable store sales and a 6.7% drop in traffic in the third quarter, though traffic trends are gradually improving. The leadership transition aims to stabilize the brand and recover from the controversy.
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Cracker Barrel CEO Ousted After Costly Rebrand, Receives $4.6 Million Severance
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino resigned after a controversial rebranding that removed the iconic 'Old Timer' character and barrel from the logo, leading to a 12% stock drop ($94 million loss) and a $700 million revamp cost. The backlash from nostalgic customers and online outcry forced the company to reverse course. Masino will receive a $4.6 million severance package and remain as an advisor until October 9. David Deno, formerly of Bloomin' Brands, has been appointed as her successor, vowing to preserve the chain's traditional appeal. The incident highlights the risks of modernizing beloved heritage brands.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino Steps Down After Controversial Rebrand and $100 Million Market Cap Loss
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino is stepping down effective August 10, 2026, roughly a year after a disastrous logo rebrand that erased nearly $100 million in market capitalization and triggered an 8% traffic decline. The August 2025 rebrand removed the iconic 'Uncle Herschel' character, sparking immediate backlash and becoming a culture-war flashpoint. Former President Donald Trump publicly demanded reversal on Truth Social, and the company complied within eight days, canceling planned remodels. Despite shareholders voting to retain Masino in November 2025, she exits with Bloomin' Brands veteran David Deno as successor. Masino had previously told Glenn Beck she felt 'fired by America.' The company did not state a specific reason for her departure.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino Steps Down After Logo Change Controversy
Julie Masino has stepped down as CEO of Cracker Barrel, nearly a year after a logo change sparked backlash among conservative customers, including former President Donald Trump. The article, published by Fortune on July 27, 2026, reports that Masino had worked to repair the damage caused by the controversy but was pushed out before completing her turnaround efforts. The leadership change highlights ongoing tensions between corporate branding decisions and political consumer sentiment in the U.S. restaurant industry.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino Steps Down; David Deno Named Successor Amid Stock Decline
Cracker Barrel announced on July 27, 2026, that CEO Julie Masino is stepping down, effective August 10, with David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands, taking over. Masino, who joined in 2023, led the company through a controversial logo redesign in August 2025 that caused a nearly $100 million market value loss before the old logo was reinstated. Despite this, she oversaw a turnaround, with fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings beating analyst estimates (revenue $797.4M vs. $776.7M expected) and shares surging over 30% in June. However, shares fell over 5% on the day of the announcement. Deno expressed focus on delivering food and experiences while driving profitable growth. Masino will remain on the board in an advisory role until October 9 to ensure a smooth transition.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino to step down a year after logo controversy
Cracker Barrel announced on July 27, 2026, that CEO Julie Masino will step down effective August 10, 2026, and be replaced by David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands (owner of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Bonefish Grill). Masino will remain as an adviser until October 9. Her departure comes a year after a controversial rebranding attempt in summer 2025, when Cracker Barrel unveiled a simplified logo that removed the iconic 'Old Timer' character. Following widespread customer backlash and a critical post from President Donald Trump, the company reversed the logo change and abandoned planned restaurant remodels. During a December 2025 earnings call, Masino acknowledged the chain had a 'difficult' few months and needed to regain customer trust. The board praised Deno's experience in restaurant and retail leadership.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino to Step Down Following Logo Rebrand Controversy
Cracker Barrel announced on July 27, 2026, that CEO Julie Masino will step down effective August 10, 2026, and be replaced by David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands (owner of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Bonefish Grill). Masino will remain as an advisor until October 9. Her departure comes nearly a year after a controversial rebranding attempt in August 2025, when the company unveiled a simplified logo that removed the iconic 'Old Timer' character. The change sparked customer backlash and criticism from former President Donald Trump. Cracker Barrel quickly reversed the logo change, abandoned planned restaurant remodels, and ended its partnership with the design firm. During a December 2025 earnings call, Masino acknowledged the chain had a 'difficult' period and needed to regain customer trust. The board praised Deno's experience in restaurant and retail leadership.
Cracker Barrel CEO Departs After Trump-Led Backlash Over Logo Change
Cracker Barrel announced on July 27, 2026, that CEO Julie Masino will step down on August 10 after nearly three years in the role, remaining as an advisor until October 9. The departure comes about a year after the company faced intense backlash from conservatives, including U.S. President Donald Trump, for briefly modernizing its decades-old logo and store signage in August 2025. The company quickly reverted to its original logo and dropped plans for a modern store layout after the controversy hurt store traffic and led to lower revenue forecasts. Cracker Barrel named David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands and a veteran of Best Buy and Yum Brands, as the new CEO. The company's shares fell nearly 52% last year but have doubled in 2026, though they dropped about 4% on the announcement. Cracker Barrel also recently divested part of its Maple Street Biscuit business and expects to exceed its core profit outlook for fiscal 2026.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino Steps Down After Trump-Led Backlash Over Logo Change
Cracker Barrel announced on July 27, 2026, that CEO Julie Masino will step down on August 10 after nearly three years in the role, remaining as an advisor until October 9. The departure comes nearly a year after the company faced intense conservative backlash, including from U.S. President Donald Trump, over a short-lived decision to modernize its decades-old logo and store signage featuring 'Uncle Herschel.' The company reverted to its old logo and dropped a modern store layout plan after the backlash hit store traffic and led to a revenue forecast cut in September 2025. Cracker Barrel named restaurant veteran David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands, as its new CEO. The company's shares fell nearly 52% last year but have doubled in 2026; they dropped about 4% on the news. Cracker Barrel also recently divested part of its Maple Street Biscuit business and expects to exceed its core profit outlook for fiscal 2026.
Cracker Barrel Names Former Bloomin' Brands CEO David Deno New Chief Executive
Cracker Barrel announced on July 27, 2026, that David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands (parent of Outback Steakhouse), will become its new CEO effective August 10, replacing Julie Masino. Masino will remain in an advisory role through October 9. Deno brings extensive restaurant industry experience, having led Bloomin' Brands through the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthened its profitability. He inherits a turnaround effort that showed operational progress in Q3 2026, with revenue of $797 million and improved guest satisfaction scores, despite a 2.6% decline in comparable restaurant sales. The turnaround had faced a major setback in 2025 when a logo modernization attempt sparked customer backlash and political controversy, forcing Cracker Barrel to revert to its original branding. Deno's appointment aims to continue driving profitable growth while preserving the brand's nostalgic identity.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino Steps Down After Logo Redesign Backlash and Trump Criticism
Julie Felss Masino, CEO of Cracker Barrel, will step down on August 10, 2026, following a controversial logo redesign that sparked widespread backlash from customers, conservative commentators, and President Donald Trump. Masino took the helm in November 2023 and initiated a brand refresh in May 2024 to address declining sales and relevance. The new logo, unveiled in August 2025, removed the iconic 'Old Timer' character and was met with fierce criticism. After Trump publicly urged the company to revert to the old logo, Cracker Barrel abandoned the redesign and later scrapped its remodeling project. In a November 2025 interview, Masino said she felt 'fired by America.' The company did not provide a reason for her exit but named David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands, as her successor. Masino will remain in an advisory role until October 9, 2026.
Cracker Barrel appoints new CEO amid logo controversy fallout
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced on July 27, 2026, that David Deno will become its next CEO, replacing Julie Masino, who will step down but remain as an advisor through October. The leadership change follows a $700 million rebranding effort that included a new logo, which drew criticism from conservative figures including President Donald Trump, who urged the company to revert to its original logo. The company reversed course last August and reinstated the previous logo. Shares fell nearly 5% in morning trading after the announcement. The board praised Deno's experience in restaurant and retail industries, while Deno emphasized the brand's hospitality and generational appeal.
Cracker Barrel appoints new CEO amid logo controversy fallout
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced on July 27, 2026, that David Deno will become its next CEO, replacing Julie Masino, who will step down but remain as an advisor through October. The leadership change follows a $700 million rebranding effort that included a new logo, which drew criticism from prominent conservative figures, including former President Donald Trump, who accused the chain of abandoning its nostalgic 'Old Timer' symbol. The company reversed course last August and reinstated its previous logo. Shares of the restaurant chain fell nearly 5% in morning trading after the announcement. The board praised Deno's decades of experience in the restaurant and retail industries, emphasizing his commitment to operational excellence and guest experience.
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino Steps Down After Logo Redesign Backlash
Julie Masino, CEO of Cracker Barrel, is stepping down from her position, according to a Fox Business report. Her departure comes nearly a year after the company underwent a controversial logo redesign and rebranding effort that was criticized by some customers as 'woke.' The leadership change is covered by multiple major outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and People.com. Despite the backlash, Fox News reports that the chain's comeback efforts are gaining steam, with loyal customers expressing positive sentiments about recent visits. Masino's exit marks a significant shift for the iconic American restaurant chain as it navigates brand identity challenges and attempts to regain customer trust.
Cracker Barrel CEO Steps Down a Year After Logo Rebrand Backlash
Cracker Barrel announced on July 27, 2026, that CEO Julie Masino will step down next month, nearly a year after a controversial logo rebrand sparked fierce customer backlash and sales declines. Masino will remain in an advisory role until October 9. David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands (parent of Outback Steakhouse) and a former executive at Best Buy and Yum Brands, will succeed her on August 10. The Tennessee-based chain, which operates 660 restaurants in 43 states, attempted to modernize its image with a simplified logo and lighter restaurant designs in August 2025, but protests and plummeting sales forced a quick reversal. Same-store sales were down 1.8% in the fiscal third quarter ending May 1. Cracker Barrel shares fell 4% in morning trading following the announcement.
Cracker Barrel Stock Drops on CEO Julie Masino's Exit
Cracker Barrel's stock fell approximately 3% after the company announced CEO Julie Masino would step down, ending a roughly three-year tenure. During her leadership, the restaurant chain became embroiled in a culture war when President Trump and many consumers—along with activist investors—criticized her efforts to modernize the eatery and its stores. The stock lost more than half its value during that period, though it recently began recovering. In summer 2026, shares surged 35% after the company reported improved earnings and a brighter outlook for the rest of the year. The departure marks a significant leadership change for the struggling chain.
Cracker Barrel names David Deno as new CEO, replacing Julie Masino
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced on July 27, 2026, that David Deno will become its next CEO, replacing Julie Masino who is stepping down effective August 10, 2026, and will remain in an advisory role until October 9. Deno brings over 40 years of restaurant and retail experience, having previously served as CEO of Bloomin' Brands from 2019 to 2024, where he led international expansion, and held senior roles at Yum! Brands and Pizza Hut. He currently serves on the boards of Krispy Kreme and Panera Brands. Masino's departure follows a turbulent period for the chain, including activist shareholder pressure after a controversial logo change and restaurant remodels last summer, though shareholders voted to retain her in November. Cracker Barrel recently posted better-than-expected third-quarter results with adjusted earnings of 29 cents per share on revenue of $797.4 million, and operates approximately 660 locations across 43 states.
Cracker Barrel names David Deno as new CEO, replacing Julie Masino
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced on July 27, 2026, that David Deno will become its next CEO, replacing Julie Masino, who is stepping down from the role and board effective August 10, 2026. Masino will remain in a transitional advisory role until October 9. Deno brings over 40 years of experience, having previously served as CEO of Bloomin' Brands from 2019 to 2024, and held senior roles at Yum! Brands and Pizza Hut. He currently serves on the boards of Krispy Kreme and Panera Brands. Masino's departure follows activist shareholder pressure after a controversial logo change and restaurant remodels last summer, though shareholders voted to retain her in November. Cracker Barrel recently posted better-than-expected third-quarter results, with adjusted earnings of 29 cents per share on revenue of $797.4 million. The company operates approximately 660 locations across 43 states.