Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2026 was $797.2 million, down 5.7% from the prior year quarter [23] - Adjusted EBITDA was $7.2 million, or 0.9% of total revenue, compared to $45.8 million, or 5.4% of total revenue in the prior year [27] - GAAP earnings per diluted share were -$1.10, and adjusted earnings per diluted share were -$0.74 [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Restaurant revenue decreased 4.8% to $650.6 million, with comparable store restaurant sales down 4.7% [23] - Total retail revenue decreased 9.4% to $146.6 million, with comparable store retail sales down 8.5% [23] - Off-premise sales accounted for 18.1% of restaurant sales [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Traffic declined approximately 11% in the quarter, with a consistent trend between -10% and -11% over the last couple of months [28][62] - The company noted a decline in consumer sentiment and overall industry traffic compared to the summer [52] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on improving food quality and guest experience, with a multi-pronged plan to connect with guests through menu, messaging, and loyalty programs [11][12] - A restructuring of the corporate support center is underway to streamline operations and reduce costs, aiming for annualized G&A savings of approximately $20 million-$25 million [30] - The company is committed to maintaining food quality while pursuing cost savings and operational efficiency [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a difficult macro and industry backdrop, with plans to regain trust and confidence from guests [5][6] - The outlook for fiscal 2026 anticipates total revenue of $3.2 billion to $3.3 billion, reflecting a slower recovery than previously expected [29] - Management emphasized the importance of delivering consistent quality and hospitality to drive traffic recovery [34][68] Other Important Information - The company has launched several promotional initiatives, including a military discount and a toy promotion for kids' meals, to drive traffic [15][17] - The Cracker Barrel Rewards Loyalty Program has grown to over 10 million members, accounting for 40% of tracked sales [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Advertising Spend Reduction - Management explained that the reduction in advertising spend is to align with current traffic levels and reduce non-guest-facing costs, with a planned decrease of $12 million-$16 million in advertising expenses for Q2 to Q4 [37][38] Question: Holiday Season Plans - Management confirmed that they are actively working to drive traffic during the holiday season with promotions and menu items that resonate with guests [41][45] Question: Updated Traffic Guidance - Management indicated that the updated traffic guidance for the year includes expectations of a decline of 8% to 10%, with potential recovery in the back half of the year [50][51] Question: Macro Pressures Impact - Management noted that consumer sentiment has softened and overall industry traffic has decreased, but performance across income cohorts has remained relatively stable [52][53] Question: Challenges with Operations Initiative - Management acknowledged challenges with the rollout of the operations initiative, which impacted food consistency and guest experience, leading to a rollback of certain changes [54][55] Question: Menu Innovation and Future Offerings - Management expressed confidence in upcoming menu innovations and the return of popular items, emphasizing a focus on guest feedback and maintaining quality [66][75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2026 was $797.2 million, down 5.7% from the prior year quarter [23] - Adjusted EBITDA was $7.2 million, or 0.9% of total revenue, compared to $45.8 million, or 5.4% of total revenue in the prior year [27] - GAAP earnings per diluted share were negative $1.10, and adjusted earnings per diluted share were negative $0.74 [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Restaurant revenue decreased 4.8% to $650.6 million, with comparable store restaurant sales down 4.7% [23] - Total retail revenue decreased 9.4% to $146.6 million, with comparable store retail sales down 8.5% [23] - Off-premise sales accounted for 18.1% of restaurant sales [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Traffic declined approximately 11% in Q2, with a consistent trend of negative 10% to negative 11% over the last couple of months [28][62] - The company noted a decline in consumer sentiment and softer labor numbers compared to previous months [52] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on improving food quality and guest experience, with operational changes and menu adjustments [5][8] - A restructuring of the corporate support center is underway to streamline operations and reduce costs [20] - The company is implementing cost-saving measures while ensuring food quality and guest experience are not compromised [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a difficult macro and industry backdrop affecting performance, with plans to regain trust and confidence from guests [5][21] - The outlook for fiscal 2026 anticipates total revenue of $3.2-$3.3 billion, reflecting a slower recovery than previously expected [29] - Adjusted EBITDA for the full year is projected to be approximately $70 million-$110 million, depending on traffic recovery [31] Other Important Information - The company has launched several promotional initiatives to drive traffic, including a military discount and holiday promotions [15][16] - The Cracker Barrel Rewards Loyalty Program has grown to over 10 million members, accounting for 40% of tracked sales [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Advertising spend reduction rationale - Management explained that the reduction in advertising spend is to align with current traffic levels and reduce non-guest-facing costs, with a planned decrease of $12-$16 million in advertising expenses for Q2 to Q4 [37][38] Question: Incremental plans for the holiday season - Management emphasized a commitment to driving traffic through great in-store experiences and promotions, including a toy promotion that integrates restaurant and retail [41][45] Question: Updated traffic guidance for the year - Management confirmed that the updated traffic guidance reflects a decline of approximately 8%-10%, with the potential for recovery in the second half of the year [50][51] Question: Impact of operational initiative challenges - Management acknowledged that challenges in rolling out operational initiatives did impact same-store sales and traffic, leading to a decision to revert to prior processes [54][55] Question: Disaggregating macro pressures on sales - Management indicated that while macro pressures are evident, the brand's recovery efforts and promotional initiatives are also influencing traffic trends [62][63]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2026 was $797.2 million, down 5.7% from the prior year quarter [23] - Adjusted EBITDA was $7.2 million, or 0.9% of total revenue, compared to $45.8 million, or 5.4% of total revenue in the prior year [27] - GAAP earnings per diluted share were negative $1.10, and adjusted earnings per diluted share were negative $0.74 [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Restaurant revenue decreased 4.8% to $650.6 million, with comparable store restaurant sales down 4.7% [23] - Total retail revenue decreased 9.4% to $146.6 million, with comparable store retail sales down 8.5% [23] - Off-premise sales accounted for 18.1% of restaurant sales [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Traffic was down approximately 11% in Q2, with a decline of 7.3% in comparable store traffic for Q1 [28][23] - The company noted a decline in consumer sentiment and overall industry traffic compared to the summer months [46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on improving food quality and guest experience through operational changes and menu adjustments [5][10] - A restructuring of the corporate support center is underway to streamline operations and reduce costs [20][31] - The company plans to leverage its loyalty program, which has over 10 million members, to drive traffic and enhance guest engagement [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a challenging macro and industry backdrop, impacting traffic and sales [5][46] - The company anticipates total revenue for fiscal 2026 to be between $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion, reflecting a slower recovery than previously expected [30] - Management expressed confidence in returning to growth over time and creating long-term value for stakeholders [34] Other Important Information - The company has implemented a military discount program and various promotional offers to drive traffic [16][18] - The company is focusing on cost savings while ensuring food quality and guest experience are not compromised [20][31] Q&A Session Summary Question: About the cut in advertising spend - Management explained that the reduction in advertising spend is to align with current traffic levels and reduce non-guest-facing costs, with a planned decrease of $12-$16 million in advertising expenses for Q2 to Q4 [36][38] Question: Plans for the December holiday window - Management emphasized a commitment to regaining traffic momentum and highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance guest experiences and brand trust [39][40] Question: Updated guidance for traffic for the year - Management confirmed that the updated traffic guidance reflects a decline of 8% to 10%, with the potential for recovery in the latter half of the year [45] Question: Macro pressures on sales versus rebranding effects - Management noted that while macro pressures are impacting sales, some initiatives have provided short-term traffic boosts, but sustainability remains a concern [50][51] Question: Menu innovation and upcoming offerings - Management expressed confidence in upcoming menu innovations and the return of popular items, aiming to enhance guest experiences and drive traffic [56][60]

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Beloved dishes like Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, Country Fried Turkey and Turkey Sausage return to menus – alongside an all-new Breakfast Burger stacked with scratch-made breakfast favorites – all for a limited- time The Country Fried Turkey is back with its signature golden crunch and tender, juicy flavor that evokes the warmth of a family gathering. This holiday classic features hand-breaded turkey tenderloins fried to perfection, topped with creamy herbed pan gravy, ...