Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Announces New Initiative to Fight Hunger in America

Rhea-AI Summary

On November 15, 2021, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store launched the Cracker Barrel Food for Families initiative to combat food insecurity in America. In partnership with Feeding America, the program aims to provide 1 million meals over the next year, focusing on underserved communities, especially in Middle Tennessee. The initiative includes a social media campaign for additional meal donations. Cracker Barrel emphasizes the critical need for hunger relief, especially heightened by the pandemic, reinforcing its commitment to supporting families and communities in need.

Positive

• Initiative aims to provide 1 million meals through Feeding America, enhancing brand image.
• Focus on food insecurity aligns with corporate social responsibility, potentially attracting socially conscious consumers.

Negative

• None.

LEBANON, Tenn., Nov. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Philanthropy Day, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store^® today announced Cracker Barrel Food for Families, a new initiative focused on caring for families in America through food. Through three interconnected focus areas – addressing food insecurity, supporting community needs and reducing food waste – Cracker Barrel, its employees and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation will support programs that help ensure families and communities have access to homestyle food that provides comfort and nourishment. 

"Food insecurity and hunger relief is a critical issue in America – one that has become even more evident and dire as a result of the pandemic," said Cracker Barrel Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Tate. "We must do our part to ensure that everyone has access to wholesome food. We look forward to partnering with Feeding America^® through our Cracker Barrel Food for Families program to help care for families who need it most."

As part of its new program, Cracker Barrel will join forces with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation and Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. The multi-faceted national partnership between Cracker Barrel, the Foundation and Feeding America will aim to address food insecurity, beginning in high-need rural and underserved communities as well as in Middle Tennessee, where Cracker Barrel was founded.  

"Hunger is an issue that impacts every community in our country. The Feeding America network works hard every day to help people who may not know where they will find their next meal," said Lauren Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. "We are grateful to Cracker Barrel and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation for joining our fight to end hunger and for helping to provide meals to children and families in need."

More than 38 million people currently struggle to put food on their tables, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Cracker Barrel and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation will contribute funds to enable a donation of 1 million meals* through Feeding America over the next year to help alleviate hunger in the communities it serves. Additionally, for every engagement with the announcement of Cracker Barrel's Food for Families initiative on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter from now through Giving Tuesday on Nov. 30, Cracker Barrel will donate funds for meals – up to 100,000 meals – to help get food to families who need it most this holiday season.

For more information about the Cracker Barrel Food for Families initiative, please visit crackerbarrel.com/giving.

*$1 helps to provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America^® on behalf of local member food banks.

About Feeding America
Feeding America^® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

About Cracker Barrel Food for Families
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation are committed to cultivating an America where we use food to care for each other. For more than 20 years, the company and its Foundation have contributed food and funds to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, where the company was founded; and in 2021, the Cracker Barrel Food for Families initiative was launched, with a multi-faceted national partnership between Cracker Barrel, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation and Feeding America to expand support to more families nationwide. Cracker Barrel Food for Families focuses on three key areas: addressing food insecurity, supporting community needs and reducing food waste.

About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation
The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation is a nonprofit corporation created by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in 1993. The Foundation has awarded millions of dollars in grants to support numerous nonprofits and charitable programs. It also supports an annual Employee Scholarship Program, which recognizes and rewards the accomplishments of Cracker Barrel employees and their children who excel in their studies and serve their communities.

About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) provides a caring and friendly home-away-from-home experience while offering guests quality homestyle food to enjoy in-store or to-go and unique shopping – all at a fair price.  Established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn., Cracker Barrel and its affiliates operate more than 660 company-owned Cracker Barrel Old Country Store^® locations in 45 states and own the breakfast and lunch focused fast-casual Maple Street Biscuit Company^® restaurants. For more information about the company, visit crackerbarrel.com.

Cracker Barrel Media Relations:
615-235-4135
media.relations@crackerbarrel.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cracker-barrel-old-country-store-announces-new-initiative-to-fight-hunger-in-america-301423658.html

SOURCE Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

FAQ

What is the Cracker Barrel Food for Families initiative?

Launched on November 15, 2021, the Cracker Barrel Food for Families initiative aims to address food insecurity by providing 1 million meals through a partnership with Feeding America.

How many meals will Cracker Barrel donate through this initiative?

Cracker Barrel will donate funds to provide 1 million meals over the next year to families in need.

What is the partnership between Cracker Barrel and Feeding America?

The partnership focuses on combating hunger in high-need communities, with Cracker Barrel contributing to meal donations and community support.

When was the Cracker Barrel Food for Families initiative announced?

The initiative was announced on November 15, 2021, coinciding with National Philanthropy Day.

How does Cracker Barrel plan to raise additional funds for meals?

Cracker Barrel will donate funds for meals based on social media engagement with the initiative announcement, up to 100,000 meals.