Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced on July 27 that CEO Julie Masino will step down from her role and as a member of the board effective August 10. Masino will remain with the company as an adviser through October 9. She will be succeeded by David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, which owns several casual dining chains including Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Bonefish Grill.

Carl Berquist, independent chairman of Cracker Barrel’s board, expressed confidence in the leadership transition, citing Deno’s extensive experience in the restaurant and retail sectors and his track record of driving growth while focusing on operational excellence, customer experience, and employee engagement. Deno, who had held executive roles at Bloomin’ Brands since 2012 and became CEO in 2019, said he was honored to lead Cracker Barrel and eager to leverage the brand’s potential.

Masino’s departure comes nearly a year after Cracker Barrel faced backlash over a controversial rebranding effort in the summer of 2025. On August 19, 2025, the company introduced a new logo that retained its traditional gold and brown color scheme but removed the iconic image of a man sitting beside a wooden barrel. The change was met with criticism from customers who found the new design less inviting. Former President Donald Trump also commented on the decision, suggesting on his social media platform that reverting to the original logo could generate positive attention for the chain.

In response to the outcry, Cracker Barrel announced on August 26, 2025, that it would abandon the new logo and reinstate the longstanding “Old Timer” design. The company thanked customers for their feedback and pledged to listen to their concerns. Additionally, Cracker Barrel discontinued planned restaurant renovations aimed at modernizing its locations and ended its partnership with the firm that had advised on the rebranding and design efforts.

During a quarterly earnings call in December 2025, Masino acknowledged the challenges the company had faced amid the controversy. She noted that while many guests appreciated recent improvements to food and service, there remained work to be done to rebuild trust with customers who had been slower to return to the brand.

The leadership change signals a new chapter for Cracker Barrel as it seeks to stabilize its operations and restore customer confidence following the divisive rebranding initiative.