Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., Receives Top Honors in "Choice In Chains" Consumer Survey
Business Wire - March 04, 1999 11:23
LEBANON, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1999--Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:CBRL) has been named "Best Family Dining" restaurant by Restaurants & Institutions magazine for the ninth consecutive year. And for the first time, Cracker Barrel has also received the highest "Overall" score for any restaurant chain included in the survey, regardless of segment.
In "Restaurants & Institutions" annual "Choice In Chains" survey of more than 2,800 consumers nationwide, Cracker Barrel was again voted "Best Family Dining" restaurant. For all family dining chains, Cracker Barrel scored highest in five of the seven survey areas: food quality, menu variety, service, atmosphere, and cleanliness.
In addition to being first within the Family segment, Cracker Barrel also received the highest "Overall" score for all restaurants, including those in the Dinner House, Theme Restaurant, Seafood, and Steakhouse segments. Over 100 national and regional chains were included in the survey.
Two Cracker Barrel General Managers, Tom Dekarske of # 125 Bloomington, IL and Raymond Mays of #195 Lansing, MI, accepted the honors on behalf of the company. The honors were given out at the 19th Annual R&I Choice In Chains Award dinner at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas on February 27th.
Dan W. Evins, Cracker Barrel co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer, credits all of the company's employees -- and their commitment to pleasing people -- for these awards. "There is no doubt in my mind that our guests have again selected Cracker Barrel for this honor because of our employees," said Dan. "The dedication of our employees to quality and execution is what makes the guest experience at a Cracker Barrel so special. The consistency with which guests have honored us with this 'Choice In Chains' award--nine consecutive years--is a measure of the consistency of the service and hospitality our employees work so hard to offer every day."
Restaurants & Institutions' survey was conducted by NFO Research, Inc., a Greenwich, Connecticut-based market research firm. This year, 2,876 consumers participated, making it one of the largest consumer surveys of its kind.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the publicly held CBRL Group, Inc. Cracker Barrel was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. The chain reported fiscal 1998 annual net sales figures at $1.32 billion, an increase of 17 percent over 1997.
Each Cracker Barrel Old Country Store(R) is modeled after a turn-of-the-century country store, featuring old photographs, antiques, memorabilia and a real woodburning fireplace with a stone hearth to add a warm cozy touch in the dining room. The retail store has more than 4,000 gift items including accessories for the home, old-fashioned candies, books on audio and children's games and puzzles.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. operates over 380 company-owned locations in 36 states. Every Cracker Barrel is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Editor's Note: For more info on Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., visit our web site at crackerbarrel.com
CONTACT: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc., Lebanon
Julie Davis, 615/443-9266
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