Cracker Barrel is tightening its belt—and asking employees to do the same, starting at the dinner table.
In a recent internal directive circulated to staff and obtained by The Wall Street Journal, the Tennessee-based restaurant chain told traveling workers to limit discretionary spending and, whenever possible, eat their meals at Cracker Barrel locations while on the road.
The policy states that employees “are expected to dine at a Cracker Barrel store for all or the majority of meals while traveling, whenever practical based on location and schedule.”
The guidance arrives as the company works through declining sales and broader cost controls. Work trips are also being scaled back, with management encouraging teams to postpone nonessential travel until later in the year.
The dining rule is part of a wider push across corporate America to rein in business travel costs. Lodging, meals, and incidentals that were once treated as routine line items are now under heavier scrutiny.
Employees at multiple companies report hunting for lower-priced hotel rooms, skipping restaurant stops, or piecing together meals from grocery stores rather than submitting larger receipts.
Cracker Barrel’s policy adds another layer: alcohol purchased during travel is not reimbursable. Any exceptions require pre-approval from senior leadership, according to the internal communication.
Within the company, some employees reportedly view the change as minor compared with recent layoffs and other restructuring efforts. Others note that alcohol wasn’t typically covered anyway, especially since the chain only began offering alcoholic beverages on menus in recent years.
The cost-conscious mindset extends beyond the restaurant brand. A recent SAP Concur survey found that more employees are being asked to shoulder stricter budgets while traveling for work.
Individual travelers are feeling the shift. Justin Salerno, an engineer in the Milwaukee area, now follows a federal reimbursement rate for hotels after his startup was acquired.
Rooms in some cities must come in under $110 per night, even when local events drive prices well above that. “I’m a bit loosey goosey about it,” Salerno said, acknowledging he sometimes exceeds limits and explains the difference later.
Finance executives say the guardrails are necessary. Jeff Oscarson, who oversees budgets for construction firms, recalled unusual submissions over the years—including “a $500 bottle of wine” and even “a chair.” He questioned the logic behind pushing those costs through.