Leo Gillick
Cracker Barrel has made a public announcement to address the outrage they have raised from their redesign. Sadly, they mostly missed the point.
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The rebrand for Cracker Barrel got people talking. They had clearly not hired an artist for their remodel, and what they were left with is a soulless, boring result. It couldn’t scream “agreed on by committee” louder. People, obviously, hate it.
The problem with the remodel for Cracker Barrel isn’t really about their logo design. It’s a backlash against the sanitization of the world around us. Restaurants, buildings, art, you name it. It’s become grey and lifeless of late, and Cracker Barrel’s rebranding was indicative of that.
But they released a statement nonetheless, addressing the problem.
It’s Not All About You
Cracker Barrel has somewhat missed the point of what the big deal is with their remodel. It’s not all about them, it’s about identity and aesthetics on the whole. “If the last few days have shown us anything, it’s how deeply people care about Cracker Barrel. We’re truly grateful for your heartfelt voices,” they said.
But they’re looking at the smaller picture here. If it had been anyone else, the same thing would have happened. Many Western brands are doing the same thing and going the way of Apple. Dull, corporate, and “sleek”. Cracker Barrel was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. It’s not about them, it’s about the ensh–tification of identity on the whole.
Some Things Stay The Same
Although their logo and remodel may be rolling out regardless, Cracker Barrel has promised that their quality won’t change. The same food, the same stores, the same quality people have come to expect from the brand will all be there.
They will still feature the same menu items with a few added extras. “Meatloaf, chicken n’ dumplins, country fried steak, sides that taste like Sunday supper, and yes, the world’s best pancakes, they’re all still here, with a few new dishes joining the menu.”
Now, you’ll be able to eat them in a drab, office-like environment, stripped of all the old familiar aesthetics. You may as well set up a table in a Walmart.
At Least They Listened
It sounds like the public outcry has been heard by the bigwigs of Cracker Barrel. I would say that someone is getting fired, but there is no way any designer worth their salt would have proposed something as boring as that.
Although it doesn’t seem like they’re going to go back on their remodel and redesign, at least the public was heard. Their statement is basically saying, “Yes, we know you hate it, but we spent millions on this, so shut the hell up and just take it.”
