The company clarified its guidelines for business trips in a statement to PEOPLE.
Cracker Barrel wants employees to eat at its restaurants during work trips.
The company's dining policy was revealed in a leaked internal memo to the Wall Street Journal, published Jan. 30.
"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 outlet reported the message as saying.
The brand also advised workers not to expense alcoholic beverages without permission.
"Exceptions for special occasions must be pre-approved by an E-Team member," the memo reportedly noted.
Cracker Barrel clarified its guidelines in a statement to PEOPLE, emphasizing that the dining guidance does not apply to "all" meals during business trips.
"The policy for employees to dine at Cracker Barrel while traveling for business, whenever practical, based on location and schedule, is not new," the company said.
The rule has been in place since June 2024, and was simply sent out "as a reminder."
"Also, it is not the only place that our employees may eat when on the road, as previously reported. The change was to further limit reimbursement of alcoholic beverages under the policy," the company added.
The WSJ linked Cracker Barrel's rule to the corporate trend of "travelscrimping," cutting back on costly perks during business travel.
In 2025, the company went viral when its rebranding efforts - including a new logo -- drew criticism, prompting the brand to revert to its old logo.
The controversial logo change involved removing the barrel, figure of an old man, and "Old Country Store" from its emblem, instead showing just its name inside a yellow hexagonal shape.
After backlash and the plummeting of Cracker Barrel's stock price, President Trump called for the restaurant to "go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before."
On Aug. 26, Cracker Barrel issued a statement on Facebook, saying they had listened to the feedback and would restore the old logo.
"We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our 'Old Timer' will remain," the statement said.
"At Cracker Barrel, it's always been - and always will be - about serving up delicious food, warm welcomes, and the kind of country hospitality that feels like family. As a proud American institution, our 70,000 hardworking employees look forward to welcoming you to our table soon," the statement added.