Cracker Barrel Cheese: Restaurant-Made Or Not?

Cracker Barrel is both a restaurant chain and a cheese brand, but the two are unrelated. The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, founded in 1969, is a Southern country-themed chain of restaurants and gift stores. The cheese brand, introduced in 1954, was named after the barrels of soda crackers found in general stores in the 19th century. In 2013, the restaurant chain and cheese brand became involved in a trademark-infringement lawsuit, which was settled with the provision that the restaurant chain could sell packaged meats in grocery stores under the name CB Old Country Store, while the name Cracker Barrel would be reserved for the cheese brand.

Explore related products

Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Chunk 8 oz Pack of 3

$38.9

Cheddar 3 Pack 3 x 8 oz Blocks Cheddar Cheese total 24 oz

$39.5

Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese Chunk 8 oz Pack of 3

$38.5 $42

CRACKER BARREL CHEESE EXTRA SHARP CHEDDAR CHUNK 8 OZ PACK OF 3

$39.9

Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese Chunk 8 oz Pack of 3

$42

Cheese Gouda, 7 Ounce

$4.98

Kraft Foods introduced Cracker Barrel cheese in 1954

In 1954, Kraft Foods introduced Cracker Barrel cheese to the public. The cheese was named after the barrels of soda crackers found in general stores in the 19th century. People would gather around these barrels to socialise and catch up on the news of the day, making the general store a hub for community gossip. This tradition of socialising around cracker barrels inspired the creation of the cheese, which was designed to fit perfectly on a cracker. The name "Cracker Barrel" reflects this intended use.

The Cracker Barrel cheese brand was born out of a love for quality cheese and a passion for cheddar-making heritage and values. Kraft has used the same proprietary heirloom starter cultures for over half a century to produce a consistently rich, full-flavoured cheddar cheese. The cheese is aged and graded multiple times during the cheese-making process, ensuring that only the finest cheese is wrapped in the brand's iconic foil packaging. This packaging not only protects the cheese from light oxidation and moisture changes but also contributes to its iconic brand image.

While Kraft Foods introduced the Cracker Barrel cheese brand in 1954, it is important to note that the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain is a separate entity. The restaurant chain, founded in 1969 by Dan W. Evins, is designed to evoke a nostalgic, old-fashioned atmosphere reminiscent of the turn of the 20th century. Despite sharing a name, the restaurant chain and the cheese brand are not affiliated or owned by the same parent company.

In 2013, a dispute arose between Kraft Foods and the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain when the latter decided to enter the grocery product business. Kraft argued that the Cracker Barrel name was associated with their cheese brand and that the sale of branded meat products by the restaurant chain would cause confusion among consumers. This dispute was eventually settled, with the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain agreeing to sell their packaged meat products under the name "CB Old Country Store". The Cracker Barrel name would be reserved for the Kraft cheese brand, maintaining the distinction between the two unrelated companies.

Cracker Barrel cheese and restaurant are not related

Cracker Barrel cheese and the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain are not related. The cheese was introduced in 1954 by Kraft Foods, and the restaurant chain was founded in 1969 by Dan W. Evins and Tommy Lowe. The cheese was named after the barrels of soda crackers found in 19th-century general stores, where people would gather to socialise. The restaurant chain, on the other hand, was designed to resemble an old-fashioned general store from the turn of the 20th century.

Despite both being well-known food brands, the two companies are entirely separate entities. In 2012, the restaurant chain Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced a partnership with Smithfield Foods to sell packaged meats under the Cracker Barrel name. This prompted Kraft Foods to take legal action, citing potential confusion among consumers who might assume that the meat products were associated with Kraft's Cracker Barrel cheese brand.

The lawsuit was settled in 2013, with the agreement that the restaurant chain could sell meat products in grocery stores under the name "CB Old Country Store," while the name "Cracker Barrel" would be reserved for Kraft's cheese products. This resolution highlights the distinct nature of the two brands and reinforces the fact that Cracker Barrel cheese and the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain are not affiliated.

It is worth noting that the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain has faced several controversies and lawsuits unrelated to the cheese brand. These include civil rights lawsuits, racial discrimination charges, and controversy over its policy of firing gay employees. The restaurant chain has also been the subject of criticism and boardroom disputes involving shareholder Sardar Biglari and his company Biglari Holdings Inc.

In summary, while the Cracker Barrel cheese and the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain share a name, they are not related. The cheese brand is owned by Kraft Foods, while the restaurant chain is an independent entity that licensed its name for meat products, ultimately leading to a settlement that clarified the distinct nature of the two brands.

Cracker Barrel restaurant chain was founded in 1969

The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain was founded in 1969 by Dan W. Evins. The first restaurant and country store opened in Lebanon, Tennessee, close to Interstate 40, and was designed to look like an "Old Country Store", serving Southern cuisine, including biscuits, grits, country ham, and turnip greens. Within eight years, Cracker Barrel had expanded to 13 locations in several states throughout the southern United States. The chain continued to grow consistently through the 1980s and 1990s, attaining a $1 billion market value by 1992. By 1994, the company was expanding into new markets and testing alterations to its menus to adapt to new regions, adding regional dishes such as eggs and salsa in Texas and Reuben sandwiches in New York.

Although the restaurant chain and the cheese share the same name, they are not related or owned by the same parent company. Cracker Barrel cheese was introduced in 1954 by Kraft Foods, 15 years before the founding of the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain. The cheese was named after the barrels of soda crackers found in 19th-century general stores, where people would gather to socialise and exchange news. The cheese is designed to fit perfectly on a cracker and is sold in long bricks rather than wheels or slices.

In 2012, the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurant chain announced a partnership with Smithfield Foods to sell packaged ham, bacon, and lunch meat under the Cracker Barrel name. This decision led to a lawsuit from Kraft Foods, which argued that consumers would confuse the similarly-named food products, potentially damaging the Kraft brand. The lawsuit was settled in 2013, with the agreement that Cracker Barrel stores could sell packaged meats under the name "CB Old Country Store", while the name "Cracker Barrel" would be reserved for the Kraft cheese brand.

Explore related products

Fresh Stacks Original Crackers, Party Size, Travel Snacks, 23.7 oz (16 Multi Snack Packs)

$4.48 $5.98

48 Cracker Cuts 24 X Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar, 24 x Sharp White Cheddar

$31.99 $35

Cracker Barrel Sharp White Cheddar Cheese Chunk 8 oz Pack of 3

$42 $45

Oven Baked Cheddar Havarti Macaroni and Cheese Dinner (12.3 oz Pouch)

$5.99

Sandwich Crackers, Captain's Wafers Cream Cheese and Chives, 10 Packs, 6 Sandwiches Each

$4.32

Sharp Cheddar Oven Baked Macaroni & Cheese Dinner (12.3 oz Bag)

$12.99

Kraft sued Cracker Barrel in 2013 for trademark infringement

Cracker Barrel is both a restaurant chain and a cheese brand. The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, founded in 1969, is designed to feel like a nostalgic, old-fashioned eatery from the turn of the 20th century. The cheese brand, on the other hand, was introduced in 1954 by Kraft Foods and is now available in most supermarkets. Despite the similarity in names, the two brands are not related and do not share a parent company.

In 2012, the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurant chain announced a partnership with Smithfield Foods to sell packaged ham, bacon, and lunch meats in grocery stores. This decision led to a lawsuit filed by Kraft Foods in 2013, accusing the restaurant chain of trademark infringement. Kraft had been selling cheese in grocery stores under the Cracker Barrel name for more than 50 years and argued that the restaurant chain's move into supermarkets would unfairly infringe on its trademark.

Kraft claimed that the similarity in logos and distribution channels between the two brands would likely confuse consumers, resulting in a potential loss of goodwill for Kraft if customers blamed Kraft for any dissatisfaction with Cracker Barrel-branded meat products. The lawsuit specifically targeted the sale of food products under the Cracker Barrel name in grocery stores, while Kraft did not challenge the restaurant chain's right to sell products under the same name in its restaurants, country stores, or through mail order or online channels.

The case, known as "Kraft Foods Grp. Brands LLC v. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., No. 13-2559 (7th Cir. 2013)", resulted in an agreement between the two companies. The settlement allowed Cracker Barrel stores to sell meat products in grocery stores under the modified name "CB Old Country Store", while the name "Cracker Barrel" would be reserved for Kraft's cheese products.

The lawsuit was settled with a name change for the restaurant's products

The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, founded in 1969, is designed to evoke a nostalgic, old-fashioned feel. The decor is meant to resemble an old-fashioned general store, with wooden rocking chairs, a stone fireplace, and local decorative artifacts. The chain has over 600 locations in 45 states. The restaurant's name was inspired by the 19th-century practice of customers gathering around barrels of soda crackers in general stores to socialize and exchange news.

Similarly, Cracker Barrel cheese, introduced in 1954 by Kraft Foods, was also named after the same 19th-century tradition. The cheese was designed to fit perfectly on a cracker and is sold in long bricks rather than wheels or slices.

Despite the shared name and food-related offerings, the two brands are not related. For over 50 years, the restaurant and cheese co-existed peacefully. However, in 2013, a dispute arose when the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain decided to leverage its brand name to sell licensed products in grocery stores. They partnered with Smithfield Foods to sell packaged ham, bacon, and lunch meat under the Cracker Barrel name.

Kraft Foods, the owner of the Cracker Barrel cheese brand, took issue with this decision and filed a trademark infringement lawsuit. They argued that consumers would be confused by the similarity of the logos and might blame Kraft for any dissatisfaction with the restaurant's meat products. The lawsuit was eventually settled with a name change for the restaurant's products. The Cracker Barrel restaurants would sell their licensed products in grocery stores under the name "CB Old Country Store," while the Kraft cheese would continue to be sold under the Cracker Barrel name.

Frequently asked questions