Dive Summary:
- Cracker Barrel has entered into a multiyear licensing agreement with Smithfield Foods' John Morrell Food Group, and the deal should get the restaurant's products into new retail locations, including grocery stores and other outlets.
- In-store arrival dates have not been announced, but offerings that appear in non-CB stores may include pancake and corn muffin mixes, cobbler filling and syrup.
- The Christian Science Monitor reports that retail currently accounts for 20% of Cracker Barrel's annual revenues.
From the article:
"... Stephen Anderson, an analyst with Miller Tabak, said that using a licensing agreement is smart because it puts most of the risk on John Morrell if the venture fails. John Morrell also has a large presence in Western states where Cracker Barrel currently has little or no footprint. ..."