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Correspondence 0001104659-24-047682 from CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC (CBRL) (CIK 0001067294) (CBRL)

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC (CBRL) (CIK 0001067294)
Date: April 16, 2024 · CIK: 0001067294 · Accession: 0001104659-24-047682

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

File numbers found in text: 001-25225

Referenced dates: March 20, 2024

Date
April 16, 2024
Author
/s/ Craig Pommells
Form
CORRESP
Company
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC (CBRL) (CIK 0001067294)

Letter

Via EDGAR Division of Corporation Finance, Office of Trade & Services Attention: James Giugliano Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended July 28, 2023 Form 8-K Filed February 27, Response dated March 20, 2024 File No. 001-25225

Dear Mr. Giugliano and Mr. Parker:

We hereby submit the Registrant’s response to the comment of the Staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) conveyed in a letter to the Registrant dated April 2, 2024 in connection with the Staff’s review of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2023, the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 27, 2024, and the Registrant’s response letter dated March 20, 2024. For your convenience, we have reproduced the Staff’s comment in bold preceding our response.

Form 8-K Filed February 27, 2024

Exhibit 99.1 – Press Release issued by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. dated February 27, 2024 (the “Q2 Earnings Release”)

Adjusted Operating Income and Earnings Per Share, page 8

1. We note in your response to prior comment 2 that GAAP requires recognition of the amortization expense of the asset resulting from the sale and leaseback transactions. The adjustment in question appears to have the effect of modifying the measurement and recognition principles of lease accounting for the amortization resulting from the sale and leaseback transactions. Accordingly, this adjustment appears inconsistent with Question 100.04 of the Non-GAAP Financial Measures Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations. Please remove this adjustment from your non-GAAP measures or tell us why it is appropriate within the context of Question 100.04.

Response:

The Registrant acknowledges the Staff’s comment, and, after careful consideration, has determined in future filings not to present an adjustment within Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income or Adjusted Earnings Per Share in respect of the non-cash amortization from the gains on the sale and leaseback transactions.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

April 16, 2024

Page 2

Based on consistent feedback from investors since the sale and leaseback transactions were undertaken, the Registrant continues to believe that it would be useful to present a non-GAAP measure that includes an adjustment for the non-cash amortization of the asset realized from the gains on the sale and leaseback transactions and other limited non-cash items that the Registrant believes are not reflective of its operating performance, such as the non-cash expenses related to shared-based compensation. The Registrant believes that it would be best to make the foregoing adjustments in its presentation of Adjusted EBITDA.

The Registrant believes that excluding these non-cash items as part of its presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, when taken together with the primary presentation of net income, operating income and earnings per share, in each case calculated in accordance with GAAP, will provide useful information to its investors regarding its operating performance. The Registrant anticipates that this modified presentation will be substantially similar to the reconciliation included in Appendix A, which has been illustratively amended for the Staff’s reference.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

April 16, 2024

Page 3

If you have any questions regarding the Registrant’s responses to the Staff’s comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at (615) 235-4352 or Rich Wolfson, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, at (615) 235-4003.

Sincerely,
/s/ Craig Pommells

Show Raw Text
CORRESP
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Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

305 Hartmann Drive

Lebanon, Tennessee 37087-4779

April 16, 2024

Via EDGAR

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance, Office of Trade & Services

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

  Attention:
  James Giugliano

Joel Parker

 Re: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (the “Registrant”)

Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year
Ended July 28, 2023

Form 8-K Filed February 27,
2024

Response dated March 20, 2024

File No. 001-25225

Dear Mr. Giugliano and Mr. Parker:

We hereby submit the Registrant’s response
to the comment of the Staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) conveyed
in a letter to the Registrant dated April 2, 2024 in connection with the Staff’s review of the Registrant’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2023, the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 27,
2024, and the Registrant’s response letter dated March 20, 2024. For your convenience, we have reproduced the Staff’s
comment in bold preceding our response.

Form 8-K Filed February 27, 2024

Exhibit 99.1 – Press Release
issued by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. dated February 27, 2024 (the “Q2 Earnings Release”)

Adjusted Operating Income and Earnings Per
Share, page 8

 1. We note in your response to prior comment 2 that GAAP requires recognition of the amortization expense
of the asset resulting from the sale and leaseback transactions. The adjustment in question appears to have the effect of modifying the
measurement and recognition principles of lease accounting for the amortization resulting from the sale and leaseback transactions. Accordingly,
this adjustment appears inconsistent with Question 100.04 of the Non-GAAP Financial Measures Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations.
Please remove this adjustment from your non-GAAP measures or tell us why it is appropriate within the context of Question 100.04.

Response:

The Registrant acknowledges the Staff’s
comment, and, after careful consideration, has determined in future filings not to present an adjustment within Adjusted Operating Income,
Adjusted Net Income or Adjusted Earnings Per Share in respect of the non-cash amortization from the gains on the sale and leaseback transactions.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

April 16, 2024

Page 2

Based on consistent feedback from investors since
the sale and leaseback transactions were undertaken, the Registrant continues to believe that it would be useful to present a non-GAAP
measure that includes an adjustment for the non-cash amortization of the asset realized from the gains on the sale and leaseback transactions
and other limited non-cash items that the Registrant believes are not reflective of its operating performance, such as the non-cash expenses
related to shared-based compensation. The Registrant believes that it would be best to make the foregoing adjustments in its presentation
of Adjusted EBITDA.

The Registrant believes that excluding these non-cash
items as part of its presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, when taken together with the primary presentation of net income, operating income
and earnings per share, in each case calculated in accordance with GAAP, will provide useful information to its investors regarding its
operating performance. The Registrant anticipates that this modified presentation will be substantially similar to the reconciliation
included in Appendix A, which has been illustratively amended for the Staff’s reference.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

April 16, 2024

Page 3

If
you have any questions regarding the Registrant’s responses to the Staff’s comments, please do not hesitate to contact me
at (615) 235-4352 or Rich Wolfson, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, at (615) 235-4003.

 Sincerely,

  /s/ Craig Pommells

  Craig Pommells

  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

  cc:
  Brian T. Vaclavik, Vice President, Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting
Officer

  Richard M. Wolfson, Senior
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

April 16, 2024

Page 4

APPENDIX A

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

Reconciliation of GAAP-Basis Operating Results
to Non-GAAP Operating Results

(Unaudited and in thousands)

EBITDA/Adjusted EBITDA

In
the accompanying press release, the Company makes reference to its second quarter fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024 EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA.
The Company defines EBITDA as net income excluding depreciation and amortization, interest expense and tax expense. In regard to
fiscal 2023, the Company further adjusts EBITDA to exclude expenses related to the non-cash amortization of the asset recognized from
the gains on sale and leaseback transactions, share-based compensation, the proxy contest and settlement in connection with the Company’s
2022 annual meeting of shareholders and the related tax impacts. In regard to fiscal 2024, the Company further adjusts EBITDA to exclude
expenses related to the non-cash amortization of the asset recognized from the gains on sale and leaseback transactions, share-based compensation,
expenses related to the Company’s CEO transition, expenses associated with a strategic transformation initiative, a corporate restructuring
charge, and an employee benefits policy change and the related tax impacts. The Company believes that presentation of EBITDA and adjusted
EBITDA provides investors with an enhanced understanding of the Company's operating performance and debt leverage metrics and enhances
comparability with the Company’s historical results, and that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure, when combined
with the primary presentation of net income, is beneficial to an investor’s complete understanding of the Company’s operating
performance. This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income prepared in accordance with
GAAP.

    Second
    Quarter Ended

 January 26, 2024
    Six Months
    Ended

 January 26, 2024

    Net
    Income
    $ 26,534
    $ 31,990

     (+)
    Depreciation & amortization
      27,759
      54,428

     (+)
    Interest expense
      5,067
      10,005

     (+)
    Tax expense (tax benefit)
      (839 )
      180

    EBITDA
    $ 58,521
    $ 96,603

    Adjustments

     (+)
    CEO transition expenses (1)
      3,473
      5,109

     (+)
    Strategic transformation initiative expenses
      3,815
      4,956

     (+)
    Corporate restructuring charge
      0
      1,643

     (+)
    Amortization of asset recognized from gain on sale and leaseback transactions
      3,184
      6,368

     (+)
    Share-based compensation (excludes amounts related to CEO transition)
      1,893
      3,288

     (-)
    Employee benefits policy change
      (5,284 )
      (5,284 )

    Adjusted
    EBITDA
    $ 65,602
    $ 112,683

    Second Quarter Ended January 27, 2023
    Six Months Ended January 27, 2023

    Net
    Income
    $ 30,491
    $ 47,620

     (+)
    Depreciation & amortization
      25,570
      50,361

     (+)
    Interest expense
      4,408
      7,940

     (+)
    Tax expense
      4,072
      7,030

    EBITDA
    $ 64,541
    $ 112,951

    Adjustments

     (+)
    Proxy contest and settlement expenses
      0
      3,198

     (+)
    Amortization of asset recognized from gain on sale and leaseback transactions
      3,184
      6,368

     (+)
    Share-based Compensation
      2,689
      5,111

    Adjusted
    EBITDA
    $ 70,414
    $ 127,628

(1) Includes share-based compensation in the second quarter and
six months ended of $2,738 and $2,965, respectively.