Cracker Barrel Reports Results for First Quarter Fiscal 2013

Positive Comparable Store Traffic, Restaurant and Retail Sales in the Quarter

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (“Cracker Barrel” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CBRL) today reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 ended November 2, 2012.

First-Quarter Fiscal 2013 Highlights

• Compared to the prior year first quarter, comparable store traffic increased 0.8%, comparable store restaurant sales increased 3.3% and comparable store retail sales increased 1.6%
• Fourth consecutive quarter of positive comparable traffic, restaurant sales and retail sales, and outperformance of the Knapp-Track^TM casual dining index.
• On a GAAP basis, operating income margin was 7.2% of total revenue, compared with 7.5% in the prior year quarter. Adjusted for proxy contest and severance expenses, adjusted operating income margin was 7.8% of total revenue, compared with 7.8% in the prior year quarter. (See non-GAAP reconciliation below.)

First-Quarter Fiscal 2013 Results

Revenue

The Company reported total revenue of $627.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013, representing an increase of 4.8% over the first quarter of the prior year. Comparable store restaurant sales increased 3.3%, including a 2.5% increase in average check. The average menu price increase for the quarter was approximately 2.0%. Comparable store retail sales were up 1.6% for the quarter. During the quarter, the Company opened four new Cracker Barrel stores, and has opened an additional store since the end of the quarter for a total of five new store openings year-to-date.

Comparable store restaurant traffic, average check and comparable store restaurant and retail sales for the fiscal months of August, September and October and for the first quarter were as follows:

Fiscal 2012 was a 53-week year. For Fiscal 2013, the Company calculates comparable store traffic, check and sales using the corresponding prior year weeks.

Operating Income

Operating income was $45.3 million, or 7.2% of total revenue, in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 compared with $44.6 million, or 7.5% of total revenue, in the first quarter of the prior year. Adjusted for proxy contest and severance expenses, adjusted operating income was $49.2 million, or 7.8% of total revenue, in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, compared with adjusted operating income of $46.6 million, or 7.8% of total revenue, in the prior year quarter. Operating income in the first quarter of the prior year included a net benefit of $5.5 million, or 0.9% of total revenue, resulting collectively from a favorable premium adjustment related to health insurance, a reduction in worker’s compensation expense and a favorable litigation settlement, partially offset by expenses related to a non-annual companywide managers’ conference.

Diluted Earnings Per Share

On a GAAP basis, earnings per diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 were $0.97, compared with $1.03 in the prior year quarter. Adjusted for severance and proxy contest expenses, adjusted earnings per diluted share were $1.08, compared with adjusted earnings per diluted share of $1.09 in the prior year quarter. The effective income tax rate in the quarter increased to 33.0%, compared with 28.9% in the prior year quarter, due primarily to the expiration of the Work Opportunities Tax Credit. The higher tax rate in the quarter reduced earnings per diluted share by $0.06.

Commenting on the first-quarter results, Cracker Barrel President and Chief Executive Officer Sandra B. Cochran said, “We are pleased with our first quarter results, which represent our fourth consecutive quarter of increased year-over-year traffic and sales. This quarter’s results exceeded our expectations and reflect the operational improvements and general and administrative savings implemented in fiscal 2012 and the early execution by our management team and employees of our business priorities for fiscal 2013."

Fiscal 2013 Outlook

Based upon year-to-date financial performance, continued food commodity pressures and the remaining uncertainty in the economic environment, the Company re-affirmed its previous full year earnings guidance. For fiscal 2013, the Company expects total revenue of between $2.6 billion and $2.65 billion and adjusted earnings per diluted share of between $4.50 and $4.70. The revenue projection for fiscal 2013 reflects the expected opening of 9 to 11 new Cracker Barrel stores and projected increases in comparable store restaurant and retail sales in a range of 2.0% to 3.0%. The Company projects an adjusted operating income margin of between 7.3% and 7.5% of revenues.

The Company expects to report adjusted earnings per diluted share for the second quarter of 2013 of between $1.22 and $1.27. The Company reminds investors that its outlook for fiscal 2013 reflects a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company’s control.

Fiscal 2013 First-Quarter Conference Call

As previously announced, the live broadcast of Cracker Barrel’s quarterly conference call will be available to the public on-line at investor.crackerbarrel.com on November 29, 2012, beginning at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). An on-line replay will be available at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and continue through December 13, 2012.

About Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that’s surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America’s country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurants serve up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n’ dumplins as well as our signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 621 company-owned locations in 42 states. Every Cracker Barrel store is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit: crackerbarrel.com.

CBRL-F

Except for specific historical information, certain of the matters discussed in this press release may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. These, and similar statements are forward-looking statements concerning matters that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual performance of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. and its subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this discussion. All forward-looking information is subject to completion of our financial procedures for Q1 FY13 and is provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these factors. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "trends," "assumptions," "target," "guidance," "outlook," "opportunity," "future," "plans," "goals," "objectives," "expectations," "near-term," "long-term," "projection," "may," "will," "would," "could," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "potential," "regular," "should," "projects," "forecasts," or "continue" (or the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar terminology and include the expected effects of operational improvement initiatives, such as new menu items and retail offerings. Factors which could materially affect actual results include, but are not limited to: the effects of uncertain consumer confidence, higher costs for energy, general or regional economic weakness, weather on sales and customer travel, and discretionary income or personal expenditure activity of our customers; our ability to identify, acquire and sell successful new lines of retail merchandise and new menu items at our restaurants; our ability to successfully implement or sustain plans intended to improve operational or marketing execution and performance; changes in or implementation of additional governmental or regulatory rules, regulations and interpretations affecting tax, wage and hour matters, health and safety, pensions, insurance or other undeterminable areas; our ability to successfully implement plans intended to promote or protect our brands and products; commodity price increases; the ability of and cost to us to recruit, train, and retain qualified hourly and management employees in an escalating wage environment; the effects of increased competition at our locations on sales and on labor recruiting, cost, and retention; workers' compensation, group health and utility price changes; consumer behavior based on negative publicity or concerns over nutritional or safety aspects of our food or products or those of the restaurant industry in general, including concerns about pandemics, as well as the possible effects of such events on the price or availability of ingredients used in our restaurants; the effects of our substantial indebtedness and associated restrictions on our financial and operating flexibility and ability to execute or pursue our operating plans and objectives; changes in interest rates or capital market conditions affecting our financing costs and ability to refinance all or portions of our indebtedness; the effects of business trends on the outlook for individual restaurant locations and the effect on the carrying value of those locations; the availability and cost of suitable sites for restaurant development and our ability to identify those sites; changes in land, building materials and construction costs; the actual results of pending, future or threatened litigation or governmental investigations and the costs and effects of negative publicity associated with these activities; practical or psychological effects of natural disasters or terrorist acts or war and military or government responses; disruptions to our restaurant or retail supply chain; changes in foreign exchange rates affecting our future retail inventory purchases; implementation of new or changes in interpretation of existing accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, and other communications.

Any forward-looking statement made by us herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. We expressly disclaim any intent, obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP basis operating
results to adjusted non-GAAP operating results
(Unaudited and in thousands)

The Company makes reference in this release to “adjusted operating income,” “adjusted net income,” “adjusted earnings per diluted share,” and “adjusted general and administrative expenses,” excluding the impact of severance and proxy contest expenses. The Company believes that excluding these items and their related tax effects from its financial results reflects operating results that are more indicative of the Company's ongoing operating performance while improving comparability to prior periods, and as such, may provide investors with an enhanced understanding of the Company's past financial performance and prospects for the future. This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income, or earnings per share or expense information prepared in accordance with GAAP.