Why did they remove Aunt Jemima off the syrup? Cracker Barrel's logo change compared to the controversial rebranding of the syrup company

Aunt Jemima - Source: Getty
Aunt Jemima (Image via Getty Images)

Cracker Barrel's new logo received mixed reactions from netizens, with many comparing it to Quaker Oats' removal of Aunt Jemima from their syrup and pancake mix packaging.

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For the uninitiated, the US-based restaurant chain revealed its new logo on August 19, 2025. While the original logo featured a man leaning against a barrel, the redesign omits both the man and the barrel, leaving only the company's name on an orange background.

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In 2020, PepsiCo, the parent company of Quaker Oats, decided to retire the 'Aunt Jemima' brand and products following the 'Black Lives Matter Movement' after many accused the logo, which featured a Black woman, of being based on a racial stereotype.

“As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers’ expectations," Quaker Oats said in a statement at the time.
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According to CNN, Aunt Jemima was reportedly inspired by the song “Old Aunt Jemima” from a minstrel show performer. After the rebranding in 2021, PepsiCo. relaunched the syrup and pancake mix under the new name Pearl Milling Company.

Cracker Barrel's redesign has been met with backlash on social media, with many comparing it to the Aunt Jemima controversy, with an X user writing:

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Several internet users shared similar opinions, mentioning other companies that rebranded and removed beloved mascots.

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Exploring Cracker Barrel's rebranding

On August 19, the Southern-themed restaurant chain announced that it had gone back to its text-only logo after 48 years, removing the image of the man sitting next to a barrel that had been part of the logo since 1977. According to Fox News, the company said the new logo "is now rooted even more closely to the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all."

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"Anchored in Cracker Barrel’s signature gold and brown tones, the updated visuals will appear across menus and marketing collateral, including the fifth evolution of the brand’s logo, which is now rooted even more closely to the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all," the statement added.

Furthermore, the company added that the restaurant chain's "farm fresh scrambled eggs and buttermilk biscuits" inspired the "hues of a refreshed color palette" in the new logo. The logo was unveiled as part of the "All the More" campaign, which also features a new menu. The company's executives spoke in brief about the revamp.

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In a news release, Sarah Moore, the company's chief marketing officer, said the new design stays true to its values and story, adding that the revamp is about "honoring our legacy while bringing fresh energy, thoughtful craftsmanship and heartfelt hospitality to our guests."

On August 19, 2025, CEO Julie Felss Masino stressed this point during her interview with Good Morning America, saying:

“People like what we're doing. Cracker Barrel needs to feel like the Cracker Barrel for today and for tomorrow — the things that you love are still there. We need people to choose us, and we want people to choose us.”
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Massino added that the feedback for the rebrand has been "overwhelmingly positive," saying "the buzz is so good, not only from our customers, but from our team."

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Cracker Barrel has reportedly enlisted country singer Jordan Davis to promote its "All the More" campaign.

Edited by Shreya Das
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