Bob Evans vs Cracker Barrel

Kim Luttman

Instructor: GINA ZAFFINO

Bus 508/ Contemporary Business

November 04, 2012

Abstract

There are two icons that come to mind when you mention home-style cooking and customer satisfaction and they would be Bob Evans and Cracker Barrel both have been around for decades. The country cooking, the smell of grandma’s kitchen and the great feeling of being home. Both these restaurants have made their mark in our society, Bob Evans from the north and Cracker Barrel from the mid-south both stretching all over the country. Cracker Barrel made its way down the interstates with their location right off the exits, an inviting front porch with rocking chairs just waiting to be sat in, and a general store to browse through while you were waiting to be seated for breakfast or dinner, or to just pick up that something special for the trip home. These are just a few things that bring out the best of Cracker Barrel. Bob Evans is the true meaning of down on the farm, the hospitality of your friends and family that can’t be beat. The smell of the fresh biscuits and rolls baking to the smell of sausage cooking in the kitchen. The warm welcome to come on in and stay awhile, it’s simply a great quality meal whether it’s just to taste the famous homemade sausage, or try a homestead breakfast , a meatloaf dinner or a fresh piece of pumpkin pie the choice is yours. Bob Evans has expanded throughout the country it might not always be on an exit but it’s nearby located in local communities and can now also by found in the grocery store. In the hustle and bustle of our society there are so many choices being made on a daily basis from the simplest decision of what to wear to the complex decision of how to balance household expenses. When it comes to the basic need of food, the options are just as broad; preparing food at home, vending machine, fast food, casual dining out or just not eating. The variety of food choices can be just as overwhelming, but the decision is up to the individual’s preference. The category of casual dining with home-style cooking leads many consumers think of one of the two restaurants; Bob Evans and/or Cracker Barrel both have a large number of loyal repeat customers. Both offer many of the same type entrée’s but both have their own special touch. For example Cracker Barrel offers an individual heated syrup bottle for their pancakes, while Bob Evans does have heated syrup, just not individual bottles. The two companies’ offer their own views of “home-style”; Bob Evans being from the north and Cracker Barrel being mid-south, both put a spin on their own concepts. Although both do put the customer at the highest level for satisfaction, their ideals change on the approach. Cracker Barrel is a step back in time, a simple concept that conveys a warm welcome home; they have a general store as you enter the establishment selling nostalgic items, candies and crafts. The warm inviting scent of country goodness fills the room. The dining area has a fireplace conveying a warm welcome and the décor is from an earlier time of yesteryear. These simple ideas keep customers coming back. The concept is to make you feel like family coming home again. The founder Dan Evins made it a mission “Pleasing People” keeping things simple it is all about mutual respect (Heritage & History, retrieved Nov.03, 2012).
Cracker Barrel holds the “Pleasing People” mission in all of its aspects of doing business. The employees are provided with the tools, training and expectations to follow the mission. The vendors must adhere to give the quality product and services that company and customers expect and rely on. The belief of keeping the long term interest of the company is providing a balance in all areas including shareholders, by doing this it is not only how the company profits, it is how they