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Cracker Barrel has a tough quarter

The Week in Restaurants: This week’s episode of the restaurant news discussion podcast looks at layoffs at Cracker Barrel, Pieology’s bankruptcy filing and a Hardee’s lawsuit. By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 12, 2025

Cracker Barrel’s tough quarter has resulted in some layoffs.

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants examines the family-dining chain’s tough quarter and its corporate restructuring, which is resulting in layoffs.

In addition, we discuss the bankruptcy filing of Pieology and what it says about the state of fast-casual pizza chains.

Meanwhile, Hardee’s sued another big franchisee. Why is the burger chain having challenges?

And on Tech Check, Joe talks about his 2026 predictions.

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News  The Week in Restaurants  Bankruptcy 
Restaurant Business Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze is a longtime industry journalist who writes about restaurant finance, mergers and acquisitions and the economy, with a particular focus on quick-service restaurants.
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