SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended May 1, 1998
Commission file number 0-7536
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
A Tennessee Corporation I.R.S. EIN: 62-0812904
Hartmann Drive, P. O. Box 787
Lebanon, Tennessee 37088-0787
615-444-5533
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
62,378,150 Shares of Common Stock
Issued and Outstanding as of May 29, 1998
<PAGE> 1
PART I
Item 1. Financial Statements
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(In thousands, except share data)
<TABLE>
May 1, August 1,
1998 1997
____ ____
ASSETS (Unaudited) (Audited)
<S> <C> <C>
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 51,599 $ 64,933
Short-term investments -- 1,666
Receivable 3,698 4,836
Inventories 77,024 73,269
Prepaid expenses 3,674 4,707
________ ________
Total current assets 135,995 149,411
________ ________
Property and equipment, net 784,640 678,167
Other assets 15,296 1,127
________ ________
Total assets $935,931 $828,705
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 31,816 $ 27,422
Accrued expenses 62,552 57,669
Current portion of long-term debt 2,500 3,500
Current portion of other long-term
obligations 166 166
________ ________
Total current liabilities 97,034 88,757
________ ________
Long-term debt 59,500 62,000
Other long-term obligations 17,818 17,516
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock - $.50 par value,
authorized 150,000,000 shares,
issued and outstanding 62,078,534
at May 1, 1998 and 61,065,306
at August 1, 1997 31,170 30,533
Additional paid-in capital 244,581 211,850
Retained earnings 485,828 418,049
________ ________
Total stockholders' equity 761,579 660,432
________ ________
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $935,931 $828,705
======== ========
</TABLE>
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE> 2
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
__________________ __________________
May 1, May 2, May 1, May 2,
1998 1997 1998 1997
____ ____ ____ ____
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales:
Restaurant $248,078 $216,355 $722,445 $613,620
Retail 69,286 58,707 229,464 188,198
________ ________ ________ ________
Total sales 317,364 275,062 951,909 801,818
Cost of goods sold 107,422 92,447 330,549 279,333
________ ________ ________ ________
Gross profit on sales 209,942 182,615 621,360 522,485
Labor & related expenses 108,015 94,320 320,729 270,716
Other store operating expenses 47,785 40,491 143,927 119,525
________ ________ ________ ________
Store operating income 54,142 47,804 156,704 132,244
________ ________ ________ ________
General and administrative 15,480 14,904 48,028 44,011
________ ________ ________ ________
Operating income 38,662 32,900 108,676 88,233
Interest expense 262 729 2,159 1,087
Interest income 754 501 2,270 1,387
________ ________ ________ ________
Pretax income 39,154 32,672 108,787 88,533
Provision for income taxes 14,409 12,154 40,034 33,178
________ ________ ________ ________
Net income $ 24,745 $ 20,518 $ 68,753 $ 55,355
======== ======== ======== ========
Earnings per share:
Basic $ .40 $ .34 $ 1.12 $ .91
======== ======== ======== ========
Diluted $ .39 $ .33 $ 1.09 $ .90
======== ======== ======== ========
Weighted average shares:
Basic 62,037 60,901 61,641 60,759
======== ======== ======== ========
Diluted 63,578 61,640 62,888 61,336
======== ======== ======== ========
Dividends per share $ .005 $ .005 $ .015 $ .015
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE> 3
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
Nine Months Ended
_______________________
May 1, May 2,
1998 1997
____ ____
Cash flows from operating activities:
<S> <C> <C>
Net income $68,753 $55,355
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 32,266 27,995
Loss on disposition of property and equipment 242 23
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of
effects from acquisition:
Inventories (3,550) (14,797)
Other assets (1,060) (149)
Accounts payable 3,800 (4,818)
Other current assets and liabilities 7,033 3,060
_______ _______
Net cash provided by operating activities 107,484 66,669
_______ _______
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of investments -- (603)
Proceeds from maturities of investments 1,666 4,246
Purchase of property and equipment (141,762) (117,946)
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired (1,886) --
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 2,968 1,341
_______ _______
Net cash used in investing activities (139,014) (112,962)
_______ _______
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt -- 50,000
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 22,868 5,452
Principal payments under long-term debt
and capital lease obligations (3,698) (4,098)
Dividends on common stock (974) (911)
_______ _______
Net cash provided by financing activities 18,196 50,443
_______ _______
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash
equivalents (13,334) 4,150
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 64,933 28,971
_______ _______
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $51,599 $33,121
======= =======
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
information:
Cash paid during the nine months for:
Interest $ 3,217 $ 1,783
Income taxes 36,595 25,359
</TABLE>
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE> 4
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of May 1, 1998 and the related
condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the quarters and
nine-month periods ended May 1, 1998 and May 2, 1997, have been prepared by the
Company, without audit; in the opinion of management, all adjustments for a fair
presentation of such condensed consolidated financial statements have been made.
These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August
1, 1997.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company's independent auditors, have performed a
limited review of the financial information included herein. Their report on
such review accompanies this filing.
2. Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the quarter and nine-month period ended
May 1, 1998 has been computed based on management's estimate of the tax rate for
the entire fiscal year of 36.8%. The variation between the statutory tax rate
and the effective tax rate is due primarily to employer tax credits for FICA
taxes paid on tip income. The Company's effective tax rates for the quarter and
nine-month period ended May 2, 1997 and for the entire fiscal year of 1997 were
37.2%, 37.5% and 37.0%, respectively.
3. Seasonality
The sales and profits of the Company are affected significantly by seasonal
travel and vacation patterns because of its interstate highway locations.
Historically, the Company's greatest sales and profits have occurred during the
period of June through August. Early December through the last part of
February, excluding the Christmas holidays, has historically been the period of
lowest sales and profits. Therefore, the results of operations for the quarter
and nine-month period ended May 1, 1998 cannot be considered indicative of the
operating results for the full fiscal year.
4. Earnings per Share and Weighted Average Shares
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 128, "Earnings Per
Share," which requires presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share.
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common
shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the
reporting period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution
that could occur if securities, options or other contracts to issue common stock
were exercised or converted into common stock. As required, the Company adopted
the provisions of SFAS No. 128 in the quarter ended January 30, 1998. All prior
year weighted average and per share information has been restated in accordance
with SFAS No. 128. Outstanding stock options issued by the Company represent
the only dilutive effect reflected in diluted weighted average shares.
<PAGE> 5
5. Acquisition of wholly-owned subsidiary
On April 1, 1998, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of Carmine's
Prime Meats, Inc. for cash of $2,500 and common stock of $10,500. The
acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, and
accordingly, the purchase price has been allocated to the assets purchased and
the liabilities assumed based upon the fair values at the date of acquisition.
The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired
was $12,654 and has been recorded as goodwill, which is being amortized on a
straight-line basis over 20 years. The amount of goodwill amortization in the
third quarter was $53.
The net purchase price was allocated as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Current assets, other than cash acquired $ 205
Property and equipment 126
Other assets 15
Goodwill 12,654
Liabilities assumed 614
Purchase price, net of cash received $12,386
</TABLE>
The operating results of this acquired business have been included in
the consolidated statement of income from the date of the acquisition. On the
basis of a proforma consolidation of the results of operations as if the
acquisition had taken place at the beginning of fiscal 1997 rather than at April
1, 1998, consolidated net sales, net income and earnings per share would not
have been materially different from the reported amounts for fiscal 1997 and
1998. Such proforma amounts are not necessarily indicative of what the actual
consolidated results of operations might have been if the acquisition had been
effective at the beginning of fiscal 1997.
<PAGE> 6
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations (In thousands)
All dollar amounts reported or discussed in Item 2 are shown in thousands.
Except for specific historical information, many of the matters discussed in
this Form 10-Q may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures,
statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future
economic performance. Those, and similar statements are forward-looking
statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual performance of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Factors which
will affect actual results include, but are not limited to: the availability
and costs of acceptable sites for development; the ability of the Company to
retain qualified employees, and to recruit and train restaurant personnel in its
expansion locations; the acceptance of the Cracker Barrel concept as the Company
continues to expand into new geographic regions; continued successful
development of new and regional menu items; the continued success of the
Company's frequency-based Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Neighborhood program;
changes in or implementation of additional governmental rules and regulations
affecting wage and hour matters, health and safety and other areas affected by
governmental actions, and other factors described from time to time in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases
and other communications.
Results of Operations
The following table highlights operating results by percentage relationships
to total net sales for the quarter and nine-month period ended May 1, 1998 as
compared to the same periods a year ago:
<TABLE>
Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
__________________ __________________
May 1, May 2, May 1, May 2,
1998 1997 1998 1997
____ ____ ____ ____
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales:
Restaurant 78.2% 78.7% 75.9% 76.5%
Retail 21.8 21.3 24.1 23.5
_____ _____ _____ _____
Total net sales 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Cost of goods sold 33.8 33.6 34.7 34.8
_____ _____ _____ _____
Gross profit 66.2 66.4 65.3 65.2
Labor & related expenses 34.0 34.3 33.7 33.8
Other store operating
expenses 15.1 14.7 15.1 14.9
_____ _____ _____ _____
Store operating income 17.1 17.4 16.5 16.5
General and administrative 4.9 5.4 5.1 5.5
_____ _____ _____ _____
Operating income 12.2 12.0 11.4 11.0
Interest expense 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1
Interest income 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
_____ _____ _____ _____
Pretax income 12.3 11.9 11.4 11.1
Provision for income taxes 4.5 4.4 4.2 4.1
_____ _____ _____ _____
Net income 7.8% 7.5% 7.2% 7.0%
===== ===== ===== =====
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 7
Same Store Sales Analysis
257 Store Average
_________________
<TABLE>
Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
__________________ _____________________
May 1, May 2, May 1, May 2,
1998 1997 1998 1997
____ ____ ____ ____
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Restaurant $752.4 $745.3 $2,274.0 $2,222.5
Retail 203.6 200.6 708.6 679.5
______ ______ ________ ________
Restaurant & retail $956.0 $945.9 $2,982.6 $2,902.0
====== ====== ======== ========
</TABLE>
Sales
Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 1998 increased 15% compared to
last year's third quarter. Same store restaurant sales increased 1.0% and same
store retail sales increased 1.5%, for a total same store sales (restaurant and
retail) increase of 1.1%. Same store restaurant sales increased primarily due
to an effective 2.3% menu price increase throughout the quarter partially offset
by decreases in customer traffic. Same store retail sales increased primarily
due to an improved assortment of retail items in the stores. New stores
accounted for the balance of the third quarter net sales increase.
Net sales for the nine-month period ended May 1, 1998, increased 19%
compared to the nine-month period ended May 2, 1997. Same store restaurant
sales increased 2.3% and same store retail sales increased 4.3%, for a total
same store sales (restaurant and retail) increase of 2.8%. Same store
restaurant sales increased primarily due to an effective 2.5% menu price
increase for the period as a whole. Same store retail sales increased primarily
due to an improved assortment of retail items in the stores. New stores
accounted for the balance of the nine-month period net sales increase.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter of
fiscal 1998 increased to 33.8% from 33.6% in the third quarter of last year.
This increase was primarily due to higher produce prices as the result of
adverse weather conditions in California and an increasing mix of retail sales
which have a higher cost of goods than restaurant sales, partially offset by
improved initial mark-ons for retail merchandise.
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales for the nine-month period
ended May 1, 1998 decreased to 34.7% from 34.8% for the nine-month period ended
May 2, 1997. This decrease was primarily due to improved initial mark-ons for
retail merchandise, partially offset by an increasing mix of retail sales which
have a higher cost of goods than restaurant sales.
Labor and Related Expenses
Labor and related expenses include all direct and indirect labor and
related costs incurred in store operations. Labor and related expenses as a
percentage of net sales decreased to 34.0% in the third quarter this year from
34.3% last year. This decrease was primarily due to the lower bonus payouts
under the store-level bonus program instituted in fiscal 1997. This decrease
was partially offset by higher incremental labor expenses resulting from opening
22 stores in the third quarter of fiscal 1998 as compared to 15 stores opened in
the third quarter of fiscal 1997 and hourly wage inflation at the stores of
approximately 3%.
Labor and related expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 33.7%
in the nine-month period ended May 1, 1998 from 33.8% in the nine-month period
ended May 2, 1997. This decrease was primarily
<PAGE> 8
due to the net improvement in store-level, hourly labor, resulting from enhanced
operational productivity, partially offset by store-level, hourly wage inflation
of approximately 3%. This net decrease was partially offset by higher bonus
payouts under the store-level bonus program instituted in fiscal 1997.
Other Store Operating Expenses
Other store operating expenses include all unit-level operating costs, the
major components of which are operating supplies, repairs and maintenance,
advertising expenses, utilities and depreciation and amortization. Other store
operating expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 15.1% in the third
quarter of fiscal 1998 from 14.7% in the third quarter of last year. This
increase was primarily due to higher general liability insurance costs versus
the prior year.
Other store operating expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to
15.1% in the nine-month period ended May 1, 1998 from 14.9% in the nine-month
period ended May 2, 1997. This increase was primarily due to the incremental
advertising expense resulting from increased general advertising and the rollout
of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Neighborhood Program and higher general
liability insurance costs versus the prior year.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased
to 4.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 1998 from 5.4% in the third quarter of
last year. The primary reason for the decrease was increased sales volume as
compared to the third quarter of last year.
General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased
to 5.1% in the nine-month period ended May 1, 1998 from 5.5% in the nine-month
period ended May 1, 1997. The primary reason for the decrease was increased
sales volume as compared to the same nine-month period last year.
Interest Expense
Interest expense decreased to $262 in the third quarter of fiscal 1998 from
$729 in the third quarter of last year. The decrease primarily resulted from
the increased capitalized interest during the quarter as a result of the
increase in the number of new stores under construction as compared to last
year.
Interest expense increased to $2,159 in the nine-month period ended May 1,
1998 from $1,087 in the nine-month period ended May 2, 1997. The increase
resulted from the Company drawing on the $50,000 term loan on December 2, 1996.
Interest Income
Interest income increased to $754 in the third quarter of fiscal 1998 from
$501 in the third quarter of last year. The increase was primarily due to
higher average funds available for investment.
Interest income increased to $2,270 in the nine-month period ended May 1,
1998 from $1,387 in the nine-month period ended May 2, 1997. The increase was
primarily due to lower average funds available for investment.
<PAGE> 9
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In June 1997, SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," was issued.
SFAS No. 130 specifies how to report and display comprehensive income and its
components. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1997, with restatement of all prior periods shown. The Company
will adopt SFAS No. 130 in the first quarter of fiscal 1999. In June 1997, SFAS
No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,"
was issued. SFAS No. 131 requires the disclosure of certain information about
operating segments in the financial statements. This statement is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997, with restatement of all prior
periods shown if not impracticable to do so. The Company will adopt SFAS No.
131 in the first quarter of fiscal 1999. In March 1998, the FASB issued
Statement of Position ("SOP") 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer
Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." This statement is effective
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998 at the beginning of the
fiscal year on a prospective basis. The Company will adopt SOP 98-1 in the
first quarter of fiscal 2000. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS
Nos. 130 or 131 or SOP 98-1 to have a material effect on the Company's
consolidated financial statements.
Year 2000 Compliance
As the year 2000 approaches, a critical business issue has emerged
regarding how existing application software programs and operating systems can
accommodate this date value. Many existing application software products in the
marketplace were designed to accommodate only two-digit date entries. As a
result, computer systems and software used by many companies may need to be
upgraded to comply with such "Year 2000" requirements. Beginning in the
Company's fiscal year 2000, the computer systems and software programs of the
Company and its vendors will need to be able to accept four-digit entries to
distinguish years beginning with 2000 from prior years. While the Company has
developed a plan to ensure that its software applications and programs are Year
2000 compliant, there can be no assurance that such plan will be implemented in
a timely and effective manner or that coding errors or other defects will not be
discovered after its implementation. The Company has also initiated formal
communications with its significant vendors to determine the extent to which the
Company is vulnerable to those third parties' failure to remediate their own
Year 2000 issues. Although management does not believe the Year 2000 issues
will have a material adverse effect on the Company's business or financial
condition, any Year 2000 compliance problem of the Company or its suppliers
could result in such a material adverse affect.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company's operating activities provided net cash of $107,484 for the
nine-month period ended May 1, 1998. Most of this cash was provided by net
income adjusted for depreciation and amortization. Decreases in other current
assets and increases in accounts payable and other current liabilities were
partially offset by increases in inventories and other assets.
Capital expenditures were $141,762 for the nine-month period ended May 1,
1998. Land purchases and the construction of new stores accounted for
substantially all of these expenditures. Capitalized interest was $563 and
$1,549 for the quarter and nine-month period ended May 1, 1998, respectively, as
compared to $545 and $1,899 for the quarter and nine-month period ended May 2,
1997, respectively. These differences were primarily due to the timing of new
store construction in fiscal 1998 as compared to the same period a year ago.
The Company's internally generated cash and short-term investments were
sufficient to finance all of its growth in the first nine months of fiscal 1998.
<PAGE> 10
The Company estimates that its capital expenditures for fiscal 1998 will be
approximately $190,000, substantially all of which will be land purchases and
the construction of new stores. On December 2, 1996 the Company received the
proceeds from a $50,000 5-year term loan bearing interest at a three-month
LIBOR-based rate ("London Interbank Offered Rate"). Concurrently, the Company
entered into a swap agreement with a bank to fix the interest rate at 6.36% for
the life of the term loan. This $50,000 term loan is part of a $125,000 bank
credit facility that also includes a $75,000 revolver. Management believes that
cash at May 1, 1998, along with cash generated from the Company's operating
activities, will be sufficient to finance its continued expansion plans through
fiscal 1999.
<PAGE> 11
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Lebanon, Tennessee
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. as of May 1, 1998, and the related
condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the quarters and
nine-month periods ended May 1, 1998 and May 2, 1997. These financial statements
are the responsibility of the Company's management.
We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial
information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial
data and of making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting
matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the
objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial
statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should
be made to such condensed consolidated financial statements for them to be in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, the consolidated balance sheet of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store,
Inc. as of August 1, 1997, and the related consolidated statements of income,
stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented
herein); and in our report dated September 10, 1997, we expressed an unqualified
opinion on those financial statements. In our opinion, the information set
forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of August 1,
1997 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the balance
sheet from which it has been derived.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
June 11, 1998
<PAGE> 12
PART II
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
_________________
None.
Item 2. Changes in Securities
_____________________
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
_______________________________
None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
___________________________________________________
None.
Item 5. Other Information
_________________
None.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
________________________________
(a) The following exhibits are filed pursuant to Item 601 of
Regulation S-K
(15)Letter regarding unaudited financial information.
(b) No reports on Form 8-K have been filed during the quarter for
which this report is filed.
<PAGE> 13
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
Date: 6/11/98 By /s/Michael A. Woodhouse
_________ _____________________________________________
Michael A. Woodhouse, Chief Financial Officer
Date: 6/11/98 By /s/Patrick A. Scruggs
_________ _____________________________________________
Patrick A. Scruggs, Assistant Treasurer
<PAGE> 14
June 11, 1998
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Hartmann Drive
Lebanon, Tennessee 37088-0787
We have made a review, in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, of the unaudited interim financial
information of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. for the quarters and
nine-month periods ended May 1, 1998 and May 2, 1997, as indicated in our report
dated June 11, 1998; because we did not perform an audit, we expressed no
opinion on that information.
We are aware that our report referred to above, which is included in your
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 1, 1998, is incorporated
by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 2-86602, 33-15775, 33-37567,
33-45482 and 333-01465 on Forms S-8 and Registration Statement No. 33-59582 on
Form S-3.
We also are aware that the aforementioned report, pursuant to Rule 436(c) under
the Securities Act of 1933, is not considered a part of the Registration
Statement prepared or certified by an accountant or a report prepared or
certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
<PAGE> 15
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 1, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> AUG-2-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAY-1-1998
<CASH> 51,599
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 3,698
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 77,024
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 135,995
<PP&E> 966,477
<DEPRECIATION> 181,837
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 935,931
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 97,034
<BONDS> 59,500
0
0
<COMMON> 31,170
<OTHER-SE> 730,409
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 935,931
<SALES> 951,909
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 951,909
<CGS> 330,549
<TOTAL-COSTS> 464,656
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 48,028
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,159
<INCOME-PRETAX> 108,787
<INCOME-TAX> 40,034
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 68,753
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 68,753
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.12
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.09
</TABLE>
