LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) -- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. has named Norman Johnson as a board member, the restaurant operator said Monday.
Johnson, executive chairman of filtration company Clarcor and its former CEO, is one of seven new board members at Cracker Barrel within the past year and a half.
In May Cracker Barrel appointed Tom Barr, a vice president at coffee chain Starbucks Corp., and Glenn Davenport, a veteran food distribution executive, as board members. The Lebanon, Tenn., company also said at that time that directors B.F. "Jack" Lowery and Robert V. Dale plan to retire at the end of their terms.
Cracker Barrel previously announced that four of its 14 current board members don't plan to stand for re-election at its annual shareholders meeting on Nov. 15.
Restaurant business executive Sardar Biglari, who has a minority stake in Cracker Barrel, has pressed for changes on the company's board. Biglari was denied a seat on Cracker Barrel's board in December during the annual shareholders meeting. His firm, Biglari Holdings Inc., owns the Steak 'n Shake and Western Sizzlin restaurant chains.
Cracker Barrel has 616 company-owned restaurants in 42 states. Its stock shed 59 cents to $62.39 in morning trading.
