Survey finds Americans feel challenged to maintain tradition of family mealtime and are looking to restaurants for help in developing meaningful connections at the table
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced the return of guest-favorite Campfire Meals, a one-of-a-kind experience that stimulates the senses by recalling memories of cherished time spent with loved ones around a campfire, available at Cracker Barrel locations nationwide now through August 14, 2016. Campfire Meals allow families to reconnect this summer around their own “campfire” at the table.
To coincide with this, Cracker Barrel released the findings of its Cracker Barrel Campfire Survey, which found that more than 9 in 10 Americans say family mealtime is important but more than three out of four admit they could do a better job at making time to sit down with friends and family at the table. Millennial parents in particular experience a challenge in finding time for family meals – 92 percent say they could do a better job, according to the survey.
To help guests create a unique experience and draw everyone around the table, Cracker Barrel will offer its famous Campfire Meals in three delicious ways. Campfire Chicken and Campfire Beef are available beginning today and Campfire Mixed Grill will release later this summer. Delivered right to the table in a unique, tightly wrapped foil cooking package that mingles fresh vegetables and a flavorful spice blend to create a savory, memorable taste, the aroma of Campfire Meals stir the senses to help guests make memories that will last a lifetime.
The Cracker Barrel Campfire Survey, which explored the important role of mealtime for families, revealed that the largest barriers to spending meaningful time together are amount of free time and distance. For millennial parents, getting everyone around the table is only half the battle – the top two barriers they cited were amount of free time (81 percent), followed closely by distractions at the table (80 percent). The survey also found that the most important way restaurants can help Americans form the meaningful connections they desire is by providing special occasions to connect with family and friends.
In particular, parents of young children are looking to restaurants to help them make mealtimes special. The survey found that millennial parents are the most likely to say the following things were important:
- Unique experiences to make memories (91 percent)
- Opportunities for children to learn (85 percent)
- A space with few distractions (84 percent)
- Timely promotions or activities that tie into the season (82 percent)
“Since first released in 1997, our Campfire Meals have become wildly popular – guests always ask when they will return next,” said Cracker Barrel Vice President of Marketing Don Hoffman. “Few products succeed in establishing this type of craving. What our guests love most about visiting Cracker Barrel is an experience that helps forge authentic connections with loved ones at the table, away from the distractions of busy day-to-day life. Campfire Meals recall the outdoor fun of camping under the stars, a favorite memory for many, and we are looking forward to helping guests build connections at Cracker Barrel by recreating that magic this summer.”
Based on the huge appeal of Campfire Meals in previous years, Cracker Barrel expects to serve more than 3.8 million Campfire Meals this summer. Campfire Chicken is offered for $9.99 from May 2 through August 14, while Campfire Beef is available until June 26 for $10.99. For the first time, Cracker Barrel will offer Campfire Mixed Grill, which is slow-roasted with savory USDA choice beef chuck roast and smoked sausage, from June 27 through August 14 for $10.99. Every Campfire Meal comes with a choice of made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins.
The Cracker Barrel Campfire Survey was conducted through an online omnibus survey by Edelman Intelligence on behalf of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and over between April 18 and April 22, 2016. The margin of error for this sample is +/- 3.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.
