Cracker Barrel (CBRL) advances Jennifer Lankford to General Counsel role

Filing Impact

(Moderate)

Filing Sentiment

(Neutral)

Form Type

8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. announced a leadership change in its legal department. Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Richard Wolfson, who had planned to retire on May 5, 2026, will instead take early retirement effective May 1, 2026 following a successful transition process under his Consulting Agreement.

Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Jennifer Lankford has been promoted to Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, effective upon Mr. Wolfson’s retirement. Mr. Wolfson will receive the previously disclosed benefits under his Consulting Agreement, now terminated, and his outstanding incentive compensation awards will settle under the applicable equity incentive plans, prorated to his actual retirement date.

8-K Event Classification

Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers

1 item

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Key Figures

Original retirement date: May 5, 2026 Actual retirement date: May 1, 2026 Consulting Agreement notice date: December 5, 2025

3 metrics

Original retirement date May 5, 2026 Planned retirement timing under Consulting Agreement

Actual retirement date May 1, 2026 Effective early retirement date for Richard Wolfson

Consulting Agreement notice date December 5, 2025 Date Wolfson notified the company of intent to retire

Key Terms

Consulting Agreement, equity incentive plans, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, succession planning process

4 terms

Consulting Agreement financial

"as contemplated under the terms of his Consulting Agreement with the Company"

equity incentive plans financial

"awards will settle in accordance with the terms of the equity incentive plans"

Equity incentive plans are company programs that pay employees, executives, or directors with company stock, stock options, or share units instead of or in addition to cash, aiming to align their interests with shareholders—like giving team members a stake in the house they help build. For investors this matters because such plans can motivate better company performance but also dilute existing ownership and increase reported compensation costs, so they affect future earnings, voting power, and share value.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary financial

"as the Company’s next Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary"

succession planning process financial

"a successful transition and succession planning process facilitated by this advance notice"

The succession planning process is a strategic approach organizations use to identify and develop future leaders to ensure smooth transitions when key people leave or retire. It helps maintain stability and continuity, much like passing the torch in a relay race to ensure the team keeps moving forward without losing momentum. For investors, effective succession planning signals strong leadership continuity and long-term stability.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

05/01/2026 - 04:30 PM

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): May 1, 2026

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Tennessee

001-25225

62-0812904

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

305 Hartmann Drive, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip code)

(615) 444-5533

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01) Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (Par Value $0.01)		CBRL		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Global Select Market)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

As previously reported, on December 5, 2025, the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (the “Company”), Richard Wolfson, notified the Company of his intent to retire on May 5, 2026, as contemplated under the terms of his Consulting Agreement with the Company. In recognition of a successful transition and succession planning process facilitated by this advance notice, the Board of Directors of the Company determined that Mr. Wolfson could take early retirement on May 1, 2026, and promoted the Company’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Jennifer Lankford, as the Company’s next Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary effective upon Mr. Wolfson’s retirement. Mr. Wolfson will receive the previously disclosed benefits under the Consulting Agreement, which is now terminated, and his previously granted incentive compensation awards will settle in accordance with the terms of the equity incentive plans pursuant to which such awards were granted, in each case prorated relative to Mr. Wolfson’s retirement date.

SIGNATURE

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, hereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 1, 2026	CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

	By:	/s/ Jennifer Lankford
	Name:	Jennifer Lankford
	Title:	Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

FAQ

What executive change did Cracker Barrel (CBRL) disclose in this 8-K?

Cracker Barrel reported that Richard Wolfson will retire as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary on May 1, 2026. Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Jennifer Lankford will assume that role effective upon his retirement.

When will Cracker Barrel’s General Counsel Richard Wolfson retire?

Richard Wolfson will retire from his role as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary on May 1, 2026. This represents an early retirement compared with his original May 5, 2026 timeline under his Consulting Agreement.

Who will be Cracker Barrel’s new General Counsel after Wolfson retires?

Cracker Barrel promoted Jennifer Lankford, previously Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, to Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Her promotion becomes effective upon Richard Wolfson’s retirement on May 1, 2026, ensuring continuity in the company’s legal leadership.

What happens to Richard Wolfson’s Consulting Agreement with Cracker Barrel?

The Consulting Agreement between Cracker Barrel and Richard Wolfson is now terminated in connection with his May 1, 2026 retirement. He will still receive the previously disclosed benefits specified in that agreement, as outlined in earlier company disclosures.

How will Richard Wolfson’s incentive awards be treated at retirement from Cracker Barrel (CBRL)?

Richard Wolfson’s previously granted incentive compensation awards will settle under the terms of Cracker Barrel’s equity incentive plans. The awards will be prorated based on his actual retirement date of May 1, 2026, rather than the original May 5, 2026 date.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents