Cracker Barrel buys Maple Street Biscuit Co. in $36 million deal

Comfort food behemoth Cracker Barrel has purchased Florida-favorite Maple Street Biscuit Company in a $36 million deal.

The fast-casual restaurant began in Jacksonville in 2012 and has been steadily growing, especially in the last few years. Tampa Bay welcomed its first Maple Street in 2018 on Central Avenue in Downtown St. Pete. Now, there are locations in Carrollwood, Brandon and Seminole. In total, Maple Street has 28 company-owned locations and five franchised spots across seven states.

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Cracker Barrel Old Country Store already forayed into fast-casual biscuits with its Holler & Dash Biscuit House. The company says it will begin converting those seven locations into new Maple Street locations.

Maple Street founder Scott Moore will remain CEO of Maple Street and will report directly to Sandra B. Cochran, Cracker Barrel’s president and CEO.

“We have long admired Maple Street Biscuit Company with its emphasis on made-from-scratch food and hospitality,” Cochran said in a statement. “It is a proven brand with attractive unit economics and strong growth potential, and it is positioned to become a leader in this category.”