8.

Leases

As of August 01, 2025, the Company had not entered into any agreements for real estate leases that are not recorded as right-of-use assets or lease liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The following table summarizes the components of lease cost for operating leases for each of the three years:

2025

    

2024

    

2023

Operating lease cost

$

111,141

$

110,661

$

109,908

Short term lease cost

3,036

 

3,509

 

2,947

Variable lease cost

3,893

 

3,522

 

3,669

Total lease cost

$

118,070

$

117,692

$

116,524

The following table summarizes supplemental cash flow information and non-cash activity related to the Company’s operating leases for each of the three years:

2025

    

2024

    

2023

Operating cash flow information:

  

  

  

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

$

98,186

$

97,014

$

95,294

Noncash information:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities

 

7,358

 

14,219

 

17,378

Lease modifications or reassessments increasing right-of-use assets

 

23,307

 

23,532

 

11,320

Lease modifications removing right-of-use assets

 

(1,002)

 

(2,133)

 

(413)

Right-of-use asset impairment*

 

(1,381)

 

(1,832)

 

*Included in the Impairment line on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

The following table summarizes the weighted-average remaining lease term and the weighted-average discount rate for operating leases as of August 01, 2025, August 02, 2024 and July 28, 2023:

    

2025

    

2024

    

2023

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term

15.20 Years

15.88 Years

16.88 Years

 

Weighted-average discount rate

 

5.45

%  

5.38

%  

5.09

%

The following table summarizes the maturities of undiscounted cash flows reconciled to the total operating lease liability as of August 01, 2025:

Year

    

Total

2026

$

86,208

2027

 

74,138

2028

 

70,024

2029

 

66,354

2030

 

59,821

Thereafter

 

687,788

Total future minimum lease payments

 

1,044,333

Less imputed remaining interest

 

(349,359)

Total present value of operating lease liabilities

$

694,974

Sale and Leaseback Transactions

In 2009, the Company completed sale and leaseback transactions involving 15 of its Cracker Barrel stores and its retail distribution center. Under the transactions, the land, buildings and building improvements at the locations were sold and leased back for terms of 20 and 15 years, respectively. The leases include specified renewal options for up to 20 additional years.

In 2020, the Company completed a sale and leaseback transaction involving 64 Cracker Barrel stores. Under the transaction, the land, buildings and building improvements at the locations were sold and leased back for initial terms of 20 years and renewal options up to 50 years.

In 2021, the Company completed a sale and leaseback transaction involving 62 Cracker Barrel stores. Under the transaction, the land, buildings and building improvements at the locations were sold and leased back for initial terms of 20 years and renewal options up to 50 years.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Sep 26, 2025Showing above
2023Sep 26, 2023
2022Sep 27, 2022
2020Sep 25, 2020
2019Sep 27, 2019
2017Sep 22, 2017
2016Sep 26, 2016

About Leases Disclosures

Lease disclosures under ASC 842 provide a comprehensive view of a company's leased asset portfolio, including the split between operating and finance leases, discount rates used to present-value future payments, and the maturity schedule of lease obligations. This section reveals a significant source of off-balance-sheet commitments that were largely hidden before the current standard.

Key signals: the weighted-average discount rate affects the size of recorded lease liabilities — a higher rate reduces the reported obligation, so compare the chosen rate against the company's incremental borrowing rate. The operating versus finance lease mix affects both EBITDA and operating income presentation. Watch the maturity table for concentration risk: large payment cliffs in specific years may create cash flow pressure. Variable lease payments excluded from the liability measurement represent real obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet. Compare total lease costs against prior-year operating lease expense to assess the true economic burden.