(AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSWIRE)Lebanon, TN - (October 29, 2003) - Norman J. Hill, senior vice president of human resources for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., and its parent company CBRL Group, Inc., has been elected to the board of directors of a national organization promoting multicultural diversity in the foodservice and hospitality industry.

Hill will join the MultiCultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance Board of Directors in January 2004. He will serve on the board until 2006. In consideration of his appointment, Hill was asked to submit information on Cracker Barrel's outreach efforts to show how the company has demonstrated a commitment to diversity within the industry. Hill was one of 10 new board members chosen through a formal nomination process.

"This is the first structured, major election of board members since our inception in 1997," said Gerry Fernandez, MFHA president. "The selection of these board members represent a cornerstone of where MFHA wants to be in the next stage of our development. Norm Hill was chosen out of a high number of nominees primarily because of his long-term leadership on issues of diversity and inclusion in the foodservice and hospitality industry. He brings a seasoned and strategic perspective on how to move the issue of diversity forward and make it a win-win to benefit the industry as a whole. We're pleased to have Norm on our board."

The MFHA board of directors, which consists of 33 members, establishes the strategic goals and priorities of the membership-based organization. The board is comprised of top industry leaders from all sectors of the foodservice and hospitality industry.

Hill joined Cracker Barrel as the top human resources officer in 1996. He has been instrumental in reorganizing and restaffing the company's human resources function with a vision of pay and promotions based on performance, along with emphasizing leadership training for present and future managers.

His community leadership role is extensive, including membership in the 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, a member of the Tennessee Conservation Commission, serving on the board of directors of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, and is the current chairman for the Tennessee Historical Commission.

"I am looking forward to expanding my work and relationship with the MultiCultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance," said Hill. "I want to help the organization build on its strengths and its potential for continued growth and success."

MFHA's goal is to promote multicultural diversity and its economic benefits by providing access to a growing network of professionals of color and others who believe that diversity makes good business sense. The Alliance was created to work with other organizations to enhance the industry's overall diversity efforts. MFHA concentrates its efforts around key issues such as human resources, training, marketing, diverse supplier development and community relations.

About Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the publicly held CBRL Group, Inc. Cracker Barrel was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Each Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is modeled after a 1900-era country store, featuring old photographs, antiques, memorabilia and a real woodburning fireplace with a stone hearth to add a warm cozy touch to the dining room. The restaurant serves up hearty meals of such comfort foods as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins, and the biscuits are made from scratch using an old family recipe. The retail store has more than 2,700 gift items including accessories for the home, old-fashioned candies, books on audio, nostalgic items, and children's games and puzzles.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. operates over 480 company-owned locations in 41 states. Every Cracker Barrel location is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

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Editor's Note: For more info about us, visit our web site at http://www.crackerbarrel.com.

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