A battle of the Cracker Barrels looms...

Kraft Foods has sued Cracker Barrel Old Country Store over the Lebanon-based chain's plans to partner with John Morrell Food Group on a range of products to be sold in grocery stores and mass merchandisers. For Cracker Barrel officials, the agreement signed last November was part of a plan to boost the profile of their brand. In an Illinois lawsuit, Kraft says the move would violate its rights to its own Cracker Barrel brand, which it uses primarily for cheese products. Kraft last fall rolled out a new ad campaign for its Cracker Barrel line.