Insofar as I’m aware the Cracker term does indeed involve whips, but rather than whipping slaves, it was Florida Crackers driving cattle.

However, as relates to the business, I believe it’s meant to invoke a literal barrel of crackers an old timey good Ol’ fashioned country store?

Yes, but the term certainly evolved from its origin. And of course, the name Cracker Barrel was just about a literal barrel of soda crackers.