Brett Thompson and Heath Hall started their own spice rub and BBQ sauce company called Pork Barrel BBQ. Their mission is to make good barbecue and earn lots of money. They appeared on Shark Tank Season 1 and asked the Sharks for $50k in exchange for 10% equity.
Did the Sharks like the taste of the BBQ sauce and spice rub or not? Let’s find out what eventually happened with this business.
| Company Name | Pork Barrel BBQ | |
| Founder/Co-Founder | Brett Thompson and Heath Hall | |
| Founded | 2008 | |
| Product | Barbecue Sauce & Rub | |
| Asked For | $50K for 10% equity | |
| Final Deal | $50K for 50% equity | |
| Shark | Barbara Corcoran | |
| Episode | S1 E6 | |
| Air Date | Sep 13th, 2009 | |
| Business Status | In Business | |
| Website | Visit Website | |
| Headquarters | Alexandria, Virginia, United States | |
| Lifetime Sales | $20M *estimated | |
| Buy and Watch | Buy Now | Amazon Prime |
Business Pitch Episode Recap
In 2008, their sauce came in second place in a BBQ contest in Washington D.C. among 50 contestants. However, despite this achievement, no one knows about their products. The Sharks don’t believe that the company is valued at $500k.
Thompson revealed that the making cost of the sauce is $2.80, and currently, there are 10,000 units in production set to go to big-box retail stores. They estimate a 50% profit margin on this. They anticipate revenue of $4.1 million within four years, with a potential profit of $1 million from this.
Robert Herjavec said that he had previously invested in a BBQ sauce company and had lost all his money. He declined to invest in the Pork Barrel BBQ Company because it currently lacks distribution and marketing.
Kevin Harrington agreed with Robert and said he is out. Daymond John said it’s a crowded space, so he’s out. Kevin O’Leary also declined to invest because both Brett and Heath are politicians and are not dedicating full time to the company.
Barbara Corcoran offered $50k but wanted 50% ownership of their company. They countered with $50k for 40% equity, but Barbara declined. They ultimately accepted Barbara’s offer.
Sharks Offers list!
| Sharks | Offers |
|---|---|
| Kevin Harrington | No Offer |
| Kevin O’Leary | No Offer |
| Robert Herjavec | No Offer |
| Barbara Corcoran | $50k for 50% equity |
| Daymond John | No Offer |
| Founder’s (Countered) | $50k for 40% equity |
| Final Deals | $50k for 50% equity |
Pork Barrel BBQ Shark Tank Update
After this deal, on April 10, 2015, in Shark Tank Season 6 Episode 24, their product was revealed. They have secured placements in over 8,000 retail stores and have generated sales of $10 million. They have also estimated profits of up to $5 million.
Our research has revealed that Pork Barrel BBQ has launched many new products, including Bacon Jerky, BBQ Grill Brush and Scraper, Grill Tool Set, and Grill Brush. Additionally, they are still involved in politics alongside their professional ventures.
If you want updates on more businesses from Shark Tank Season 1, we’ve shared some business updates below for you to check out.
