Where Is Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry From Shark Tank Today?
There's nothing quite like fish and chips on a Friday night. For Joe and Maranda Dowell from Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry, their dream is that every night can be fish fry night at your house with their one-of-a-kind fried fish breading mix. The husband and wife team appeared on "Shark Tank" episode 908 in the hopes a Shark would buy into their special breading mix that can be used to fry up practically anything, from shrimp, scallops, chicken, and vegetables.
What makes it so unique is that all you have to do to whip up your next fish fry is dip it and fry it — no eggs or other messy ingredients. Plus, thanks to their noteworthy recipe, the outer breading absorbs less oil while still giving the fish a crunchy texture without a greasy taste (via Joe's Gourmet).
Before appearing on "Shark Tank," Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry could be found on select Walmart shelves, Goodsons, and other stores in the southeastern states throughout the U.S. Their mix could also be purchased on Amazon with a one-pound bag at that time, costing around $5. The couple also sold their product wholesale to restaurants for around $2.25-$2.50 (per Shark Tank's blog). But whatever happened to Joe and Maranda from Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry? Did the Sharks help them expand their distribution, and where are they today?
What happened to Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry?
To recap the 2017 episode, according to Shark Tanks Blog, Joe and Maranda entered the "Shark Tank" hoping to receive $150,000 for 15% of their business. After handing out various samples of food coated in their special breading, the Sharks approved the taste and were impressed that it only cost the couple $1.75 to produce a bag.
Despite having a lifetime sale of $409,00 with an additional $270,000 coming in that year, four of the Sharks turned down the offer stating that many of them liked the taste but that it wasn't worth investing in. One Shark, however, Daymond John, was willing to offer $150,000 for 25%. The couple countered the offer with 18%, but Daymond held firm, leaving the couple to accept his original proposal, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
So, what happened after that? Shark Tank Blog states that the deal with Daymond fell through. However, the couple has continued to make strides with their business. Since appearing on the show, their milestones have included adding a zip lock to their packaging. They also released a new product specifically for fried catfish in over 1,200 stores.
The couple has also entered the franchising game as of November 2020 with a Joe's Gourmet Fish and Chicken restaurant opening inside a Walmart in Lithia Springs, Georgia. Since then, the couple doesn't have any new franchisees, but Shark Tank Blog states they're doing well and have annual revenue of $5 million.
Who are Joe and Maranda from Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry?
Joe and Maranda seem to have made quite the name for themselves with their famous fish fry mix, but where exactly did their journey begin? The couple may be in business together now, but the Shark Tank Blog states that wasn't always the case.
Joe was the one who sparked an interest in the restaurant and catering business starting in the 1990s, while Maranda was a retail real estate specialist and commodities professional. It wasn't until 2015 that Maranda decided to join her husband in his restaurant/catering ventures, which primarily focused on frying fish.
The couple would travel throughout the southeast, frying up fish for various events. People loved their fish fry so much that they wanted to buy his breading mix. It was then that the couple knew they had a bigger fish to fry when it came to business.
From then on, the two began selling their gourmet breading mix to customers and, with time, in-store and wholesale to restaurants. After appearing on "Shark Tank," the couple's business has taken off with their principles remaining the same — love and feeding the world (per their website). Joe and Maranda practice this every month by cooking a large meal for a homeless advocacy group called Safe House Outreach in downtown Atlanta.