Where Is Zach And Zoe Sweet Bee Farm From Shark Tank Today?
On the hit ABC reality series "Shark Tank," things are, for the most part, all business. The Sharks who judge the business owners' pitches are savvy investors who are, first and foremost, looking for viable business plans that could possibly make them money. However, the Sharks sometimes see the potential of businesses whose raisons d'etre are not simply rooted in maximizing profit.
A company can oftentimes be born out of an entrepreneur's personal convictions, and those that appear on "Shark Tank" are no exception to this rule. Liz Scott was drawing upon her own veganism when she created Liz Lovely Cookies, a sweet treat entirely free of both animal products and gluten. Similarly, Henry's Humdingers, a hot honey brand, was born when young Henry Miller got involved in bee conservation.
Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm, yet another apian "Shark Tank" alumnus, was formed with altruistic intentions in mind.
Summer and Kam started making honey for their children
IMDb tells us that Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm appeared on "Shark Tank" Season 13, Episode 7. According to the official Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm website, Kam and Summer Johnson launched their brand of honey while researching raw honey as a solution for the environmental allergies faced by their youngest son, the eponymous Zach. In the episode, the family told the sharks about their company's impressive growth. Originally, they asked for a $150,000 investment, which would come with 10% of the company.
Lori Greiner declined to invest based on her own personal dislike of honey. Mark Cuban dropped out, citing Zach and Zoe's recent deal with Target, which Cuban felt was an excessively large partner for a fledgling business. Daniel Lubetzky also rejected the pitch, because he didn't think he would fit into the family's tight-knit operation. Kevin O'Leary, on the other hand, offered the full $150,000, but he asked for a hefty lifetime royalty on each jar of honey sold.
You can see the conclusion of the Johnson family pitching their raw honey company to a jury of hungry sharks on the ABC YouTube channel. The Johnsons ultimately accept Barbara Corcoran's offer, after negotiating a compromise about the shark's equity — $200,000 for a 15% share of the company.
The Sweet Bee Farm causes a buzz on Shark Tank
There isn't a lot of available information about how business at Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm has been faring since the company's time on "Shark Tank." However, in a 2022 interview with the lifestyle magazine Sweet July, Zach and Zoe co-founder Summer Johnson said that the company's raw honey, which is harvested from one of the farm's 50 hives, has evoked countless confirmations of its curative properties from consumers. As of April 2022, the Zach and Zoe honey can be found in over 100 different stores nationwide.
On the official Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm website, you can choose from a selection of over a dozen jars of honey, which are infused with flavors like wildflower and berry. Some varieties of the company's raw honey contain supplements — beetroot honey, for example, contains antioxidants and could help you with inflammation. Each jar of honey will run you around $20, though you're going to have to sweeten the pot a little if you want some of the specialty items.