Where Is Peaceful Fruits From Shark Tank Today?
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Everyone knows fruit is good for you, but that doesn't necessarily translate to all fruity snacks. Take a closer look at ingredient lists and you may find that popular examples such as Welch's fruit snacks are too good to be true. As explained by The Atlantic, many fruit snacks are more like fruit candy, even if they're not usually marketed that way. Sure, big names like General Mills, Kellogg's, and Mott's can use sugar from fruit to make their products qualify as fruit snacks, but everything else in the recipe could still potentially be unrelated and contain unhealthy ingredients.
If only there was a truly fruity snack that uses a healthy superfood as its base. Acai, for example, often tops superfood lists. While acai's medicinal benefits have not yet been scientifically proven — per the Encyclopedia Britannica — its high levels of antioxidants and phytochemicals intrigue many wellness communities. Plus, this sweet-tasting fruit has a history in folk medicine and can be used to make juices, smoothies, and wines. Thanks to one entrepreneur, we can now add fruit snacks to that list!
Did the Sharks make a sweet deal?
Folks who are mindful of their health could find peace of mind with a true fruit snack. Luckily for them, that's exactly what Peaceful Fruits hopes to provide, using real fruit in all of its products and almost exclusively (sometimes there's chocolate and/or peanut butter added to their candies). This means their products usually contain no added sugar, colorants, or artificial flavors. These snacks are also free of both gluten and GMOs — another plus for those with certain dietary restrictions. Peaceful Fruits also strive to be socially responsible by sourcing its fruit sustainably, providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities, and promoting mental health education among the youth.
Evan Delahanty, the founder of Peaceful Fruits, appeared on Season 8, Episode 16 of "Shark Tank" and pitched his business, seeking $75,000 in exchange for 20% equity. He explained how his time with the Peace Corps in the Amazon Rainforest helped him understand the potential of acai as a superfood. Plus, Delahanty made connections with the region's inhabitants, who now provide his company's sustainable sourcing. The Sharks enjoyed the flavor of his fruit snacks and also clearly appreciated his mission.
In fact, Mark Cuban even labeled social enterprises like the one Delahanty was attempting to start as "the future of capitalism." Yet, for various reasons — conflict of interest, personal taste, financial risk — all of the Sharks bowed out. "We didn't get that deal, but I'm still working really hard to make this a success," Delahanty reflected afterward. "I'm building Peaceful Fruits to make a difference."
Is Peaceful Fruits still ripe?
The good news is that Evan Delahanty continues to chase his goal. Roughly a week after his episode aired, Delahanty revealed he had ended up getting the $75,000 after all, in the form of new customer orders (via Cleveland). In that short span of time, Peaceful Fruits actually outdid its total sales from the year before. As a result, the business was able to expand, both in terms of workforce and where it sold its products.
Later, in 2019, Forbes reported that the company (now operating out of a dedicated production facility) had secured a $500,000 bank loan and sold 300,000 units in lifetime sales. That same year, WKYC revealed the business was moving 4,000 units per day. As he looked back at his TV appearance, Delahanty told WKYC, "We didn't get the deal, but we 100 percent won," and he mentioned his desire to make Peaceful Fruits a national brand.
Peaceful Fruits has not been in the news much in the past couple of years, but it is still in business. Its products are available for purchase on its company website, Amazon, and Giant Eagle (a grocery chain). Peaceful Fruits also claims to be slowly but surely making its way into national retail. Back when Shark Lori Greiner turned down Delahanty's offer, she had reassured him, "You're going to make it." Those words may have simply been intended to let Delahanty down gently, but it turns out, in the end, they rang true.