Where Is Uprising Bread From Shark Tank Today?
As delicious as bread can be, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, as the saying goes. Bread contains little nutritional value, according to Healthline, and some people can't consume bread for its gluten content. That's where Uprising Food came in. The company claimed to be the go-to place for low-carb and gluten-free bread, and it garnered a decently sized following on social media.
Kristen and William Schumacher created Uprising Food, formerly known as Uprising Bread, to provide a healthier alternative to bread. The company sold fiber-rich, homemade, cubed bread that was also dairy-free; it was also claimed to be suited for keto and paleo diets. The bread was made from simple ingredients, including almonds, apple cider vinegar, egg whites, flax seeds, and psyllium husk (psyllium is a source of fiber that can help heart and digestive health).
Unfortunately, as of March 28 in 2023, the company shut down and nearly all of Uprising Food's products are sold out on its website. However, it's unclear why Uprising Food decided to fold. While the entrepreneurs walked away from "Shark Tank" with no deal, the company continued on with selling its bread bundles, but only for so long. Despite shutting down, the company allowed its customers to order their final bread bundles (though some customers on Facebook claim they never received their orders).
Why Uprising Food got no deal
The entrepreneurs appeared on Season 13, Episode 1 of "Shark Tank," seeking $500,000 for a 3% stake in their company. While the Sharks were impressed by the taste of the bread, they were taken aback by the price: $12 for a small loaf. William Schumacher defended the price by reiterating that the company's mission was to provide nutritious food to people. During Uprising Food's first year of business in 2019, it earned $85,000. In its second year, the company's sales totaled about $1 million. In the six months before appearing on "Shark Tank," Uprising Food made $2.1 million, already double the prior year's revenue.
However, despite these impressive numbers, the company was not yet profitable by the time the Schumachers appeared on "Shark Tank." Kevin O'Leary questioned the company's valuation of $16.6 million. Kristen Schumacher said her goal was to "drive top-line revenue." With the Sharks' investment, William wanted the company to grow enough that he could sell the business to a large company or take it public. Sadly, "Shark Tank" negotiations didn't go so well for the entrepreneurs.
In fact, one by one, all of the Sharks dropped out. Barbara Corcoran said she would lose sleep if she invested in Uprising Food, deeming the entrepreneurs financially untrustworthy. Lori Greiner, Mr. Wonderful, and Guest Shark Emma Grede quickly followed. Mark Cuban, the last to exit negotiations, said he didn't understand how the company wasn't more profitable, and he seemed particularly perturbed when the Schumachers favored marketing jargon over a direct answer.
So, how did things go for Uprising Food directly after the show?
Life after Shark Tank
Although Kristen and William Schumacher left "Shark Tank" with no deal, that didn't stop them from continuing to further their brand. Uprising Food claimed in a press release that it received "an overwhelmingly positive response" to its products after the airing of the episode. Co-founder William also stated that "the consumer response after the show has further validated how our products are healthy, taste great, and are what more consumers are looking for."
As of early 2023, Uprising Food's website was still active and running. While individual bread cubes and chips were not available to purchase, bread bundles were. Uprising Food also increased its initial price of $12 per loaf. The bread bundle started off at $30 for two loaves of bread. The bundle went up to eight cubes of bread for $120. Other items, such as merch and denim cooking aprons, were available for purchase as well.
The company also had a decently sized following on Instagram, amassing 12,000 followers, but that account has since been deleted. Additionally, it seems like Uprising Food posted sporadically — the most recent post was in October 2022, back when it was still active. Ultimately, though, Uprising Food was not able to hold onto success without the help of the Sharks.