Where Is Three Jerks Jerky From Shark Tank Today?
There are plenty of beef jerky brands out there in the marketplace. So, how can any new jerky company set itself apart? Three Jerks Jerky chose to use the highly regarded tenderloin, prioritizing quality over cheapness. Two of the venture's founders, Daniel Fogelson and Jordan Barrocas, told the LA Times that this operation began as a mere hobby, but within just a couple of years, it spawned an overachieving Kickstarter and spread into nationwide retail. Soon enough, Fogelson and Barrocas were appearing on Season 7 Episode 5 of "Shark Tank," offering the Sharks 15% equity in exchange for a $100,000 investment.
Atypically for the show, the Sharks ended up in a bidding war. Only Mark Cuban bowed out, believing the startup was too young to invest in, even though he loved the taste of its jerky. Regardless, the jerky entrepreneurs had a clear vision for how to lower their cost-to-goods ratio and expand into big-name chains. Impressed, Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec offered a combined $100,000 for 15% equity, while Kevin O'Leary offered $150,000 for a 33% stake, yet Daymond John sealed the deal with his own $100,000-for-15% offer (with an option to double both the investment and equity in the future). John was officially the third jerk!
However, handshakes on "Shark Tank" don't always translate to legally binding agreements. So, was John just jerking Fogelson and Barrocas around?
Daymond John is a real jerk
"I love being a jerk!" John proclaimed after verbally sealing the deal in Season 7 Episode 5, and he wasn't lying. That very same season, during its 19th episode, Three Jerks Jerky was once again featured, this time in a "Shark Tank" update segment. It confirmed the deal went through and John was an active third partner. "The night we aired," Barrocas revealed, "we sold a quarter of a million dollars, and in the three months since then, $1.4 million. "That translated to 150,000 bags of jerky. Fogelson reflected, "We've been thrilled about our success, but such insane growth comes with a lot of challenges." Indeed, when the business' co-packer couldn't keep up with such high demand, John set up their venture with the low-cost food processor/distributor it needed. "Being a jerk has never felt so good!" John reiterated.
A year or so later, John told CNBC that Three Jerks Jerky was among his top investments. The three jerks also revealed the company had officially launched grocery distribution for thousands of retailers, including ShopRite, Safeway-Albertsons, and Publix. As for the future, Three Jerks Jerky was anticipating 300% growth that year and hoping to continue its brick-and-mortar infiltration.
It seems this jerky startup certainly got its "Shark Tank" bump and then some. Consumers apparently agreed filet mignon was the best type of meat to use for jerky. Did that actually translate into long-term success, though?
Three Jerks Jerky has a long shelf life
The current state of Three Jerks Jerky is a little ambiguous, requiring a bit of internet sleuthing to determine. A quick look at the company's socials suggests business may have slowed down a bit, or at least, its growth is no longer being publicly touted. It last posted something on Twitter during 2019 — same with its blog. Its Facebook and Instagram profiles were more recently updated, with Three Jerks Jerky posting in 2021. Over on Fogelson's Linkedin, he's still listed as an official Co-Founder of the company, but his main occupation is Head of Operations at Malibu Mylk. Meanwhile, Barrocas' Linkedin indicates his association with the business ended back in 2018. He is now CEO at Direct Global Partners. However, these developments don't necessarily mean Three Jerks Jerky is finished.
Customers can still purchase Three Jerks Jerky online through its e-shop and Amazon, although some of its products are currently listed as unavailable on the latter site. As for brick-and-mortar retail, ShopRite in particular no longer carries the brand, and Publix appears to offer it on a store-by-store basis. Safeway-Albertsons does, at least, still appear to stock Three Jerks Jerky. Yet, the business' retail prospects are clearly a bit inconsistent.
Ultimately, it's unclear if Three Jerks Jerky still has three jerks running it or if the business is instead drying up. Yet, jerky can last for quite a while. Indeed, this jerky venture appears to still be, at least, somewhat fresh.