Where Is Wanna Date From Shark Tank Today?
Melissa Bartow fell in love with the flavor of dates after discovering the fruit in college. Any time she found herself craving something sweet, she'd grab a handful of the produce. While working at an acai bowl shop, she wanted to sweeten the bowls with date butter. However, she was unable to find any to purchase.
Bartow decided to buy a food processor to make homemade date butter. She added a little water to thin out the mix, along with some cinnamon for an additional flavor profile. Then, she experimented with other flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and even pumpkin spice.
Each Wanna Date? spread uses Deglet Noor Dates and is entirely vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. The spreads are also allergen friendly, certified KOF-K Kosher, and safe for paleo diets. Bartow decided to get a little extra help with expanding her business, and she decided to approach the "Shark Tank" investors.
Bartow brought samples for the Sharks
Melissa Bartow took Wanna Date? to "Shark Tank" in Season 11, Episode 11. She asked the Sharks for $100,000 in exchange for one-fifth of her company. She brought samples for them to taste, with a variety of foods using the spreads.
Daymond John thought Bartow may have difficulty convincing consumers to try the spread. He acknowledged that he had no experience with this particular market, so he went out. Lori Greiner told Bartow the spread was delicious, but she thought it may be too early to invest, so she was also out. Kevin O'Leary agreed with Greiner's opinion that it was too early to invest, telling Bartow, "I wish you the best, but I'm out."
Barbara Corcoran didn't think Bartow had the motivation to succeed, after Bartow revealed she was receiving support from her father. She told Bartow, "I can't believe it enough to put my money in, so for that reason, I'm out." A tearful Bartow argued that despite her father providing her home, she had done all the work for her business by herself. John and Mark Cuban jumped in to disagree with Corcoran.
Cuban revealed he was "disappointed" Bartow didn't offer a plain date flavor and wanted her to abandon the other flavors for now. After asking Bartow to consider selling a plain flavor and alter her packaging and shipping methods, he offered $100,000 for one-third of the company. Bartow accepted the deal, which O'Leary called a "smart move."
Wanna Date? is still sold today
It seems Melissa Bartow took Mark Cuban's advice — an original date spread is now for sale on the Wanna Date? website. However, Bartow may have changed Cuban's mind regarding the variety of flavors. The company also sells vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, birthday cake, snickerdoodle, chocolate brownie, and cookie-flavored date spreads. The spreads cost $12 before shipping and can be shipped across the United States and Canada.
The company also sells Wanna Date? Dough — powdered mixes for baking cookies. The cookie mix is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo-friendly. The company currently has three different mixes available: snickerdoodle, birthday cake, and chocolate brownie. These baking mixes cost $14 each. Bartow called the mixes her "next step in building a date-based empire," so she may release even more products in the future.
Fans can order Wanna Date? spreads and baking mixes directly from the company website or use its store locator to find the products in retail stores.