'Shark Tank' Season 14: Viewers call out Honey Bunchies' pitch, ask 'is it nutritionally fancy Snickers?'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Get ready to salivate because the latest episode of ABC's 'Shark Tank' featured a sweet treat that's making taste buds dance with delight. Honey Bunchies, now rebranded Bon Bee, is the buzzworthy snack that's hoping to catch the attention of one of the Sharks to take their business to new heights. The story behind Honey Bunchies Honey Bars is as sweet as their all-natural ingredients. It all started with a former Captain in the United States Air Force, Ed Payne, and his family. Together with his wife Jennifer and their children Kendra and Edward, they created a mouthwatering gourmet honey bar that's been thriving ever since.
But Honey Bunchies is hungry for more success and they're ready to take things to the next level with the help of Shark Tank's panel of investors - Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, Lori Greiner, and Kevin O'Leary. The question is, will the Sharks take a bite and help this family-owned business soar? While Honey Bunchies left the tank without a deal, they've got plenty of fans calling out their health bars. But not everyone is a believer. Some critics have called them "modified Snickers." Is that a fair comparison, or is it just a case of honey envy?
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Sharks do not take the bait
Kendra Bennett, the daughter of Ed Payne, who is a former Captain in the United States Air Force, appeared on 'Shark Tank' to take their family-owned business, Honey Bunchies, to new heights. Her goal was to secure an investment of $200,000 for a 10% stake in the company. Unfortunately, Kendra didn't have any luck with the Sharks. One of the reasons the Sharks didn't take the bait was because they felt that Honey Bunchies was a common product without any significant standout qualities. The honey bars were nothing new or innovative, and there were already many competitors in the market. Despite this setback, Kendra was gracious in accepting the Sharks' feedback and acknowledged that there is always room for improvement. The business also took the Sharks' advice on rebranding.
Additionally, the ingredients used in Honey Bunchies were called into question by the Sharks, in light of the health claims made by the product. The Sharks wanted to ensure that the ingredients were clean and natural and didn't contain any additives or preservatives that could be harmful to consumers. This raised concerns about the company's commitment to producing a healthy snack.
Despite the Sharks not investing in the company, Kevin O'Leary, one of the Sharks, offered Kendra a piece of advice that she could take with her on her journey. "It's not a destination, it's a journey," he said. This phrase embodies the idea that entrepreneurship is a continuous process, and there are always new challenges to overcome. Kevin's advice encouraged Kendra to keep moving forward with her family business, despite the setback on the show.
'Is it nutritionally a fancy Snickers?'
The episode of "Shark Tank" featuring Honey Bunchies didn't sit well with many fans of the show. After the episode aired, social media platforms were ablaze with commentary from viewers who were less than impressed with the product. Twitter was particularly active, with many expressing their opinion on the honey bars. One said, "Did they ever mention the nutrient facts for #honeybunchies Honey is still pretty high on the glycemic index", while another added, "It's ok Kendra your sales will skyrocket after this". One even pointed out, "ok those 5 key points you listed for your huge projected growth for next year aren't guaranteed. So NO you can't count on that". Tweets like, "She's as busy as a bee in her presentation..but, there are a ton of food bars out there" and "Honestly I thought she sounded like a child and it was annoying to listen to" were also seen. In light of all the hate the product received, Barbara put out a word of encouragement for Honey Bunchies. She tweeted, "There's always a silver lining to every hardship. I'm excited to see what #HoneyBunchies has in store." One fan said, "The shelves are full of $3 snack bars. What is the differentiating factor of Honey Bunchies? Not protein, not low carb. Is it nutritionally a fancy Snickers?"
Did they ever mention the nutrient facts for #honeybunchies Honey is still pretty high on the glycemic index. #SharkTank
— Melissa 🌴 (@Melissachirp) April 15, 2023
It's ok Kendra your sales will skyrocket after this #HoneyBunchies #SharkTank
— J. Seaberry (@JJSea) April 15, 2023
#HoneyBunchies ok those 5 key points you listed for your huge projected growth for next year aren't guaranteed. So NO you can't count on that #SharkTank
— J. Seaberry (@JJSea) April 15, 2023
She's as busy as a bee in her presentation..but, there are a ton of food bars out there
— Annette Barstow (@mpw1987) April 15, 2023
Honestly I thought she sounded like a child and it was annoying to listen to
— ohromano1 (@ohromano1) April 15, 2023
There's always a silver lining to every hardship. I'm excited to see what #HoneyBunchies has in store. #SharkTank @ABCSharkTank
— Barbara Corcoran (@BarbaraCorcoran) April 15, 2023
The shelves are full of $3 snack bars. What is the differentiating factor of Honey Bunchies? Not protein, not low carb. Is it nutritionally a fancy Snickers? #SharkTank
— Claire Collins (@clairec345) April 15, 2023
'Shark Tank' Season 14 Episode 21 will air on ABC on Friday, May 5, at 8 PM ET. You can catch the latest episode the next day on demand, or on Hulu. You can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.
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