Let Them Eat Candles on 'Shark Tank': Cost and how to buy wax-free premium edible milk chocolate candles
WINNETKA, ILLINOIS: You may now have your cake and eat it too, including the candles! In 'Shark Tank' Season 15, episode 17, Loree Sandler and Bob Michelson hope that a Shark will take a bite off of Let Them Eat Candles, their edible chocolate candle company.
Let Them Eat Candles, manufactures chocolate candles with conventional wicks.
"You light it, and then the wick extinguishes itself, or you can pull it out," said Bob to the Chicago Tribune. "The entire candle then is edible. Something that hasn’t really been seen before."
Loree, her husband Bob, and their chocolate birthday candle business, Let Them Eat Candles, will be featured on ABC's entrepreneurial reality television show 'Shark Tank' on March 8.
When people found out about her delicious candle company, she claimed they frequently stated she should appear on 'Shark Tank'.
"Every time I thought, ‘Oh they’d eat me alive,'" she claimed. "It was sort of a distant fantasy that I never imagined actually happening."
Loree discovered a bunch of emails in her spam folder in August 2022 from agents associated with the reality TV program, urging her to apply. Unfortunately, by the time Loree answered, casting for the 14th season had already concluded.
Five months later, in January, Loree and Bob filed for a position on 'Shark Tank' Season 15. The application procedure, which included creating a video, was both "exciting" and "arduous," Loree stated.
In June 2023, the Highland Park couple were recorded pitching to the five industry "Sharks." Walking into the tank, Loree remarked, "The sharks felt familiar" since the pair had watched many episodes ahead of time to prepare, owing to the program producers' suggestions.
Loree was unable to discuss the outcome of her time with the sharks, including whether she and her husband got a deal, due to nondisclosure agreements.
What is 'Shark Tank' Season 15 product Let Them Eat Candles?
Let Them Eat Candles co-founder Loree understands that nothing truly sets the tone for a milestone celebration like candles. But what if those canisters were more than simply decorative?
What if they were truly a delicious treat? Let Them Eat Candles is changing the way we celebrate with their inventive edible candle creations.
Let Them Eat Candles first appeared on the scene with its original chocolate candles, which rapidly became a hit with people wishing to add a distinctive and tasty flavor to their festivities. With over a million and a half chocolate candles sold to date, Loree and her team have clearly struck a chord with customers searching for something unique to commemorate important events.
Building on this success, Let Them Eat Candles is extending its product line with a game-changing new product debut at the recent Winter Fancy Food Show. What's the newest addition to their roster?
Balloon-shaped candles with numbers 0–9 and messages that transcend age or occasion particular.
Bob, Loree's partner, provided insights on the creative process for this new endeavor. Loree, a trained architect with a strong eye for detail, saw the opportunity to rethink conventional birthday candles.
Drawing on her culinary background, which included training at Chicago's French Pastry School and the Chocolate Academy, she methodically constructed prototypes, hired experts, and fine-tuned every part of the product, from wicks to packaging.
The path from concept to market was not without difficulties, but Loree and Bob's patience paid off. Let Them Eat Candles' candles drew the attention of bakers around the country and earned recognition from major venues such as Martha Stewart's American Made contest and TheGrommet.com.
Behind the scenes, the Let Them Eat Candles team worked diligently to improve their production process, ensuring that their chocolate candles reached the highest levels of quality and consistency. Let Them Eat Candles was able to increase its business while retaining product quality by working with top-tier manufacturers and using new technology.
Today, Let Them Eat Candles can be found in hundreds of retailers around the country, delighting customers with their tempting products. And with more intriguing goods in the works, this inventive company's future appears brighter than ever.
Let Them Eat Candles' success is built on a commitment to originality, quality, and, most importantly, a desire to make each celebration really unforgettable. Loree is grateful for the opportunity to bring joy to innumerable festivities.
So, the next time you're arranging a birthday party, an anniversary, or any other special occasion, why settle for conventional candles when you can go all out? Let Them Eat Candles transforms every moment into a wonderfully amazing experience.
Who are the founders of 'Shark Tank' Season 15 product Let Them Eat Candles?
Loree, the company's co-founder, came up with the concept while seeing her son's 12th birthday cake melt with wax candles. Loree, an architect who resides in Highland Park and has lived on the North Shore for many years, chose to stay at home to raise her three sons.
As they got older, she wanted to return to work. She enrolled in the French Pastry School and the Chicago Chocolate Academy in 2011 with the intention of making chocolate candles.
"This whole business was something that I started in my head in my 40s," Loree, said.
Loree, who had no prior expertise in the food sector, let alone temperate chocolate-making, had a "steep learning curve." Loree said beginning a business may be lonely, but local professional entrepreneur organizations provided her with the support and guidance she needed.
Bob is a serially successful business leader who has run seven firms in the previous thirty years. Five of the seven firms were sold or went public.
Bob has served on over a dozen corporate boards (including three he founded and others as an independent board member). Bob also developed and implemented "Board of Director - Best Practices" while working for a $4 billion private equity firm that managed 30 portfolio firms.
Since mid-2019, Bob has held many leadership positions at UPshow, including Strategic Planning, Operations, Customer Success, Marketing, and Sales. Bob was appointed president in October 2020.
Before joining UPshow, Bob was the CEO of RMG Networks (Nasdaq:RMGN). Bob was awarded as the 2017 EY Entrepreneur of the Year® (Technology, Southwest Region).
Prior to becoming CEO of RMG Networks, Bob was an Operating Partner at Sterling Partners, a $5 billion private equity firm. Bob was in charge of advising the CEOs of the 30 portfolio companies on how to establish their strategic plans and prepare them for successful business sales.
Bob also served as the Lead Director for four portfolio firms, two of which were SaaS software startups. He provides extensive experience in strategic planning, organizational development, technology, and driving sales excellence.
Bob has largely run businesses in the technology, marketing services, data and analytics, and education sectors. Bob has been particularly effective in preparing and transitioning businesses for successful exits.
Furthermore, Bob has had success in guiding firms that were plagued by slow sales growth and declining customer satisfaction to those that achieved rapid sales and customer success. Bob started his career as a Systems Engineer with IBM.
He holds a BS in marketing and economics from Indiana University.
What is the cost and how to buy Let Them Eat Candles?
Once lighted, the candles burn for roughly a minute before melting. The candles are available on the company's website in bundles of three for $11.95.
Loree's success has been gradual, but her candles are now available in hundreds of locations across the country. They're also available via Amazon.
She has sold more than 1.5 million candles to date. Candles cost more than typical birthday candles; however, regular candles do not taste as wonderful.
They are available in both dark and milk chocolate, and they ship countrywide.
On their official website, a testimonial read, "I ordered the candles just yesterday and have received them today!!! Wow! Thank you so much. I can’t wait to enjoy them. They are so very clever and I’m sure will add to my daughter’s upcoming birthday celebration. A little something special during these strange times. Just wanted to thank you again. Stay safe and healthy! Happy holidays to you!"
Another customer chimed in, "There will be more orders to come, the candles are a fantastic idea! It is all much appreciated and I wish you the best in your venture!"
One person commented, "I wish all companies took as much care as you and yours! My cousins are absolutely thrilled. You’ve contributed to what will be yet another happy birthday, and everyone should be made to feel good on his or her special day."
A fourth user wrote, "The candles are adorbs! I think I am giving more away to family and friends because I love them so much."
Where is Let Them Eat Candles now?
The chocolate birthday candles debuted on Grommet in February 2016, and just over a month later, all 1,200 prepared boxes were sold out. Following her online success, Loree stepped up her business game by investing in new packaging partners and chocolate molds designed to work with robotic equipment.
Today, her largest customers include Publix, a grocery company, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and a few local Mariano's stores. Loree began her company by making candles in kitchens she borrowed from local bakeries.
Chocolate candles are being manufactured in Ohio. Loree and Bob have been storing merchandise with their different vendors and bulking up their website in anticipation of their presence on the show premiering on Friday, in the hopes that the show will attract more consumers.
Loree and Bob are likely to seek assistance from a Shark in order to gain access to further stores.
Who will steal the deal in 'Shark Tank' Season 15?
This firm has revenue, is expanding, and offers a distinctive product. This might lead to a bidding war.
Lori Greiner may appreciate it since it appeals to everyone. Kevin O'Leary could enjoy it because of his "Something Wonderful" platform.
Barbara Corcoran may appreciate it because it contains chocolate. Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec are also possible candidates.
We anticipate numerous offers on this one.
'Shark Tank' Season 15, Episode 17, airs on ABC on Friday, March 8, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Boona, Chefee, Lady Alpha, and Let Them Eat Candles.
For those who miss the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.