‘Shark Tank’: The Bumbling Bee goes home without a deal but will Barbara Corcoran support the vegan food brand?
A mother and daughter duo — Cassandra Ayala and India — from Virginia Beach, Virginia, tried to spread some joy with the veganism spirit on ‘Shark Tank’ but sadly didn't get any reward in return. The latest episode had The Bumbling Bee founders pitch their product to the Sharks but all of them gave a thumbs down to it and the two had to return home empty-handed.
The Bumbling Bee Vegan Junk Food & Burger Bar operates as a food truck in Virginia Beach and as a brick-and-mortar establishment in Boulder, Colorado. On its menu, the restaurant has a number of vegan options, including overstuffed burgers, delicious milkshakes, Crispy-Fried Brussel Sprouts, a Mother Clucker chickun sandwich and Fried Mac Balls.
Despite a complete no-no from Sharks, will the brand still succeed? Here's what viewers and Sharks think.
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Even though all Sharks said no, Daniel Lubetzky's tweets were the highlight. "Confession: I love being fed on Shark Tank. Pitches w/ food usually happen around 11am right when you are starting to get hungry after a long morning (days start~6:30/7am). As you can see, I have no compunction a/b stuffing my face," he wrote in one tweet and in another, he said, "The fact that they have locations in VA Beach and Boulder was a red flag to me. It's v. tough to start a business at all, let alone to do it in 2 states that are so far away. To avoid brand dilution, I'd opt for picking 1 location in which to establish yourself first."
However, he did praise the Bumbling Bee lady. "Cassandra's story is one of the most inspiring - maybe THE most inspiring - personal journeys I have heard during my two seasons of Shark Tank. Her attitude is so incredible - she is an inspiration for all of us," his tweet read.
Confession: I love being fed on Shark Tank. Pitches w/ food usually happen around 11am right when you are starting to get hungry after a long morning (days start~6:30/7am). As you can see, I have no compunction a/b stuffing my face. (Thx to my team for the screengrab). #SharkTank pic.twitter.com/Bd4PDGEwmL
— Daniel Lubetzky (@DanielLubetzky) April 24, 2021
The fact that they have locations in VA Beach and Boulder was a red flag to me. It's v. tough to start a business at all, let alone to do it in 2 states that are so far away. To avoid brand dilution, I'd opt for picking 1 location in which to establish yourself first. #SharkTank pic.twitter.com/33Xrf9zJ0u
— Daniel Lubetzky (@DanielLubetzky) April 24, 2021
Cassandra's story is one of the most inspiring - maybe THE most inspiring - personal journeys I have heard during my two seasons of Shark Tank. Her attitude is so incredible - she is an inspiration for all of us. #SharkTank pic.twitter.com/YvzM115nDB
— Daniel Lubetzky (@DanielLubetzky) April 24, 2021
"The Bumblee Bee lady is so inspiring. She will succeed," one fan said and another posted, "Some pitches that get turned down feel so awkward, and others that get turned down just feel hopeful." Another fan posted, "The Bumbling Bee has spunk. I own a food truck and she had the right attitude."
But, not everyone liked it. "Morbidly obese vegan trying to get a deal on shark tank. She's lucky she's a she, a man this big would be called out 'you need a different spokesperson, or you need to lose some weight' which was previously said to the fat cowboy with the workout band..." one tweet read and another said, "I just can't get behind these vegan foods..too expensive."
The Bumblee Bee lady is so inspiring. She will succeed. #SharkTank
— Bayonle Arashi (@bayonlearashi) April 24, 2021
Some pitches that get turned down feel so awkward, and others that get turned down just feel hopeful. #SharkTank
— Ryan Bartholomee (@RyanBartholomee) April 24, 2021
The Bumbling Bee 🐝 has spunk. I own a food truck and she had the right attitude. #sharktank @ABCSharkTank
— Debbie Burritt (@ChefSweetcrunch) April 24, 2021
Morbidly obese vegan trying to get a deal on shark tank. She's lucky she's a she, a man this big would be called out "you need a different spokesperson, or you need to lose some weight" which was previously said to the fat cowboy with the workout band... #Hypocrisy #SharkTank
— Hayden Hunt (@AsthmaCoach) April 24, 2021
I just can't get behind these vegan foods..too expensive.. #SharkTank
— 😈MacManus, I killed your cat you drugie bitch😈 (@KornellCameron) April 24, 2021
In support of the two ladies, Barbara Corcoran tweeted, "There's nothing better than some food in the Tank! Bring on the samples!" Mysteriously, the founders wrote on their Instagram page: "Always considered the underdog shark but underneath is a powerful brilliant woman! She is a killer match for the Bumbling Bee Vegan Junk Food: Boulder, CO & The Bumbling Bee Va Beach family!!"
It continued, "Barbara is already rolling in the food truck world with her investment of the amazing Cousins Maine Lobster trucks & franchises in her portfolio! 🦞 Dixie & Daisy - The Bumbling Bees food trucks - are right up her ally! She is also a maven of incubation for the expansion of quick-serve restaurants - this is definitely in her wheelhouse!! Have I given too much away!?"
There's nothing better than some food in the Tank! Bring on the samples! #SharkTank @ABCSharkTank #TheBumblingBee
— Barbara Corcoran (@BarbaraCorcoran) April 24, 2021
Do you think the Sharks missed out on a great deal and what is the Barbara connection here? Will Cassandra succeed in the future with The Bumbling Bee? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
‘Shark Tank’ Season 12 Episode 9 returned to ABC after the winter break on January 8, 2021, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Jiggy Puzzles, The Scrubbie, The Bumbling Bee and XTorch on April 23, 2021, from 8 pm ET to 9 pm ET.
Missed an episode? Been wanting to catch up? Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Not just that, you can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.