This Popular Frozen Costco Snack Got Its Start On Shark Tank
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Call us carb-oholics, because we love bread of all types. From Irish soda bread, which had its origin in the devastating potato famine, to good, ol' fashioned San Francisco sourdough, we love bread toasted, buttered, or even eaten straight from the bag on the drive home (don't judge our lives!). Brazilian cheese bread, also called pão de queijo in Brazilian Portuguese, is something extra-special: a downy, soft bun with a crusty exterior and the rich umami savor of cheese. We occasionally see the Brazi Bites brand of frozen cheese bread at Costco, and we are tempted every. single. visit. But did you know this brand got its start on "Shark Tank"?
Brazi Bites was the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Cameron MacMullin and Junea Rocha. Rocha, a Brazilian native living in the United States, longed for the cheese bread of her homeland, so she set about experimenting with how to make it in the States. It wasn't the easiest process — the exact cheese used in South America isn't readily available in the U.S., and, additionally, we bet scaling the recipe using tapioca flour, a popular substitute for yucca starch, wasn't a simple matter.
Replicating her mom's cheese bread was a labor of love for Rocha. When she felt like her recipe was perfect, she decided to start selling it at food shows across the country. MacMullin and Rocha knew that they had a hit on their hands, but they needed help catapulting their fledgling business to the next level. That's why, in 2015, they made a leap of faith, and dove deep into ABC's hit series, "Shark Tank," on the lookout for an investor to help them grow.
What was the Brazi Bites Shark Tank journey like?
Strictly speaking, Cameron MacMullin and Junea Rocha's "Shark Tank" experience wasn't a perfect success. They initially sought a $200,000 investment from the eponymous sharks in exchange for a 10% stake in their company. The fact that every panelist showed interest was a rare occurrence, and boded well for a favorable outcome. After some haggling with all the investors on the panel, who were uniquely intrigued by the delicious bread, the duo shook hands with Lori Greiner on a deal for the asked-for amount in exchange for 16.5% equity.
The partnership ultimately fell through – a lesser-known, yet frequent pitfall of "Shark Tank" agreements going through the post-show due diligence process — but having their episode air was enough of a boost for MacMullin and Rocha. Like Bantam Bagels, another bread purveyor that took off like lightning after appearing on the show, the "Shark Tank effect" caught up with Brazi Bites, and sales shot through the roof almost immediately.
Today, you can buy Brazi Bites at Walmart, Thrive Market, and Sprouts, in addition to Costco. The lineup of flavors include cheddar and parmesan, garlic, and everything seasoning. The company boasts over 50,000 Instagram followers, and has even expanded recently into frozen waffles in three flavors: cheesy, homestyle, and blueberry.