Where Is Simply Good Jars From Shark Tank Today?
While a salad can be a fork full of balanced, good eating, the dish isn't particularly convenient. Although bagged salads are an option, they don't offer the portability many consumers crave. When Simply Good Jars appeared on "Shark Tank," its grab-and-go salad offerings had the Sharks biting.
Former chef Jared Cannon created Simply Good Jars in 2017 and founded it on the belief that food can help to facilitate global change. Unsatisfied with plating enticing salads in a restaurant, he aimed to introduce his chef-driven creations to a larger audience and expand access to healthy food — adding portability, convenience, and value to the conversation made for a successful endeavor.
Simply Good Jars eliminated the preparation barrier excuse from consumers eating a multi-layered salad. With salad bar sneeze guards a distant memory, consumers wanted more than just another bagged salad. As stated on LinkedIn, the company encourages people to make "responsible" and "respectful food choices."
In addition to food equity, Simply Good Jars seeks to curb waste by encouraging consumers to pledge to reuse or recycle its jars. The brand's tagline of "Eat Well. Feel Good. Waste Less" might sound simplistic, but it fits. As seen by both the excitement on "Shark Tank" and consumer reaction, the big serving of success was enjoyed by many.
What happened to Simply Good Jars on Shark Tank?
As Simply Good Jars dove into its "Shark Tank" Season 12 appearance, the company hoped to snag a deal. Since food brands always need to feed those hungry Sharks' multifaceted cravings, Jared Cannon hoped his $1,000 investment would sprout into a perpetually growing business.
After the Sharks dug into the jar salads, the response was positive. Cannon stated that the company's goal was "revolutionizing the packaged salad to create simply delicious meals." That sentiment not only applied to the recipe creation but also to the business model. The often-used COVID-strategy word "pivot" was top of mind. After consumers transitioned away from the office, Simply Good Jars had to remarket to a retail position. By finding shelf space in Walgreens and other retail outlets, the brand was able to shift, survive, and eventually grow its market share.
While Kevin "Mr. Wonderful" O'Leary offered a debt structure similar to his Plated deal, he wasn't the only Shark willing to bite. Simply Good Jars' ability to adapt to market conditions piqued Mark Cuban's interest. Although the company had other investors and was not making a profit, Cuban saw the jar salad company's potential. Nudging Lori Greiner away from a debt collaboration with O'Leary, Cuban and Greiner jointly offered a $500,000 investment for 10% equity. Cannon accepted the deal, paving the way for Simply Good Jars to expand its reach.
Simply Good Jars continues to shake up the food conversation
After snagging a deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner, Simply Good Jars' owners felt like they might have hit the jackpot for their salad brand. During an interview with the Fox School of Business podcast, Catalyst, Jared Cannon revealed that the groundwork for post-episode success started early. Specifically, he mentioned that the company built a large-scale pipeline to ensure their product could easily be put into consumers' hands. From creating customer databases to targeting launch locations, the focus was to have products available when the demand arrived.
Having the systems in place for the increased demand has proven successful for the chef-curated jarred salad company. The Philly Voice reported that the food brand saw a 1,200% sales increase after its "Shark Tank" episode aired. In addition, that success spurred more brand deals. For example, a Wawa placement was finalized after four years of negotiations.
As the brand continues to bring its products nationwide, Simply Good Jars can be found at Costco, 7-Eleven stores, Walgreens, hospitals, and more. In addition to the brand's product locator, people can request the jarred food at their local stores.
Expanding beyond the salad aisle
When a food product finds a loyal customer base, expanding into a similar category can often bring success. Simply Good Jars started with salads and now offers All Day Parfaits, too. The expansion was announced on Instagram in early 2023. Although the portion size is smaller, the basic concept is the same. It gives consumers a portable, balanced eating-driven meal in flavors like Apple Crumble and Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pudding. Whether enjoyed as breakfast, a snack, or dessert, the brand's expansion shows the vitality of the jarred food concept as a fast and straightforward way of filling the fridge with convenient, healthful eating choices.
While Simply Good Jars expanded into a new category with its parfaits, there are only five main salad options on offer: Rustic Chicken Caesar, Savory Smoked Salmon, Chicken and Bacon Salad, Ancient Greens Salad, and Basil Pesto Caprese. Even with the company's solid fan base, additional flavors could bring people back for more. Whether it is an alternative salad dressing flavor or a plant-based protein, there are many ways to put more variety into the jar. Given that recipe boredom is a common complaint, a more robust line might see people grabbing a jar for every day of the week. Meanwhile, some fans are more focused on a lack of supply. On an Instagram post tied to Independence Day, one commenter lamented, "I wish I could buy these in my state. I miss it."
Could nationwide availability be next for Simply Good Jars?
From the refrigerator section at Costco to the sandy beaches of South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Simply Good Jars continues to put its convenient, portable food brand in the hands of consumers. Given the sustained buzz, it may only be a matter of time until its products are available nationwide. Although the Mason Jar salad concept started as a Pinterest recipe or TikTok hack, many people would prefer someone else do the prep work.
It seems unclear why the company does not yet have a nationwide footprint. As described during its "Shark Tank" appearance, the brand uses centralized packaging and distribution locations to ensure that fresh products are sold to consumers. While it has been successful with other infrastructure builds, establishing more centers to meet the growing demand could take capital and time.
Although Simply Good Jars might not have the name recognition of a Brazi Bites or the pop culture connection of Tipsy Elves, the food company has leveraged its "Shark Tank" appearance into a viable company. The jar salad might not be an impulse buy like that candy bar at checkout, but it seems to have nonetheless found its way into many consumers' shopping baskets.