Where is Wanna Date from Shark Tank today?
Melissa Bartow fell in love with dates in college, but couldn't find the date butter she wanted to sweeten her açaí bowls for sale.
“I can't believe it enough to put my money in, so for that reason, I'm out.”
Bartow bought a food processor to make homemade date butter. He added a little water to thin the mixture and cinnamon for flavor, and then experimented with other flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and even pumpkin spice.
Each Wanna Date? spread uses Deglet Noor dates and is completely vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. It's also suitable for people with allergies, has KOF-K kosher certification, and is safe for paleo diets. With the business poised for growth, Bartow sought help and contacted investors on Shark Tank.
Bartow brought his project to the show in episode 11 of season 11. He asked for $100,000 in exchange for a fifth of the company and offered samples of his products in various dishes for investors to try.
Daymond John thought it would be difficult to convince consumers to spread the cream, admitted he had no experience in that market, and withdrew. Lori Greiner said the cream was delicious, but it was too soon to invest, and she also withdrew. Kevin O'Leary agreed and told Bartow, "I wish you all the best, but I'm out."
Barbara Corcoran didn't believe Bartow had the necessary motivation after he revealed he was receiving support from his father, and told him, "I don't believe in it enough to invest my money, so I'm withdrawing." Tearfully, Bartow argued that while his father provided him with housing, he had done all the work for the business on his own. John and Mark Cuban intervened to disagree with Corcoran.
Cuban revealed his disappointment that Bartow didn't offer a natural date flavor and asked him to discontinue the other flavors for the time being. After urging him to consider selling a natural flavor and changing his packaging and shipping methods, he offered him $100,000 for a third of the company. Bartow accepted the deal, which O'Leary called a "smart move."
Bartow followed Cuban's advice: today, an original date cream is sold on the company's website. He may have also changed Cuban's mind about the flavors, because the brand sells creams in vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, spiced pumpkin, birthday cake, snickerdoodle, chocolate brownie, and cookie. Each cream costs $12 before shipping and ships throughout the United States and Canada.
The company also sells Wanna Date? Dough, cookie baking mixes. They're vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo-friendly. There are three flavors (snickerdoodle, birthday cake, and chocolate brownie) for $14 each. Bartow described them as her "next step in building a date-based empire." Customers can order the creams and mixes on the company's website or find stores using its store locator.
