Two older Shark Tank companies have substantial updates this September. Fresh Bellies has been acquired by Cerebelly, while Hidrent Handyman—the firefighter home-services platform—now operates as Helpful Heroes and is adding franchise locations.

The interesting connection is what each business needs next. For a packaged-food brand, taking a larger retail order requires the ability to produce and deliver it. For a home-services platform, entering another city requires people on the ground. These stories are about building that capacity, not just changing the name above the door.

Hidrent Is Now Helpful Heroes—and the Franchise Model Matters

The official Helpful Heroes website explicitly confirms that Hidrent is now Helpful Heroes. The core service remains recognizable: homeowners can arrange help with tasks such as furniture moving, gutter cleaning and general handyman work through off-duty firefighters and EMTs. Phone booking is available alongside the online platform.

Dave Heimbuch pitched Hidrent in Season 13, Episode 6, which aired November 12, 2021. He asked for $300,000 for 8%. Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec agreed on air to $300,000 for 33.33% combined. Those televised terms are historical context, not evidence of what either Shark owns today.

There is also an important timeline detail: BELFOR Franchise Group's own history lists Helpful Heroes' acquisition under 2024. The September 2026 developments should therefore not be described as a newly announced sale. What is new is another round of local franchise announcements under the current brand.

According to the official franchise site, local owners build customer relationships, coordinate service requests and develop their service networks, with training and operational support from BELFOR. We see that as a meaningful change from the app-centered pitch: the growth plan now explicitly includes local business operators, not only more people downloading an app.

Three September Franchise Announcements, With Different Opening Dates

  • Greater Tampa Bay, Florida: The September announcement published by the International Franchise Association names Aaron and Tricia Novak as owners and describes the franchise as opening later that month. It calls this the second Florida franchise. That wording supports a planned opening, not a confirmed first day of service.
  • Huntersville, North Carolina: A September 8 BELFOR release announces the brand's first franchise in the state, owned by Kenny Lowe. Its stated service area includes the Lake Norman region and nearby communities.
  • Central Texas: The September 16 BELFOR release reports a September 1 opening under owner Anjanette Zarate. Its headline says Belton, while the body calls the operation Helpful Heroes of Leander and lists a wider service area. These are references to one announced franchise, not separate Belton and Leander openings.

These announcements document an expanding footprint, but they do not establish a complete national location count, revenue growth or uniform availability across the country. For customers, the practical next step is still checking coverage for their address. The franchise site itself notes that service-network availability varies by market.

Fresh Bellies Was Acquired by Cerebelly

On September 16, Cerebelly announced its acquisition of Fresh Bellies in a company release published by NOSH. Financial terms were not disclosed. The announcement describes an acquisition that has happened, rather than an agreement awaiting a stated closing date.

Saskia Sorrosa brought Fresh Bellies to Season 10, Episode 13, seeking $275,000 for 5% and left without a deal. The refrigerated baby-food pitch has since given way to a brand known for freeze-dried snacks. The new ownership is a significant post-show development, but an undisclosed purchase price cannot tell us how much the founder or other investors received.

As Food Business News reported on September 17, the companies plan to keep separate brands, product lines and formulations. Fresh Bellies gains access to Cerebelly's supply-chain resources; Sorrosa says that should help it accept larger and more frequent retailer orders. Cerebelly, in turn, sees opportunities to develop additional snack formats.

For existing customers, the stated plan is continuity: the release says both brands will continue through their respective retail and online channels. It does not announce a Fresh Bellies shutdown or a conversion of its products into Cerebelly-branded items.

The distinction to watch next is between added capacity and demonstrated growth. More reliable inventory could make expansion possible; it is not proof that new retail contracts or higher sales have already followed. The announcement offers an operating rationale for the deal, not financial results from it.

What These Updates Actually Tell Us

We think the most useful takeaway is that post-show progress can look very different from the original pitch. Fresh Bellies' story now involves a specialist food-company owner. Hidrent's involves a new brand, an earlier acquisition and a network of local franchise operators. Neither is captured well by a simple still-in-business label.

For future updates, we will be looking for specific follow-through: announced product launches or retail placements for Fresh Bellies, and confirmed service openings for Helpful Heroes. Until then, there is plenty of real news here without estimating an acquisition payout or turning a planned opening into an accomplished one.

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