Three Jerks Jerky - Shark Tank Update

Co-founders Daniel Fogelson and Jordan Barrocas appeared on Shark Tank Season 7 seeking $100,000 for 15% equity in Three Jerks Jerky, valuing their premium food company at $666,667. What started as a simple frustration became a business opportunity when Jordan was struggling to chew a piece of particularly tough beef jerky one evening, leading him to realize there had to be a better way to create jerky that didn't feel like a workout for your jaw, so he partnered with his college friend Daniel to develop what would become their revolutionary approach to premium jerky manufacturing.

Three Jerks Jerky completely transformed the traditional jerky market by using filet mignon instead of the typical tough cuts of meat, creating a tender, high-quality alternative that contained no artificial ingredients or preservatives while offering significantly superior taste and texture compared to mass-market jerky brands that were known for being tough, heavily processed, and packed with questionable additives. The premium positioning addressed a fundamental problem in the jerky industry where most products prioritized shelf life and cost savings over quality and consumer experience, with Three Jerks Jerky commanding $11.99 per pack-double the price of regular jerky-but delivering a demonstrably superior product that justified the premium through its use of high-end ingredients and artisanal production methods.

At the time of their Shark Tank appearance, Daniel and Jordan had achieved $350,000 in sales primarily through online channels and select retail locations, though they faced high production costs due to their inability to purchase ingredients in bulk, which they identified as the primary obstacle preventing them from scaling their business and reducing per-unit costs to improve profitability and market competitiveness. The business model targeted fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious consumers, and jerky lovers who were willing to pay premium prices for superior quality and taste, positioning Three Jerks Jerky as the luxury alternative in a market dominated by mass-produced, low-quality products that failed to satisfy discerning consumers seeking both nutrition and flavor in their protein snacks.

During their engaging Shark Tank presentation, Daniel Fogelson and Jordan Barrocas brought samples of their premium filet mignon jerky for the sharks to taste, immediately impressing Robert Herjavec who called it "amazing" and Daymond John who simply said "Wow," though they faced initial skepticism about whether customers would consistently pay double the price of regular jerky for their premium product, leading to competitive offers from multiple sharks including Kevin O'Leary at $100,000 for 33% equity and Robert Herjavec at $100,000 for 20% equity. The decisive moment came when Daymond John, calling himself a "jerkologist" due to his childhood love of jerky, offered the entrepreneurs exactly what they requested-$100,000 for 15% equity with an option to buy another 15% for $100,000 later-while emphasizing his industry connections that could help get their product into major distributors, leading Daniel and Jordan to accept his offer over the competing proposals.

Following their successful Shark Tank deal with Daymond John, Three Jerks Jerky experienced remarkable growth with sales skyrocketing to $1.4 million within just three months of their appearance, as Daymond connected them with Rastelli Foods Group for large-scale co-packing that streamlined production, cut costs, and enabled bulk ingredient purchasing that addressed their primary scaling challenge. The company achieved significant milestones including expansion into 3,000 retail stores, a partnership with SpaceX to send their jerky to astronauts on the International Space Station, and a sold-out appearance on HSN where they moved all their inventory in just six minutes, though the Rastelli partnership eventually gave Daymond and Rastelli 50% ownership of the company while the founders retained the other half.

As of 2022, Three Jerks Jerky had been generating approximately $4 million in annual revenue after Jordan and Daniel stepped away from daily operations.

However, as of 2026, signs point to the business having closed-their website now displays a closing notice and is no longer operational, and their social media presence has gone completely dark with no recent activity, suggesting the company has ceased operations.