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Back 9 Dips – The Delectable Fusion of Chicken Wings in Every Dip
Shark Tank’s Season 4, Episode 04, featured their Buffalo Chicken Dip, which began their journey into the dip world.
David and Nique Mealey, a couple from Tampa, Florida, introduced a unique product to the Shark Tank in 2012 – a barbecue chicken wing dip.
Back 9 Dips was a line of premium chicken dips offered in various flavors, including Southern Sweet Heat, Buffalo Blue Cheese, and Buffalo.
The dips were known for their high-quality ingredients, such as chicken breast, cayenne pepper-based buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, and cream cheese.
Positioned as a combination of popular sports-watching snacks like chicken wings and chips and dip, Back 9 Dips aimed to provide a tasty and convenient snacking option for consumers.
Back 9 Dips combines the flavors of chicken wings into an enticing sauce that captured the attention of both Sharks and viewers.
David lost his job as a golf equipment salesman, inspiring him and Nique to create delicious chicken dips.
Back 9 Chicken Dips gained popularity through Back 9 Catering, where patrons at events praised their flavorful dips.
Bubba, the Love Sponge, collaborated with the Mealeys to develop Bubba’s Back 9 Chicken Dips, which are described as “chicken wings on a chip” due to their unique blend of chicken breast and sauce.
Partnering with a food packaging firm, they successfully introduced Back 9 Chicken Dips to Publix supermarkets across the greater Tampa area.
David’s passion for cooking, coupled with Nique’s support, drove them to expand their business despite facing initial challenges.
This journey was marked by David’s collaboration with Bubba the Love Sponge, whose promotion further boosted their brand.
Amidst their entrepreneurial endeavors, David and Nique remained focused on delivering a universally loved dish to the market, believing in its potential success.
Their determination led them to seek support from the Sharks to bring their products to a wider audience through Shark Tank.
The Success Story of Back 9 Dips on Shark Tank: A Blend of Flavor and Resilience
David and Nique Mealey, the entrepreneurs behind Buffalo Chicken Dips, sought $150,000 for a 15% equity stake in their business, Back 9 Dips.
During Shark Tank Season 4, they pitched their company, Back 9 Dips, to potential investors.
During the pitch, Kevin O’Leary found amusement in the idea of the Mealeys blending chicken breast for their dips, which led to some lighthearted moments.
Despite this initial reaction, Lori Greiner commended the flavor of the dips, emphasizing the positive feedback on taste from the sharks.
The investors were intrigued to learn that Back 9 Dips had generated $400,000 in sales over two years, establishing partnerships with 400 accounts, including major supermarket chains.
With a production cost of $2.52, a wholesale price of $5.25, and a retail price ranging from $7.99 to $8.99, the sharks were impressed by the company’s profit margins and overall performance.
Following some deliberation, Lori Greiner decided to step out of the potential partnership, feeling she might not be the best fit for Back 9 Dips.
Mark Cuban also chose not to invest, highlighting the importance of self-awareness in business decisions.
Kevin O’Leary followed suit, expressing concerns about the startup’s level of risk. Robert Herjavec then opted out, citing the challenges of the food distribution industry as a deterrent.
Daymond John shared conflicted feelings, acknowledging both the competitive nature of the business and his affinity for the Mealeys.
Ultimately, he declined to invest, feeling unsure about the value he could bring to the partnership.
However, in a turn of events, Lori and Robert decided to join forces and offer the $150,000 investment in exchange for a 25% stake in Back 9 Dips, a deal that David and Nique accepted, sealing the agreement.
Final Agreement: $150,000 for 25% equity in Back 9 Dips.
The Rise and Fall of Back 9 Dips After Shark Tank: A Story of Promise and Setback
Back 9 Dips showed great promise due to its delicious product, dedicated founders, and successful performance in stores.
A premium product, Back 9 dips retailed for approximately $8 to $9 per pound, with wholesale prices at $5.25, boasting impressive profit margins with production costs as low as $2.52 per pound.
Offering three enticing chicken dip flavors under Bubba’s brand — Southern Sweet Heat, Buffalo Blue Cheese, and Buffalo — Back 9 garnered success by focusing on high-quality ingredients.
For instance, the buffalo chicken dip featured chicken breast as a primary ingredient, complemented by cayenne pepper-based buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, and cream cheese.
These delectable dips were available in various stores such as Publix, Walmart, Safeway, Sam’s Club, and Walgreens.
However, Back 9 Dips encountered an insurmountable obstacle. In June 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a recall for 12,560 pounds of Bubba’s Buffalo Blue Cheese Chicken Dip due to a labeling error.
The dip contained anchovies, a common allergen, which was not properly listed on the label. This affected products sold online and in-person at retailers across several states.
The oversight was traced back to a new dressing with anchovies being used at the Florida production plant ECRS, LLC.
The founders’ awareness of this change remains unclear. Fortunately, no deaths or illnesses were reported in connection with the Back 9 Dips product.
Bubba Chicken Dip’s most recent update on X (formerly Twitter) dates back to April 4, 2014, and the Back 9 Dips website is no longer available. Back 9 Dips is out of business, and its effective net worth is $0.
