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Fried Green Tomatoes: A Taste of Southern Hospitality and Empowerment
Fried Green Tomatoes, as featured in Episode 20 of Season 11 of Shark Tank, is a Southern food truck that serves up delicious hand-battered, farm-fresh menu items with a unique twist.
Fried Green Tomatoes is a beloved food truck turned brand that embodies the heart of southern hospitality by offering a delightful array of southern staples, with a special focus on their signature fried green tomatoes.
Their menu features a variety of Southern favorites, from the iconic fried green tomatoes to their secret sauce that keeps customers coming back for more.
Founded by Holly Cooper in 2012, this family-centered business sources the finest home-grown ingredients from local farmers to create unforgettable moments through their delicious offerings.
Beyond just food, Fried Green Tomatoes also actively supports Rest Stop Ministries in Nashville to combat sex trafficking through economic empowerment initiatives.
Fried Green Tomatoes serves up generous portions with generous portions in a fast, casual setting at an unbeatable price using family recipes and beach trips along the Gulf Coast.
Fried Green Tomatoes is the place to be if you’re craving authentic Southern cuisine. Whether you’re a local seeking a taste of home or a visitor who wants to learn more about Southern cuisine, this food truck will be sure to please you.
Fried Green Tomatoes offers franchise opportunities and online access to their signature batter and secret sauce, making the taste of the South accessible to everyone.
You can find more details about their menu, locations, and how to become a part of their Southern food family by checking out their Facebook page or website.
Before appearing on Shark Tank, Fried Green Tomatoes had humble beginnings as a food truck business founded by Holly Cooper in 2012.
The business quickly gained popularity by offering Southern delicacies such as fried green tomatoes, grouper sandwiches, and shrimp Po-boys at various events such as county fairs, car shows, and music festivals.
Cooper’s recipes became popular among customers because of her delectable cornmeal-battered dishes and “secret sauce.”
Despite initially not focusing on online or in-store marketing, the success of the food truck led to a strategic decision to expand the business’s reach.
In January 2016, Fried Green Tomatoes made a significant move by introducing its products at The Market, a retail store in Atlanta, Georgia.
This expansion continued in May 2019 when the Tennessee Department of Agriculture selected the food truck as a vendor at the National Restaurant Association’s American Food Fair in Chicago.
By the time of their appearance on Shark Tank in Season 11, Episode 20 on May 1, 2020, Fried Green Tomatoes had already expanded its presence to over 40 retailers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with online sales available through their website friedgreentomatoes.co.
Fried Green Tomatoes: A Culinary Entrepreneur’s Journey on Shark Tank
Entrepreneur Holly Cooper made a bold appearance on Shark Tank Season 11 with her business, Fried Green Tomatoes. She sought an investment of $200,000 in exchange for a 15% equity in Fried Green Tomatoes.
Holly’s food truck serves delightful southern cuisine, but she also offers batter mixes for those who wish to recreate her taste at home. Her journey in the food industry traces back to owning a cafe before transitioning into commercial sales.
Holly seizes control of her destiny after an unexpected job loss by starting her own food truck business. Holly’s vision extends beyond Fried Green Tomatoes thriving in Nashville to expanding her fleet and franchising.
Remarkably, the food truck rakes in $600-$800 per hour, with customers often enduring lengthy waits to savor her specialties.
In addition to her food truck success, Holly distributes her batter mixes to 600 retailers nationwide, predominantly boutique stores alongside some larger retail chains.
Fried Green Tomatoes costs $1.28 per mix to produce and is packaged meticulously in sealed bags encased within fabric pouches. Her total sales for the year preceding filming amounted to $268,000, including both mix sales and food truck revenue.
Holly is struggling with navigating the franchising aspect of her business, a cherished aspiration for the company’s future, despite significant interest.
The sharks appreciate her culinary offerings, but her business model and strategic direction raise concerns.
Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner opted out due to investment concerns and preferences for healthier alternatives, respectively.
Mark Cuban suggests expanding the business with more employees, albeit declining to invest.
Eventually, Barbara Corcoran, drawing from her experience with Cousin’s Maine Lobster, extends an offer of $200,000 for a 30% stake in Fried Green Tomatoes.
Daymond John also presents a $200,000 offer for 25% equity, albeit lacking expertise in franchising. Holly, after careful deliberation, chooses to align with Barbara’s vision for the future of her business.
The Journey of Fried Green Tomatoes: From Shark Tank to Franchising Success
Despite Corcoran’s belief in Fried Green Tomatoes and Cooper’s eagerness to collaborate with her, their agreed deal never came to fruition, which is a common occurrence on “Shark Tank.”
Robert Herjavec, a seasoned shark with nearly 300 episodes under his belt, shared that almost half of the deals made on the show never reach completion. It can occur due to sharks discovering unfavorable financial details or entrepreneurs backing out.
In Cooper’s case, she was ready to move forward with the deal but did not receive any follow-up from Corcoran.
Herjavec’s observation aligns with Forbes’ research involving dealmakers from the last six seasons of “Shark Tank,” revealing that over half (51%) of the deals made on air were not finalized.
Despite this statistic, appearing on “Shark Tank” can still offer significant benefits, even without a deal materializing. The show’s publicity value is substantial, akin to the exposure gained from a $9 million marketing campaign.
For Cooper, the publicity value was somewhat overshadowed by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic coinciding with her appearance on “Shark Tank.”
Nevertheless, the determined founder of Fried Green Tomatoes successfully acquired a second food truck in Tennessee after the show.
Fried Green Tomatoes remains operational, encompassing both the food truck and retail business.
Cooper’s aspiration lies in franchising, as evidenced by the franchise information available on the company’s website outlining the requirements for potential franchisees, including an initial fee close to $50,000.
Additional costs such as training, inventory, and the truck itself necessitate a net worth of $300,000 or more for prospective franchise owners.
Beyond business expansion, Cooper actively engages in community initiatives. Collaborating with Rest Stop Ministries led to the establishment of Good Hope Farms, a sanctuary for women affected by sex trafficking.
Cooper’s connection to addiction, through her daughter’s decade-long battle, fuels her commitment to supporting survivors.
Good Hope Farms aids these survivors in employment opportunities and financial stability, some of whom have found roles at Fried Green Tomatoes.
Cooper remains resolute in her franchising endeavors, a goal she pursued on “Shark Tank” and continues to pursue despite the unsuccessful deal with Corcoran. Fortunately, she found a new partner, Jeff Alexander, of Franchise Development Partners.
In a testimonial for Franchise Genesis, Cooper expressed her need for assistance in navigating the franchising process and her satisfaction with the partnership after exploring various franchising companies post-Shark Tank.
She highlighted the financial potential and untapped market of individuals in their 50s and 60s who lost jobs due to the pandemic yet possess the means to explore franchising opportunities.
Although Corcoran did not fulfill her promise to make Cooper wealthy within two years through “Shark Tank,” the optimistic Fried Green Tomatoes owner remains bullish about her company’s future.
Fried Green Tomatoes is still in business with an estimated net worth of $2 million.