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Project Pollo, which appeared on Season 13 of Shark Tank, is a fast food chain specializing in plant-based, vegan chicken alternatives.
Project Pollo was founded by Lucas Bradbury, who saw a business opportunity in demand for more ethical and sustainable protein sources that mirror the taste and texture of chicken, the second most consumed protein in the U.S.
Project Pollo’s selling proposition comes from its partnership with TiNDLE, a company known for its synthetic chicken made from soy, sunflower, and coconut oil.
This collaboration has allowed Project Pollo to offer vegan chicken that mimics the texture of the real thing without containing unhealthy substances such as MSG, cholesterol, hormones, antibiotics, and artificial colors.
The product range includes vegan fried chicken, grilled burgers, chicken wings, various sides, sauces, and a kid’s menu.
Bradbury aims to make plant-based chicken alternatives affordable by making the company’s offerings competitive with other fast-food chains serving real chicken. Project Pollo’s plant-based chicken is a good choice for several reasons.
It caters to a broad audience, including vegans, vegetarians, individuals with meat-related dietary restrictions such as kosher and halal, and those concerned about the mass farming industry’s environmental and ethical implications.
| Company Name | Project Pollo |
| Entrepreneur | Lucas Bradbury |
| Product | Fast food restaurants that serve plant-based meat |
| Investment Asking For | $2.5 million for 5% equity in Project Pollo |
| Final Deal | No Deal |
| Shark | No Shark |
| Episode | Season 13, Episode 24 |
| Business Status | In Business |
| Website | Project Pollo Website |
What Is Project Pollo?
Project Pollo is an innovative and ambitious initiative to revolutionize the fast-food industry by establishing a nationwide network of plant-based chicken restaurants.
The primary objective of this endeavor is to make delicious, affordable, and sustainable plant-based options more accessible to a larger audience, ultimately contributing to the growing movement of reducing our reliance on animal agriculture.
In doing so, the project reduces the upfront costs associated with starting a new restaurant from scratch and leverages these establishments’ existing customer base, making the transition to plant-based alternatives seamless and organic.
Moreover, all menu items offered at Project Pollo are competitively priced, ensuring they remain affordable.
Project Pollo’s mission to popularize plant-based foods has far-reaching environmental and social implications, as it presents an opportunity to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, reduce land and water usage, and promote a healthier lifestyle.
This trailblazing venture exemplifies how businesses can strategically drive social change and sustainability through approaches in the highly competitive fast-food market.
Who Is The Founder Of Project Pollo?
Lucas Bradbury is the mind behind Project Pollo, a fast-food chain focusing on plant-based chicken alternatives.
Bradbury’s mission was to entice more consumers to try plant-based meat substitutes by providing quality products in an affordable and convenient takeaway format.
He noticed a gap in the market where cheaper fast-food meats were often of “questionable” quality, and higher-quality products were typically more expensive.
Bradbury’s solution was to create a hand-breaded patty from soy, designed to mimic the flavor of a chicken sandwich, making this the flagship menu item of Project Pollo.
Before its appearance on Shark Tank, Project Pollo had humble beginnings as a food truck. This initial setup allowed Bradbury to test his concept and prove its viability in the marketplace.
The positive reception to the vegan alternatives resulted in an expansion into brick-and-mortar restaurant locations.
At the time of Bradbury’s Shark Tank appearance, Project Pollo was preparing to open its 11th and 12th locations, indicating significant growth and a promising future for the company.
Bradbury’s ambition led him to seek substantial investment from the Sharks to further the company’s expansion. Despite providing impressive food samples, the Sharks had reservations.
They expressed concerns about the company’s name potentially misleading customers and Bradbury’s ambitious valuation of the company. They also worried about the potential health implications of vegan fried food and the company’s rapid expansion.
Bradbury addressed these concerns by highlighting employee education about the vegan nature of the food at the counter, prior investment, and favorable rates on 10-year leases for his locations.
Unfortunately, rapid growth turned out to be a double-edged sword for Project Pollo. Several locations had to be closed due to sustainability issues, echoing the Sharks’ concerns. Nonetheless, Bradbury remains committed to his vision.
He has diversified his business model to include a new venture, Side Chicks, which serves real chicken versions of Project Pollo’s food. He also plans to implement “virtual kitchens” through vegan partnership kitchens and has aspirations for Project Pollo’s products to be included in national brands’ menus.
Today, Project Pollo maintains seven brick-and-mortar locations and continues to serve as a testament to Bradbury’s approach to fast food.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of Project Pollo?
Lucas Bradbury, the founder of Project Pollo, which is a plant-based meat fast food chain, made a bold pitch during Season 13 of Shark Tank.
Bradbury sought a substantial investment of $2.5 million for a 5% equity stake in his company, setting an ambitious valuation of $50 million for Project Pollo.
Project Pollo’s mission is to offer affordable and accessible vegan chicken and plant-based meat options, and by the time of the pitch, Bradbury had already achieved significant success with eight stores opened in under a year and year-to-date sales of $3 million.
However, despite the promising concept and impressive growth, the Sharks expressed multiple concerns during the presentation. The most substantial concern was the high valuation of the company.
Kevin O’Leary was the first to leave, finding the valuation completely unreasonable.
Mark Cuban echoed O’Leary’s sentiments about the valuation and added another concern: the food wasn’t necessarily healthy despite being plant-based. Comedian Kevin Hart, a guest Shark, also found the business too risky for investment.
Furthermore, Barbara Corcoran and Lori Greiner expressed concerns about the rapid pace of expansion. Corcoran stated that everything was moving too quickly for her, and Greiner thought the pace was intimidating and the valuation excessive.
Consequently, Project Pollo did not secure an investment from any Sharks, and Bradbury walked out of the tank without a deal. Despite the unsuccessful Shark Tank pitch, Project Pollo continued to grow at an impressive speed.
The franchise had expanded from eight to 20 locations, sticking to its mission of affordability and accessibility. While the Sharks may not have been ready to buy into Project Pollo, the company’s trajectory suggests a promising future for the plant-based chicken chain.
Final Deal: No Shark invested in Project Pollo.
What Happened To Project Pollo After Shark Tank?
Project Pollo experienced significant growth and exposure after its appearance on Shark Tank, despite not securing an investment from any of the Sharks.
The company continued to expand rapidly, opening 20 locations by September 2022, up from the eight it had at the time of the pitch.
Its affordable and accessible plant-based chicken and meat offerings attracted customers, and the company remained committed to its mission. However, the rapid growth and expansion also led to some challenges.
According to later reports, several Project Pollo locations closed down due to sustainability issues. This suggests that the concerns of the Sharks regarding the pace of expansion were not entirely unfounded.
In response to these challenges, founder Lucas Bradbury started looking into ways to keep the business growing.
He launched Side Chicks, a sister business offering real chicken versions of Project Pollo’s food, in February 2023.
Bradbury also announced plans to implement “virtual kitchens” through vegan partnership kitchens, allowing customers to order Project Pollo’s food exclusively through food delivery partners such as DoorDash and UberEats.
Furthermore, Project Pollo was reportedly exploring partnerships with national brands to feature its products on menus nationwide. There was also talk of selling frozen versions of the food in grocery stores.
Despite the bumps in the road, Project Pollo remained operational with seven brick-and-mortar locations, six in Texas and one in Las Vegas, continually striving to become a prominent player in the fast-food space for plant-based chicken and meat alternatives.
Project Pollo Shark Tank Update
While they did not secure a deal with the sharks, the exposure gained from the show has positively impacted their business.
Project Pollo aims to provide affordable and cruelty-free alternatives to traditional chicken while addressing environmental concerns associated with the meat industry.
The company offers chicken less chicken, focusing on sustainable consumption and creating a smaller carbon footprint.
Despite the high valuation presented on Shark Tank, which caused some sharks to decline the offer, Project Pollo continues to expand and open multiple locations.
Currently, Project Pollo has 13 operational locations in Texas, with plans to open additional eight locations by the end of the year. They are committed to growing the chain and have set a long-term goal of establishing over 100 stores nationwide by 2024.
Their expansion strategy targets key markets such as Atlanta, Florida, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, and Nashville. The founder, Lucas Bradbury, remains determined to achieve his goals and is open to support from experienced individuals in the restaurant industry.
While not needing additional funding, Bradbury saw his appearance on Shark Tank as an opportunity to share his story, gain feedback, and receive valuable exposure and insights from the show. He has also gained recognition from various publications for his approach to vegan fast food.
Despite concerns raised by the sharks about the high valuation and rapid growth, Project Pollo remains focused on sales growth and customer retention for its expansion strategy.
They differentiate themselves in the market through their offerings, focus on sustainability, and employee benefits.
Bradbury believes in the enduring popularity of plant-based products, citing Chick-fil-A’s success and noting that most of Project Pollo’s customers are not vegetarians or vegans.
With its mission intact and ongoing efforts to establish a nationwide presence, Project Pollo continues to strive towards its vision of becoming a popular choice for food enthusiasts.
Project Pollo has persevered and expanded its business. They have gained exposure, insights, and recognition from the show and continue to open new locations in Texas with plans for further expansion into other states.
Project Pollo remains committed to providing sustainable and cruelty-free alternatives to traditional chicken and aims to challenge the dominance of fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A.
Project Pollo is still in business and continues to expand its operations. Despite not securing a deal on Shark Tank, Project Pollo has persevered and experienced growth since its appearance.
What Is the Net Worth Of Project Pollo?
The net worth of Project Pollo is estimated to be $50 after its appearance on season 13 of Shark Tank.
