What Happened To Jackson's Honest After Shark Tank?

When it comes to securing a deal on "Shark Tank," it's no secret that having a quality product with a proven track record is a must — but, sometimes, it pays to have a heartwarming story.

When it comes to offering a top-notch product, it would seem that Jackson's Honest could tick off that box with a big red check mark. Shark Tank Blog reveals that its potatoes were non-GMO, its corn was purely organic, it sourced its salt from a Utah seabed that offers 60 minerals, and only fried its potatoes in coconut oil, making them "probably the healthiest chips you can eat."

Their tracker record was admirable as well. According to the Gazette Review, the company sold over $1 million of products in its first year and, as of 2017 it had increased its earnings to $10 million.

It is the product's story, however, that was most impressive. CNBC shares that young Jackson Reamer, the company founder's son, became ill at a very young age. When he was 3 years old, his body weight had fallen to a mere 17 pounds. After a seemingly endless cycle of tests, it wasn't clear what was wrong, however, when Jackson was introduced to a diet high in good fats, he began to improve (via Shark Tank Blog). He then began eating a potato chip that was fried in coconut oil and their company was born. Sadly, Jackson passed away in 2017 from his illness (Aicardi-Goutières syndrome), but his legacy lives on.

When Jackson's Honest founders, Scott and Megan Reamer, appeared on "Shark Tank," Scott had just quit his job to give this thriving company his complete focus. They landed a coveted spot on the show in the hopes of taking their business to the next level — and further honoring their son's legacy.

Their initial ask, according to the Shark Tank Blog, was a 5% stake for $1.25 million, which equates to a $25 million company valuation. Robert Herjavec loved their product but was out as their sales at Whole Foods were unimpressive. Lori Greiner wasn't interested. Mark Cuban worried that "the profit margins will not expand at a rate that will allow him to see a return on his investment," making him out. And, Barbara Corcoran warned that the grocery industry is tough, so she was out. Guest shark, Rohan Oza, had a problem with their valuation but was willing to make a counteroffer of $1.25 million for a 20% share of the company. After much volleying back and forth, both sides agreed to a deal of "$1.25 million for a 15% stake."

With the valued financial input and immense wisdom of a shark, the Reamers were equipped to focus on some important aspects of their company including what products should be their focus, how to better ensure quality control, and what should become their priorities (via Jackson's website). Could this company produce one of the best foods we've seen on Shark Tank?

After securing their "Shark Tank" deal, Jackson's Honest introduced their "biggest new product launch" since the company's inception. Grain Free Puffs came out in "cheesy cheddar, crunchy sweet potato, and spicy cheddar," promising to be rice and corn-free (via 2 Paragraphs). The company's website adds that other major changes that came about included rebranding the company name to simply "Jackson's" and switching its production to a full range of sweet potato chips, bidding farewell to white potato and corn chips. The company even built its own "manufacturing facility in Muskego, Wisconsin."

And, its popularity and availability are soaring. When Bon Appétit saw the Reamer's appearance on Shark Tank, it had to try them. The verdict? "Pretty damn good," and they "smell and taste like fresh potatoes." No wonder this product line is now available at Whole Foods, Sam's Club, and directly from Jackson's online store.

Yes, Jackson's continues to thrive long after its adventure on Shark's Tank, clearly showing that a home-based business can evolve into a multi-million dollar company. And thankfully, Jackson Reamer's legacy lives on.