Atlanta-based Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry just received a big check to grow their business.
FUBU founder and serial entrepreneur Daymond John invested $150,000 in the company on the recent episode of ABC's "Shark Tank." The company founded by father and son duo Joseph Dowell Jr. and Joseph "Joe" Dowell III will give up a 25 percent stake for the hefty investment, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Joseph “Joe” and Maranda Dowell went on the show in order to expand their brand and take it to the next stage.
"The 'Shark Tank' experience was amazing! We are so happy to share our story on such a large, global stage,” Maranda said. “It’s truly a blessing that Daymond saw the vision too, and we reached a deal.”
Their story started from a 10×10 tent where the seafood breading mix was created. Seafood platters and the mixture were also sold out of the tent in the early days, but things quickly changed. Over two decades, their brand expanded due to extensive travel across the country to concerts and festivals as far wide as Chicago to Miami, feeding over 700,000 hungry people.
“We started out just to make a living, but when the lines wrapped around the block, we knew we could turn it into a $10 million business,” Joe said.
What makes Joe's different from other products is that the mix doesn’t absorb a lot of oil, and brings a light, delicious crunch that brings out the best in food without overpowering with salt.
Their wives played an instrumental role in getting the incredible fish fry into stores. Now, Joe’s Gourmet Fish Fry is in over 1,200 grocery stores across the country in just three years. It can be purchased at your local Walmart, Publix, Kroger, HEB, Lund’s, Festival Food, Rouse’s, Nam Dae Mun, Northgate Trading, Wayfield Foods and online at www.joesgourmet.com.
“We went from seven local stores to 1,200 nationwide in less than three years," Maranda said. "It was pure persistence. We believe in our product. It has a light tasty crunch that’s so addictive. We knew if our customers loved it, theirs would too!”
