Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 5
NFL defensive lineman Al “Bubba” Baker pitched his boneless baby back ribs on Shark Tank Season 5. See if he got a deal, how the business grew, and what happened after the show.
Journeyman NFL defensive lineman Al “Bubba” Baker feeds the Sharks with some of his Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs in Season 5 Episode 11. Baker, whose NFL career spanned 12 years, did stints with the Lions, Cardinals, Vikings, and Browns from 1978 to 1990 and was the defensive rookie of the year. Since he retired from the gridiron, he’s built quite a following in Cleveland with his successful restaurant called Bubba’s Q.
Bubba’s Q slow smokes all their meats with apple wood until they’re “fall off the bone tender.” This is where he got the idea to start selling Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs to the masses. They don’t use flap meat for their Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs – they de-bone each rack by hand. The result is a delicious, easy-to-eat barbecue treat that he says is more like a steak than a rack of ribs.
Baker is likely looking for a Shark to help get the retail business off the ground.
Check out other Shark Tank Season 5 Episodes
About Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs
| Category | Details |
| Founder | Al “Bubba” Baker, Brittani Bo Baker |
| Product Type | Boneless baby back ribs |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Shark Daymond |
| Investment Asked | $300,000 with 15% equity |
| Result | $300,000 with 30% equity |
Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs Shark Tank Pitch
Al entered with his daughter, Britney, seeking $300,000 in exchange for 15% equity in his business. He explained his love of barbecued ribs and how his wife hates the mess. While warming ribs in the microwave, he explained how his wife’s disdain for messy ribs made him find a way to de-bone them after cooking.
Once the ribs were ready, he handed out samples, and the Sharks loved them. While eating, they asked about his football career, and then the real questions started. Kevin wanted to know if there was anything proprietary about the product. Al produced two patents: one for de-boned ribs and one for the de-boning process. Mr. Wonderful said he’s never seen a patent for a food product in the Tank.
He’s made $154,000 in sales that year and has ribs for sale in 48 stores. Barbara wanted to know why it took him so long to get started. Al said it was his daughter who pushed him after she said she wanted to quit track. She said, “You gave up on your ribs,” which inspired Bubba to get going with the business. Britney is now his partner.
Kevin decided to offer $300,000 for 49% of the business, contingent on licensing the patented process. He said he’ll call on the largest meat packer in the USA and get a deal. Daymond called Kevin a “greedy savage” and offered $300,000 for 30% because he loved ribs so much.
Robert said Bubba is paying a big premium for a phone call with Kevin’s deal, and he went out. Barbara said Kevin and Daymond’s offers were better than hers, so she went out. Mark went out for the same reasons as Barbara. After a moment of reflection, Bubba accepted Daymond’s offer.
RESULT: Deal with Daymond: $300K for 30%
What Happened to Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs After Shark Tank?
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs has grown, but not without some struggles. The company was featured in the Beyond the Tank Episode 1.
A second update occurs in season 8, episode 823. In the update, Daymond and Bubba discuss the company’s burgeoning sales, $16 million in lifetime sales as of 2016.
In October 2019, Bubba closed his restaurant after 13 years in business. That’s as long as he played football. The ribs are still available to order from the company website. He had products in approximately 3,000 grocery stores at peak distribution, and he did a 1 million pound order with Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. restaurants for a limited edition pork rib sandwich.
The COVID-19 pandemic hurt sales, and there was trouble behind the scenes. In May 2023, Bubba revealed to an LA Times reporter that he felt cheated by Daymond and the producers of Shark Tank. He claims the business only received a little over $600,000, as touted in the season 8 update. He also revealed that Daymond introduced him to Nate Holzapfel from Mission Belt.
Nate helped the Bakers set up an eCommerce site to sell their products online, and they did $250,000 in sales on show night. Nate, who’s since been indicted for multiple fraud counts, sexual harassment, and other charges, controlled the business bank account and, when the Bakers terminated that arrangement, he closed up shop and sent them a check for just $8000.
More Trouble
In 2015, Bubba secured a licensing/co-packing deal with Rastelli Foods Group. The deal would give the Bakers 45% of sales revenue. The Bakers claim Daymond injected himself into the deal, and the new terms were that the Bakers got 45% of sales, Rastelli got 35%, and Daymond got 20%.
After several $20,000 to $25,000 payments, the payments dwindled, and both Daymond and Rastelli ceased communications with the Bakers. The Baker family also alleges the Carl’s Jr. deal, worth $5.8 million, only netted them $2,900 in net profits and a $61,917.45 licensing fee.
In 2019, Rastelli Foods sued the Bakers, claiming they weren’t being forthright about the joint venture’s finances. The case was settled, and Rastelli agreed to pay the Bakers $100,000 in installments. When Bubba’s rib business was sold, the installment payments dwindled. The Bakers, who were $170,000 in debt due to legal fees, were forced to shutter their business and sell their home (at a loss).
After this story broke in May 2023, Daymond sought a temporary restraining order against the Bakers. In a statement issued by Daymond’s spokesperson, it said the “temporary restraining order is due to the Bakers’ blatant actions to undermine a business partnership and the legal parameters they agreed to four years ago. Their belief that they can unwind poor business decisions through slanderous social media posts and articles will no longer be tolerated.”
Daymond himself called the accusations by the Bakers a “false narrative.” As of May 2023, the ribs are still for sale on the company website. They are no longer available in stores.
In July 2023, both Daymond and Rastelli Foods obtained a permanent injunction against the Bakers, making the temporary restraining order permanent. The Bakers were ordered by the judge in the case to cease making any disparaging comments about Daymond and to remove all negative social media posts.
By May 2024, both the website and social media pages were offline. It appears that they have gone out of business. Al currently conducts a podcast called Sports and More.
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Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs Information
FAQs
1. Did Bubba Q get a deal on Shark Tank?
Yes, he secured a deal with Daymond for $300,000 for 30% equity.
2. Are Bubba Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs still available?
As of 2024, they appeared to be discontinued. The website is down.
3. Who invented boneless baby back ribs?
Al “Bubba” Baker, a former NFL player, invented boneless baby back ribs and holds patents for both the product and the de-boning process used after cooking.
Could not figure out how to buy some sauce online. Is it available as well as ribs.
Ive heard these ribs are good. But have not tasted them yet. Ordered them online May 5, now its May 26. No ribs! Called them and was told they will ship today. If not, next call will be to cancel order. Waited way too long, if they arrive, and I like them, too bad, no re-order.
Wonder how much they could get if they sold to McDonald’s. is this why the mcrib is no longer a thing?
Rushed to order a bunch of ribs for my family the day after I saw them on SharkTank. Found that the shipping was as much as my order. Nuts to them.