Project Pollo Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 13
Lucas Bradbury Pitched Project Pollo, a Vegan Chicken Restaurant Chain on Shark Tank Season 13 Episode 24. They walked away without a deal.
Lucas Bradbury hopes the Sharks bite on Project Pollo, his rapidly growing and successful chain of vegan chicken restaurants, in Shark Tank Season 13 Episode 24.
Bradbury got into vegan food while trying to convince his parents to eat healthier. He decided to test the concept of a vegan “chicken” restaurant during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. A friend of his who owned a bar asked if he would be interested in opening a food truck at the bar so it could reopen.
Apparently, in Texas, you needed to serve food to be able to reopen in the early stages of reducing lockdown restrictions. The concept was a hit, and when things started to return to normal, he opened his first brick-and-mortar store in a space vacated by another restaurant.
Bradbury is focused not only on food but also on sustainability. Vegan food products are far more sustainable than the meat industry, which produces a lot of environmental waste.
Check out other Shark Tank Season 13 Episodes.
About Project Pollo
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Project Pollo |
| Founder | Lucas Bradbury |
| Industry | Plant-Based Food |
| Product | Vegan chicken and plant-based foods |
| Funding | Raised $1.5 million |
| Investment Asked | $2.5 million for 5% equity |
| Deal Status | No Deal |
| Valuation | $50,000,000 |
Plant based burgers and chicken are the staples at Project Pollo; they also sell mac n cheese, nachos cookies and vegan milkshakes customers rave about. He likes to locate in “repurposed” spaces that other fast casual chains would overlook, and all the packaging is compostable; even the water comes in a box.
His people are important to him, too—he pays twice the minimum wage and provides health benefits and paid vacation to all employees. As for his customers, he says 20% are vegan, and the rest are “plant-curious.”
The concept is a big hit. He went from that test food truck to twelve locations – all in Texas – in just two years. There are plans to open four more locations in 2022, and his goal is to have 100 locations by the end of 2024.
Bradbury is on a mission to make plant-based foods more accessible to the masses. He believes plant-based protein is the future, and he wants to be a leader in the space. With the success he’s already had, there’s no doubt he’ll get there. A Shark could help him get there faster.
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Posts about Project Pollo on Shark Tank Blog
Project Pollo Shark Tank Recap
Lucas enters the Shark Tank, saying, “We demand change.” He says he created Project Pollo to make plant-based foods more accessible. He’s seeking $2.5 million for 5% of his company. The Sharks reel at the valuation. The Sharks eat their samples, and they like it. Mr. Wonderful says it’s the best fake chicken he’s ever eaten. The name was deliberate to get people into the stores.
Lucas describes how he’s opened 12 restaurants, and he’s doing $10 million lifetime. He explained he wanted to go as fast as he possibly could. All in, he has $60,000 in along with credit cards. He went from $10,000 a week to $23,000 a week in his first restaurant in Austin. The company plans to open one location per month. So far, he has raised $1.5 million at a $17.5 million valuation. He was able to get great lease rates due to COVID.
He started in restaurants as a delivery driver at Pizza Hut, where he rose to manager. Then, he helped grow another vegan business.
Did Project Pollo Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Mr. Wonderful is impressed with Lucas, but not the valuation; he’s out. Mark doesn’t think the food is healthy and doesn’t like the valuation; he’s out.
Kevin Hart thinks he’s moving too fast; he’s out. Barbara compares them to Tom and Chee, who went bankrupt because they grew too quickly; she’s out. Lori says she doesn’t know what will happen with the rapid growth; she’s out, too.
Project Pollo Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. After airing, Lucas is putting a national expansion into play. As of August 2022, he’s added 5 new stores since the original air date, bringing the total to 17. They also added two food trucks.
They’re planning on doing a roadshow to universities in the northeast in the fall of 2022. In 2023, it plans on offering franchises in the northeast, where they don’t plan on opening company-owned stores. The company plans to provide more franchises in 2023 and will expand beyond its Texas/Las Vegas/Colorado footprint to Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa, and Miami.
As of September 2024, it seems that all of Project Pollo’s locations are closed. Unfortunately, it’s no longer in business, and its estimated net worth is $0!
The Shark Tank Blog will follow up on Project Pollo & Lucas Bradbury as more details become available.
Where Can You Buy It?
Project Pollo originally had multiple brick‑and‑mortar vegan fast‑food locations across Texas, and briefly expanded into Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. They also launched Side Chicks, which included real chicken products, in a rebranded location in San Antonio.
However, by late 2023 to early 2024, all Project Pollo and Side Chicks outlets had closed after being acquired by a national franchise group. No active outlets or online ordering options are available now.
Quick Summary
- Project Pollo offers a variety of vegan chicken products and plant-based foods, focusing on sustainability with compostable packaging and repurposed spaces for their restaurants.
- Lucas Bradbury launched Project Pollo during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide healthier food options and promote sustainability.
- With 12 locations in two years and plans to expand to 100 locations by 2024, the company has achieved $10 million in lifetime sales and raised $1.5 million at a $17.5 million valuation.
- However, it has closed all its locations and is no longer in business.
Curious about other businesses that appeared on Shark Tank Season 13 Episode 24? Check out the business updates!
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