Saavy Naturals Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 7
Hugo and Debra Saavedra pitched Saavy Naturals, edible soap and personal care products, on Shark Tank. They landed a deal with one of the Sharks. Later, the brand was acquired by Arcadia Biosciences.
Former restaurateurs and personal chefs Hugo and Debra Saavedra brought Saavy Naturals, their line of 100% natural, food-grade soaps and personal care products, to Shark Tank Season 7 Episode 7. Their skincare products are safe enough to eat.
Their mission? To nourish your skin the same way you’d nourish your body. Their pitch intrigued Barbara Corcoran, leading to one of the most memorable skincare deals of the season.
About Saavy Naturals
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Saavy Naturals |
| Founders | Hugo and Debra Saavedra |
| Industry | Personal Care & Skincare Products |
| Product | 100% natural, food-grade soaps, lotions, and scrubs |
| Investment Asked | $220,000 for 10% equity |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Barbara Corcoran |
| Deal Outcome | $200,000 for 40% equity + all purchase orders funded |
| Valuation | $2.2 million (at the time of Shark Tank pitch) |
The Saavedras are avid gardeners and always incorporate herbs and edible flowers in their cooking. A few years ago, they started cooking up soaps and lotions with their flowers and herbs and Saavy Naturals was born.
Hugo and Debra use all-natural, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, palm-free, non-GMO, responsibly sourced ingredients in their products. Everything they put in their soaps and lotions is food-grade, so it’s edible!
They emphasize that the skin is the body’s largest organ, and it’s important to nourish it with safe ingredients. So the founders care just as much about what goes inside as they do about what goes on outside. The skin absorbs what is put on it, so Saavy Naturals wants it to be all good.
When they started their business, they were the darlings of the greater Los Angeles farmers’ market scene. People loved their soaps, so they began selling them online through their website. Now Saavy Naturals is available on Amazon, and at Whole Foods, Clark’s, Lassen’s, California Fresh Markets and many more locations.
They likely wanted a Shark to infuse cash for greater production and distribution capabilities. Would a Shark invest in edible soap?
Saavy Naturals Shark Tank Pitch
Hugo and Debra opened the segment at their home. They explained they’re soul mates who found joy cooking together and then, pouring soap together. Previously, they built another company to $10 million in sales, but they lost controlling interest. They wanted to share a passion for food and beauty care with the world.
When the founders entered the Tank, they sought an investment of $220K for 10% equity in their business, valuing their company at $2.2 million. They said their line is different than anything the Sharks have seen or tasted as Debra eats a piece of soap. All their soaps are made with food-grade ingredients in their kitchen factory.
As they handed out samples, Robert Herjavec asked Barbara to try it. She did and said it “tastes like perfume and sugar.” Lori Greiner clearly liked the product.
Hugo and Debra explained that they have experience building a soap company in the past, but they lost control of it. Hugo said they weren’t savvy then, but they were savvy by the time of filming.
By 2014, before appearing on Shark Tank, Saavy Naturals had generated $750K in online sales. Margins were 30%-40% and they had good retail relationships in Southern California, New York, and Boston.
Did Saavy Naturals Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Mr. Wonderful didn’t like their valuation. He thought it was a commodity product, and they’re worth about $400K. Mark Cuban said he believes they are competitive with Simple Sugars, so he was out.
Lori thought the soap business was too competitive; she was out. Before a break, Barbara asked if they’d consider changing the name.
After a break, Robert offered $200K for 45%. Mr. Wonderful reiterated his valuation and said Barbara could help them run the company. Barbara Corcoran offered $200K for 40% equity, and she would fund purchase orders. Hugo and Debra accepted!
Saavy Naturals Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. The deal with Barbara never closed.
After the show aired, Saavy Naturals expanded its distribution with a new retail store in Pacific City, California. At their air party, they had Cousins Maine Lobster as caterers!
This helped in boosting their online presence and broadened their product line to include body creams, bath bombs, body washes, and handcrafted, plant-based soaps.
In 2017, it became a subsidiary of Trimax Corporation, with Hugo and Debra as CEO and COO.
Later, in June 2021, the business was acquired by Arcadia Biosciences for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition allowed Arcadia to expand into clean beauty and personal care under its wellness division.
Today, Saavy Naturals remains a recognized name in natural skincare, continuing Hugo and Debra’s mission of “nourishing the body from the outside in.” The estimated net worth is approximately $5 million as of 2025 for the product.
Posts About Saavy Naturals on Shark Tank Blog
Check out other posts about Saavy Naturals.
Where Can You Buy It?
Saavy Naturals products are available for purchase through Amazon, Walmart, and select Whole Foods locations. Their official website also features collections like lavender chamomile, coconut mango, and lemongrass tangerine.
Check out their social media pages for more updates: Facebook and Twitter.
Quick Summary
- Hugo and Debra Saavedra asked for $220,000 for 10% equity in Saavy Naturals, a line of 100% natural, food-grade, vegan soaps and personal care products.
- Barbara Corcoran offered $200,000 for 40% equity, plus funding for purchase orders, but the deal never closed after the show.
- Post-Shark Tank, Saavy Naturals grew and was acquired by Arcadia Biosciences in 2021 for an undisclosed amount.
Check out other products that appeared in the Shark Tank Season 7 episodes.
Interested in knowing about other businesses that appeared on the same episode? Check out their business updates!
