Three Jerks Jerky: Here's What Happened After Shark Tank

Store-bought beef jerky can be tasty, but it's often tough as leather and riddled with chemicals and preservatives that give it an odd taste. While you can make homemade jerky as a solution, the company Three Jerks Jerky sought to offer customers premium yet convenient store-bought versions. Describing themselves as "occasional jerks and passionate foodies" (via threejerksjerky.com), founders Daniel Fogelson and Jordan Barrocas' jerky products started out as an experiment that they would later turn into a business.

Back in 2012, the two friends were inspired to create their own dried meat after sampling some disappointing store-bought jerky. They went shopping at Costco to buy different cuts of beef and dried them using Barrocas' dehydrator. They found that filet mignon produced the best, most tender results, and began making the jerky to give to friends and family.

Following positive feedback, and hoping to turn their dream into a full-blown business, Fogelson and Barrocas launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2013, which raised over $45,000 to get the company on its feet. At one time, there was a third "jerk" in the business (thus the name), but he was dropped due to a disagreement. The still-strong pair of partners later headed to "Shark Tank" in 2015, to see if any of the Sharks would take a bite of their beefy products — and in doing so, replace the third "jerk."

Daniel Fogelson and Jordan Barrocas appeared on season 7, episode 5 of "Shark Tank." Presenting their 100% filet mignon jerky in a range of flavors, including original, Memphis BBQ, and chipotle adobo, they sought an investment of $100,000 in return for a 15% stake in the company. 

The Sharks loved the taste of the high-quality, tender beef jerky, made without using preservatives, nitrates, or gluten. They also seemed impressed that the business made $350,000 in sales over the previous 12 months for its products, which had a premium price tag of $11.99 per pack, with only $3.20 expended to make each bag. Fogelson and Barrocas' ambitions were to scale up so they could buy their beef in greater quantities at a lower price, and to get their jerky into national chain stores. 

While Mark Cuban said he would buy the jerky as a customer, he dropped out, calling the beef jerky market too competitive and the fledgling company too young. Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec offered a combined $100,000 in exchange for 20% of the business, while Kevin O'Leary eventually offered $150,000 for a 33% stake. After a series of revised deals from all the Sharks and much discussion, Daymond John ultimately become the third "jerk." Fogelson and Barrocas accepted an offer of $100,000 for a 15% stake and the option to double the investment in the future.

On a "Shark Tank" update episode (via YouTube), Daniel Fogelson and Jordan Barrocas revealed that they had been "knee-deep in filet mignon" (and jerky sales) since their TV appearance. The night the original episode aired, Three Jerks Jerky sold $250,000 worth of product; in the following three months, sales grew to $1.4 million. That number equated to over 150,000 bags of jerky — but the success also came with some challenges. 

Three Jerks' original co-packer was unable to meet the demand caused by the furor of its "Shark Tank" appearance. Daymond John stepped in to help the brand out by bringing Rastelli Foods Group on board, which was equipped to handle the higher volume of packaging and distribution. John had used this same company with a previous "Shark Tank" investment, Bubba's Boneless Ribs.

As a bonus, the new packaging arrangement meant Three Jerks was able to lower its manufacturing costs. The company went on to expand its product line, including launching a monthly jerky subscription service in 2015 and even branching beyond just jerky. However, the brand's momentum wouldn't last forever.

In Three Jerks' recap episode, Jordan Barrocas said he felt that "the sky is the limit" when it came to the company's future prospects. How did it all pan out? By 2016, the business was selling its dried beef product in five flavors, with the newcomers being Maple Bourbon Churro and Hamburger. The latter flavor seems fitting for the company's more ambitious expansion, as it branched out into making burger patties, offering filet mignon and pork belly blend varieties. 

Three Jerks Jerky later added a teriyaki flavor to its jerky line-up, too. However, as of summer 2024, only the original and Memphis BBQ flavors of filet mignon jerky are in stock on the brand's online store. "Grass-fed beef jerky" in the BBQ flavor is also available, though it's made of top round. Variety packs, which would allow customers to sample multiple flavors, are also out of stock, and all of the brand's products that were once up for grabs on Amazon are no longer available from the seller. The company's burger line has also vanished from its website.

While the company still seems to be selling jerky, its social media output has also gone quiet. The last posts on its official Instagram and Facebook pages were in February 2021, wishing a happy birthday to Daymond John. And the latest blog post on the company's website was in June 2019. 

Since Three Jerks Jerky's social media pages have not been updated in some time, it doesn't look as though the company has any new products or developments on the horizon. It also appears that Daniel Fogelson and Jordan Barrocas have permanently stepped away from the business, which might explain its sudden silence and lack of new developments.

Fogelson's LinkedIn profile named him as the co-founder of Three Jerks Jerky from 2012 until January 2020. Since March 2023, he has been the Chief Operating Officer for a coffee company based in Los Angeles. Barrocas' LinkedIn, meanwhile, listed him as founder of the brand only up until December 2018. He went on to work for Direct Global Partners, running a private label footwear venture in Miami.

Without the original two "jerks" at the helm, and with so many products out of stock, the future of Three Jerks Jerky seems uncertain. It's not clear whether the business, like the beef jerky itself, is drying up, or if it still has a long shelf life. Fans might want to start stocking up on the jerkies that are still on the market, in either case.