Here's What Happened To Uprising Bread After Shark Tank

Bread is an absurdly common food. You might have had toast for breakfast or a sandwich for lunch. Many restaurants offer a basket of complimentary bread to snack on while you wait for your entree. According to History of Bread, the average person in the United States packs away 53 pounds of bread every year. Many people don't think much about that slice of white bread or dinner roll they smear in butter or mayo. Other diners, however, have a bit more to worry about than getting stuck with the crusty end of a loaf.

While some people abstain by choice from gluten-based products such as bread, many others avoid gluten for more pressing reasons. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys estimated that around 2 million people in the United States have celiac disease, a condition in which the ingestion of foods with gluten causes damage to the small intestine, per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. 

How can someone abstain from gluten and still enjoy delicious bread? This was the question Uprising Bread's owners sought to answer. Kristen and William Schumacher brought their take on gluten-free, low-carb bread on the popular TV show "Shark Tank" to find a backer but left without any of the Sharks lending their financial support (via Shark Tank Blog). However, this wasn't the end of Uprising Bread and its quest to bring its gluten-free goodness to the world. They did manage to make it on their own, at least for a time.

Although William and Kristen Schumacher left "Shark Tank" empty-handed, their dream of providing delicious gluten-free and keto breads to the world wasn't curtailed. After appearing on the show, Uprising Bread rebranded as Uprising Food, selling the Schumachers' homemade bread cubes and bread chips to hungry crowds across the nation. Delicious as well as healthy, many of the brand's products were prepared with activated psyllium, "a form of fiber made from the husks of the [blond plantain] plant's seeds," according to Healthline.

Uprising Food promised "sourdough-esque notes" and "baguette-like mouth feels" — and reviews seemed to back it up. Honest Brand Reviews wrote that the bread had a "subtle, nutty taste." Similarly, Lisa Freedman of The Kitchn gave Uprising Food's keto bread cubes a glowing review while also noting the somewhat pricey cost of $48 for four cubes of bread.

In a December 2021 interview with Authority, Kristen and William still felt that their business was running successfully. Kristen cited a firm belief in brand strategy as well as taking steps to ensure customer knowledge and connection. William, on the other hand, said he believed in having a "breakthrough product" that's "new and better" and maintaining great relationships with suppliers and sellers.

Alongside its cubed bread, Uprising Food also sold two varieties of chips: sea salt and savory rye. These weren't your usual potato chips, though — they were more like crackers. These chips were made from almonds, flax seeds, apple cider vinegar, and egg whites. But how good were these chips if they weren't the chips most people had been expecting? Did they hold up as an acceptable substitute?

PureWow described Uprising Food's chips as being "delightfully crispy and snackable," having a nutty taste akin to bagel chips. The rye chips were described as having a flavor that was (obviously) savory, thanks to the addition of onion and horseradish powders.

But while it would seem that the flavors were a positive talking point, some people needed a bit of convincing to try them, especially when the chips were first released in 2021. One commenter on Facebook claimed that the chips resembled "fried cardboard," while others had some choice words about the rather expensive cost of a box of chips. Others, however, went on to praise the chips' crunchiness and flavor.

Despite a strong few years on the market, Uprising Food announced on its website in early 2023 that it would be closing shop on March 28. The only other information given about the company's closing was an invitation to order a final bread bundle.

However, those following Uprising Food on Facebook pointed out in the days following that they never received their orders, despite being charged. One person said they had been charged for an additional three orders, and others commented they'd had to talk to their credit card companies to get a refund. 

Although this could be a simple miscommunication on Uprising Food's part, one customer suggested that the company never intended to fulfill any final orders; and, instead, they attempted to make as much last-minute cash as possible. Regardless of what the situation is, the company's Facebook has been inactive since late January; all products are out-of-stock; and no one seems to be able to get in contact with Uprising Food via direct message, email, or otherwise.