What Happened To Cinnaholic After Shark Tank?

Plenty of budding entrepreneurs have tried to win over one or more of the "Shark Tank" investors. Most of the time, they must prove themselves beyond just a good idea, as they are usually asked about sales, growth plans, their ideal market, and more.

Cinnaholic appeared on "Shark Tank" back in 2013. Founders Shannon and Florian Radke sought $200,000 from a shark for a 20% stake in their business. The sharks loved the flavors of the rolls, and they were pleased to learn the rolls are vegan, dairy-free, lactose-free, cholesterol-free, and egg-free. Some Cinnaholic rolls are kosher, too. Plus, they're roughly half the calories of a traditional cinnamon roll of that size.

In the end, the couple signed a deal with Robert Herjavec for the desired $200,000 but with a 40% stake. However, things needed to be done Herjavec's way, and between the less-than-ideal deal and the shark's terms, the Radkes weren't thrilled. So, what has happened to the brand since the show aired?

Though Shannon and Florian Radke were initially thrilled to have a "Shark Tank" investor on board, the excitement faded when they realized they didn't want to take the approach that Robert Herjavec was pitching. According to QSR Magazine, Herjavec wanted the couple to focus on growing the shipping side of their project so customers could order Cinnaholic pastries to their doorstep from anywhere in the country.

However, the Radkes placed more of their focus on the brick-and-mortar side and wanted to open locations throughout the United States. They insisted that their cinnamon rolls are best served the same day they are made.

Cinnaholic's stubbornness to serve the freshest cinnamon rolls has only paid off, as the chain was able to keep each of its locations open while other restaurants were going out of business due to the pandemic. Clearly, the Radkes' decision to stand their ground has helped them set the stage for even more growth.

As of June 2023, Cinnaholic has nearly 100 franchises across the U.S. and Canada. Furthermore, between 2020 and 2021, the chain saw year-over-year sales growth of 64% in the U.S. and 30% in Canada, per VegNews.

Some of that growth likely came from partnering with food apps and third-party delivery sites, which helped many restaurants get through the pandemic lockdowns. The brand also created a franchisee program and dedicated franchise-support system, enabling Cinnaholic to expand into areas of the country where it couldn't before.

At the time of writing, Cinnaholic has another 21 locations in the works across the U.S. and one additional location planned in Ontario, Canada. Texas has five more franchises opening soon. Though QSR Magazine reported that some franchisees have been concerned about what the future could look like for brick-and-mortar stores, Cinnaholic is likely very optimistic about its forward trajectory.