Most people think if you walk out of Shark Tank without a deal, you’re toast. But no deal isn’t death—it can be oxygen if you know how to flip exposure into action. CBS Foods and Shawn Chef Big Shake Davis proved that. Let’s cut through the hype and see how a rejected pitch turned into a multi-million dollar success story with The Original Shrimp Burger.
CBS Foods Rolls Into Shark Tank: Chef Big Shake’s Bold Gambit
Here’s how it started: Season 2, lights up, Chef Big Shake steps into the Shark Tank with confidence. He’s got family hustle and real culinary chops. He isn’t just peddling some random product; he’s changing the game with a shrimp burger, banking on America’s love for innovation at dinnertime.
CBS Foods was no overnight fluke. Shawn Davis spent years building his brand, locking in recipes, and hustling like crazy before coming anywhere near ABC’s cameras. He saw a hole in the market—seafood that could play next to beef and turkey on the burger shelf. If you’ve ever stood in the frozen aisle searching for non-beef protein, you get why this pitch mattered.
![CBS Foods [aka The Original Shrimp Burger] Shark Tank Journey | Shark Worth](https://sharkworth.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CBS-Foods-aka-The-Original-Shrimp-Burger-Shark-Tank-Journey.jpg)
The Pitch That Turned Heads: Numbers, Flavors, and Market Ambition
Chef Big Shake was anything but shy with his ask: $200,000 for 25% equity, sticking a company valuation at $800,000. Not crazy in Shark Tank land, but serious money for a food startup in 2011. He knew what he had—four flavors of The Original Shrimp Burger, blending homegrown recipe love with shelf-worthy packaging.
He did what strong founders do: let the Sharks taste the product, walked through margins, and showed he’d already built traction. The fact is, most Tank pitches fumble the numbers or product demo. Davis played his angles, talking a big addressable market—millions of Americans who want something better on their plate.
I’ve seen founders get too greedy or clueless on valuation. Chef Big Shake knew the rules and played them straight but wasn’t desperate. That’s real positioning.
How the Sharks Reacted: Tastes, Doubts… and Regret
Now for the drama. Some Sharks nibbled, some flat-out passed. Barbara Corcoran is famous for literally recoiling; shrimp isn’t her thing, and she doubled down on it. A lot of food brands die right there but Chef Big Shake kept selling.
Mark Cuban sat back and said no, but that regret came hard and fast. After filming, Mark admitted on podcasts and press tours that he missed on this one—classic case of Sharks seeing the win only in the rear view. If you’re a founder and get turned down, remember this: sometimes the no’s mean nothing about your upside.
No investment came in. On SharkWorth and forums everywhere, people thought CBS Foods was kaput. But they underestimated Chef Big Shake’s hustle.
CBS Foods Net Worth and Sales Numbers: After the Cameras Shut Off
Let’s talk real money. When CBS Foods hit the Tank, they were fighting for an $800,000 valuation. After the show—zero Shark money, but sales started climbing. Here’s the kicker: within a year, CBS Foods landed over $5 million in top-line sales.
According to SharkWorth and follow-up interviews, Chef Big Shake and team got hit with a website surge that crashed their servers. Big crowds crashed his checkout. Retailers, brokers, and buyers came calling. More live TV slots rolled in—QVC, local network gigs, too.
That’s a classic Shark Tank flip. The right founder can turn five minutes of TV into market firepower you just can’t buy. Bottom line? No Shark, but Chef Big Shake walked away richer than most Tank winners, and with more leverage to boot.
![CBS Foods [aka The Original Shrimp Burger] Shark Tank Journey From Net Worth to Latest Updates | Shark Worth](https://sharkworth.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CBS-Foods-aka-The-Original-Shrimp-Burger-Shark-Tank-Journey-From-Net-Worth-to-Latest-Updates-3-1024x576.jpg)
What Made The Original Shrimp Burger Stand Out? Product, Packaging, and Real Market Insight
Let’s get real—most food pitches on Shark Tank flop because the product is just another widget. But The Original Shrimp Burger stood out for three reasons:
1. Real Variety: Not a single bland patty. Four flavors, each with a clear hook for different tastes.
2. Packaging: Chef Big Shake’s branding was on point. The product didn’t look like a DIY kitchen experiment; it looked ready for store shelves, a move that matters for brokers and big chain buyers.
3. Health Angle: People wanted alternatives to red meat. The Shrimp Burger delivered on protein, flavor, and something new without a health compromise.
It’s giving Bombas before Shark Tank energy—a better product, smart branding, and a founder who backed it up.
Shark Tank Wasn’t the End—It Was Oxygen
Here’s where things flipped. Chef Big Shake didn’t get a check from the Sharks—he got something better: instant national attention and consumer demand.
- Website Busted by Demand: They had to scramble for new servers once the episode aired. That’s the type of chaos every founder secretly prays for.
- Retailers Came Knocking: Store buyers, brokers, and distributors—these folks were calling instead of being chased.
- QVC and TV Buzz: Chef Big Shake landed a segment on QVC. Those deals can move serious volume and get a product in front of millions in one go.
- Sales Rocketed: By year’s end, sales passed $5 million. Real money, not projections.
Ask any founder who’s pitched at Demo Day or Shark Tank—sometimes publicity is the only margin that matters. CBS Foods didn’t just get a second chance; they grabbed the spotlight and cashed in.
Where Is CBS Foods Now? The Market for The Original Shrimp Burger in 2025
So, it’s 2025. Where’s Chef Big Shake and his shrimp burgers? CBS Foods is still around, still selling, and still held up as a classic Shark Tank no-deal win. They’ve kept the product fresh, pushed new flavors, and stuck with that as seen on Shark Tank marketing edge—online, at demo booths, everywhere but the packaging (ABC rules).
Chef Big Shake himself? Still hustling. Still pushing food innovation. If you search CBS Foods or The Original Shrimp Burger today, you’ll find plenty of action—promos, store locations, and even new product ideas floating around.
SharkWorth and other business trackers peg CBS Foods as a multi-million dollar business—still smaller than some “Shark darlings,” but with real staying power.
Lessons For Entrepreneurs Watching at Home: Turn Rejection Into Rocket Fuel
Here’s where I get personal. I’ve been in those rooms, heard the fast no, and felt the sting. What turns it around isn’t whining or chasing every Shark; it’s owning your exposure and sprinting through every open door.
Chef Big Shake shows you two things:
1. Don’t beg for validation. If you know your numbers and customers, keep grinding.
2. TV fame is a launch pad, not a finish line. Get loud, get visible, and strike while the iron is hot.
You don’t need a Shark. You just need the right moment, and the guts to chase it.
Final Take: CBS Foods’ Shark Tank Journey in Perspective
Let’s call this what it is—a no-deal with million-dollar results. Chef Big Shake flipped the script, taking Shark Tank rejection and turning it into real money, longevity, and respected shelf space.
For hustlers, founders, side giggers? Learn from this: TV deals are cute, but real value comes from knowing when to bet on yourself. CBS Foods used classic Shark Tank exposure to build a brand that still matters, years after most Tank companies disappear.
And if you’re sitting at home, scribbling ideas on napkins, remember: rejection can be your best fuel. It’s about what you do after.
FAQs
1. Is CBS Foods (The Original Shrimp Burger) still in business?
Yes, as of 2025, CBS Foods remains in operation, with The Original Shrimp Burger still available in select stores and online.
2. What is CBS Foods’ current net worth?
SharkWorth estimates CBS Foods’ net worth in the multi-million-dollar range, thanks to consistent sales and successful retail partnerships.
3. Did Chef Big Shake ever partner with a Shark after the show?
No. Chef Big Shake has confirmed he never inked a deal with any Shark post-episode, but he leveraged the exposure for growth.
4. Where can you buy The Original Shrimp Burger today?
You can order The Original Shrimp Burger through CBS Foods’ website, some grocery chains, and occasionally on shopping channels like QVC.
5. What happened to CBS Foods’ sales after Shark Tank?
Sales skyrocketed after hitting the airwaves, reaching over $5 million in a single year.
6. Did the company expand into new products or markets?
Yes. CBS Foods has tested new flavors and seafood products, always looking to extend the brand’s reach.
7. Why did the Sharks pass on the Shrimp Burger deal?
Some didn’t see a fit; Barbara Corcoran openly hated shrimp. Mark Cuban later said he regretted not investing.
8. What advice does Chef Big Shake share with other entrepreneurs now?
Use every no for momentum. Focus on your customers, own the moment, and sell what you believe in.
This is a real Shark Tank hustle: hustle harder when everyone else says no. That’s the move.


