Magic Dates on Shark Tank: pitch, deal, and where they are now

Magic Dates on Shark Tank: pitch, deal, and where they are now

Magic Dates on Shark Tank captured viewers’ attention with its gourmet dates and inventive flavours. The company’s founder, Diana Jarrar, secured a $150,000 deal for 33.3% equity with Kevin O’Leary during her appearance on Shark Tank Season 13. The investment helped Magic Dates expand into select retail locations and online platforms.

Magic Dates founder Diana Jarrar and Magic Dates logo
Magic Dates founder Diana Jarrar holding one of her products (L). Magic Dates logo (R). Photo: @magicdatesbites on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Diana Jarrar launched Magic Dates to offer gourmet, date-based snack bites that are both plant-based, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly.
  • During Season 13, Episode 17 of Shark Tank in 2023, Diana Jarrar pitched her date-based snack brand, Magic Dates, asking for $150,000 in return for 10% equity.
  • Jarrar accepted Kevin O'Leary’s offer of $150,000 in exchange for a 33.3% stake in her company.

What happened during the Magic Dates on Shark Tank pitch?

In Season 13, Episode 17 of Shark Tank, the American entrepreneur, Diana Jarrar, pitched Magic Dates, a line of date-based snack bites that are dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher. She sought $150,000 for 10% equity, sharing how her Syrian heritage inspired the creation of a healthy, Middle Eastern-inspired snack.

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Magic Dates products
Display of the Magic Dates products. Photo: @magicdatesbites (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

According to Shark Tank Blog, Diana estimated that Magic Dates could reach $175K in sales by the end of 2022, up from $136K in 2020 and $100K in 2019. She also mentioned that most of these sales were driven by retail partners like Whole Foods, with direct-to-consumer sales remaining limited.

Although the Sharks admired the concept, they raised concerns about the competitive snack market and the brand's modest sales. Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, and Robert Herjavec chose not to invest.

Despite this, Kevin O’Leary recognised the potential and offered $150,000 for a 33.3% equity stake, which Jarrar accepted. The deal placed an implied valuation of $450,000 on the company.

During an interview with Forbes, Kevin O'Leary said:

Its one thing to get 5 million in sales, it's another to get to 150 million. If you are going to get to that, which is where I want Diana to go, she is going to need partnership, she needs logistics, shelf space and needs to understand how to work with these retailers, and you can't do that by yourself you need commercial kitchens and ordering systems and FGF has that. That is the value of Shark Tank.

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Magic Dates after Shark Tank update

After appearing on Shark Tank, Magic Dates experienced increased visibility, expanded retail partnerships, and a rebranding that showcased its cultural roots. Here is how the company evolved post-pitch, from rising sales to product expansion.

Magic Dates during the 60th anniversary Pitch competition
Magic Dates with other entrepreneurs displaying cheque awards during the 60th anniversary Pitch competition. Photo: @magicdatesbites (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Magic Dates' revenue and sales breakthroughs

Prior to its Shark Tank appearance, Magic Dates faced challenges scaling in a competitive and crowded snack market.

After the episode aired, Magic Dates saw a surge in demand as website traffic spiked and Amazon inventory quickly sold out. Jarrar advised customers to purchase directly from the Magic Dates website in case stock ran out again. The spotlight expanded the brand's reach, boosting sales while opening doors to retail partnerships and future growth.

Product innovation and brand evolution

Magic Dates introduced a delicious selection of seven varieties, including Blueberry Chocolate, Salted Walnut Brownie, Coconut Cream, Lemon Bar, Chocolate Coconut, Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle, and Triple Chocolate. To inspire customers to try multiple flavours, the brand introduced the "Date Flight" sampler box, which includes four date varieties along with recipe suggestions.

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Shoppers can buy an eight-bag bundle for $42 to $49 or enjoy savings through the brand’s subscription program. For instance, the Chocolate Lovers Variety 8 Pack is priced at $48.99 and can be purchased either as a one-time order or via a subscription plan.

Magic dates on Shark Tank: where to buy your favourite flavours

Magic Dates founder smiling
Magic Dates founder posing for a photo in front of a brown background. Photo: @magicdatesbites (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Magic Dates products are sold through a variety of channels. They can be purchased directly from the brand's website, on Amazon, or at select retail locations.

The company has also landed shelf space in respected natural and speciality retailers such as Whole Foods, Erewhon, Lassen's, Mother's Market, and Down to Earth. You can find a nearby store by using the store locator on their website.

Did Magic Dates succeed?

Since appearing on Shark Tank, Magic Dates has succeeded in making solid strides, from Amazon sell-outs to a broader product range and retail placement in chains like Whole Foods and Erewhon. Its valuation rose from around $450,000 at the time of the deal to about $600,000 in 2023.

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Who is the owner of Magic Dates?

Diana Jarrar is the founder and CEO of The Magic Dates. She founded it in 2017.

What is Magic Dates on Shark Tank update net worth?

At the time of this writing, Shark Tank Net Worth and Shark Tank Blog report that the company's net worth is estimated at $3 million.

Magic Dates on Shark Tank showcased how a unique product and the right partnership can unlock growth opportunities. With Kevin O'Leary's investment, the brand expanded its flavour lineup and retail reach, steadily strengthening its position in the healthy snack market. It continues to evolve and innovate.

Legit.ng recently published an article on what happened to Hy-Conn after Shark Tank. During his Shark Tank pitch, Hy-Conn's owner, Jeff Stroope, requested $500,000 in exchange for a 40% equity stake in the company.

Stroope secured a $1.25 million deal from Mark Cuban in exchange for a 100% equity stake. However, the deal fell apart because of licensing disagreements. Learn more about Hy-Conn in the post.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Isaac Wangethi avatar

Isaac Wangethi (Lifestyle writer) Isaac Wangethi has been a content writer at Legit since September 2021. He has gained valuable experience working on various projects, such as celebrity biographies, lifestyle, news and many more. Isaac won the Writer of the Year Award on Legit in 2023. He earned a Bsc. of Science in Information Technology in 2017 from the University of Nairobi and a Higher Diploma in Computer Software Engineering from Gretsa University in 2021. In 2023, Isaac finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In March 2024, he completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: Wangethin@gmail.com