There are a lot of spin-off versions of standard beef burgers if you go to any restaurant or supermarket these days. There are veggie burgers, lamb burgers, turkey burgers, etc. Perhaps the most unique burger you’ll encounter is the culinary creation of Shawn Davis, also known as Chef Big Shake: the Shrimp Burger.
The story begins with Davis’s daughter returning from school with a newfound determination never to eat meat again. At school, she had been exposed to some videos showcasing some of the behaviors of the meat industry. Things that take place at the slaughterhouses compelled her to take a stand and swear off meat for good. Well, Shawn still wanted his ten-year-old daughter to get enough protein and nutrients from her diet, even if she wasn’t going to be eating beef or chicken anymore.
Even though his daughter swore off most types of meat, seafood was still ethical in her book. Davis took advantage and started making his burger patties out of shrimp, veggies, and seasoning. His wife and daughter were huge fans right off the bat, convincing him to make a batch for a party they were going to. When they went to the party and Shawn put out his tray of shrimp burgers, it wasn’t long before they were all gone. Even more than that, people were lauding Shawn for his creation. This was all the evidence Mrs. Davis had to see, and she convinced Shawn that he should start selling his creation.
When it began, Davis did most of the work himself, with some help from family. He would approach restaurants with his product, and he had limited success. On the supermarket front, he had no luck.
It was during the earlier days of Shark Tank, and Shawn’s friend was familiar with the show. He filled out all the paperwork and submitted Shawn for the show. Months later, he got accepted. He knew exactly how to pitch the product because he had already been doing it for a long time.
Chef Big Shake on Shark Tank
Shark Tank Season 2 Episode 1
Shawn Davis walked into the Shark Tank wearing an all-black chef’s uniform. Immediately when you see him, you understand his nickname, Chef Big Shake, a bit better. He’s a big man, with charm and charisma. A very likable guy and you can tell early on that the Sharks take a liking to him as a person.
Beside him, Shawn has his products laid out, four different flavors of his shrimp burgers. He gives samples to each of the Sharks, and all of them think the burgers are delicious. Well, everyone except for Barbara because she doesn’t like shrimp for some reason.
What Chef Big Shake was looking to get out of his appearance on the show was a $200,000 investment in his business in exchange for 25% equity. A reasonable request, considering what some people are seeking when they appear on the show.
His pitch seemed to be going well overall. The Sharks were enjoying his product, and they seemed to enjoy Shawn’s presence as much as his product. He has the type of personality that is hard not to like. It is clear that at least a few of the Sharks want to help him out.
Unfortunately for Shawn, he went on the show during a time where none of the Sharks had a network in the food industry that would benefit Chef Big Shake the way that he needed. None of the Sharks are happy about it either. Barbara even says that she is tempted to make an offer simply because she wants to help out Shawn, but explains that she wouldn’t be able to help out his product.
Shawn’s biggest hope lies in Daymond and Mark Cuban. Each of them explains to Shawn the same dilemma; they don’t have the connections which are necessary to get his product in stores all across the country. Each of them expresses how much they enjoy his product. Both Daymond and Mark tell Shawn that they would happily be regular customers, but as investors, they wouldn’t be so useful. In the end, all of the Sharks pass on Shawn’s pitch, and he leaves without a deal
Life After Shark Tank
Chef Big Shake may have left the Shark Tank without a deal, but to say that his business was not heavily impacted by his appearance on the show would be a mistake. As soon as the episode aired, Shawn’s business boomed, and plenty of investors were reaching out, eager to make a deal. Shortly after the episode aired, Shawn received a deal in the form of a $500,000 investment for 30% equity in his company. An even better scenario than what he had been seeking from the Sharks.
Shawn Davis, and his company CBS foods, to this day, are one of the biggest successes in Shark Tank’s history. Mark Cuban has even said in a television interview that one of his biggest regrets was that he did not invest in Shawn’s company.
When Shawn appeared on the show, his product had brought in $30,000 in revenue during its first year. By the end of the following year, sales were up to an astonishing $5 million! One of the contributing reasons for this could have to do with the price tag. The burgers are pretty expensive, but they are of high quality and very healthy. Certainly, one of the most determinative factors in Big Shake’s success has been his appearance on the show.
Shawn Davis has revealed that he still keeps in touch with a few of the Sharks, most notably Mark and Daymond. Each of them showed that they stood by their word from what they said during his appearance on the show. Each has become a customer, including Daymond ordering a huge shipment for a big party that he was throwing. Shawn explains that Daymond has been a great mentor and has offered help to him along the way.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is strictly informational; SEO Insights is not affiliated with Chef Big Shakes, CBS Foods, Shrimp Burger, SharkTank, or any of its subsidiaries.
