The ruthless investors on ABC’s Shark Tank did not give Katey Evans the cold shoulder on Friday night.
The Bridgeville wife, mom, former beauty queen and successful entrepreneur fearlessly dove into the infamous pool in front of an audience of millions last night, determined to land an investment in her growing The Frozen Farmer ice cream business.
Evans was the second Delaware business person to make the final stage of the popular TV show, following the appearance of Markevis Gideon and his NERDiT NOW colleagues in October.
She also happened to be the second charismatic young woman to represent the First State on national TV within one week, following the star turn of Wilmington’s Margie Mays on American Idol.
See: Delaware’s Margie Mays Falls Short on American Idol
See: Delaware’s “Frozen Farmer” Katey Evans to Appear on Shark Tank
But of the three it was Evans who scored biggest, snagging a $125,000 investment in her ice cream business, which will help scale her operations and expand Frozen Farmer’s national footprint.
However, Evans’ successful pitch was no sure thing, as the first four sharks to weigh in on her business – Mark Cuban, Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran and Daymond John – each took a pass, saying they loved the Sussex Countian’s enthusiasm but that the ice cream business was hardly a “hot” market. A few cited the challenges of frozen and refrigerated goods.
This left marketer and “QVC Queen” Lori Greiner as Evans’ final shot at funding. Greiner offered $125,000 for 30 percent of the business (Evans’ had been asking that amount for 25 percent of her business), contingent on scoring a major national retail chain account.
Evans excitedly replied that she was already in discussions with Harris Teeter and Wegmans as shark O’Leary told her to shut up and take the deal, which she quickly did.
The former Miss Delaware Teen National who married into a third-generation farming family was overjoyed by the outcome. Since taping the show, Evans and Greiner landed a deal with Giant Foods.
Las night Evans told her friends on Facebook, “Thank you Lori Greiner for this moment I will never forget. Honored and humbled are understatements. And proud to say – Giant Foods is the first national chain to carry The Frozen Farmer in EVERY store location in the nation!”
“This means everything to our business,” she said. “Who would have ever thought in a million years that a farmer’s wife from here would end up on Shark Tank and get a deal with Lori … I’m just so incredibly grateful.”
