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Simply Good Jars is the salad in a jar company that walked onto Shark Tank asking for $500,000 and walked out with a deal from two sharks at once. Since the episode aired, the brand has become one of the more talked about food startups to come out of the show, and shoppers keep asking the same questions. Is Simply Good Jars still in business? What deal did they get? Where can you buy the jars now?
This guide answers all of it, from the original pitch to the latest update on how the company is doing today.
What Is Simply Good Jars?
Simply Good Jars is a Philadelphia based food brand that sells fresh, ready to eat salads packed in individual jars. Instead of a bag or a clamshell container, each salad jar layers the ingredients so the dressing, protein, and greens stay separated until you are ready to eat.
To eat one, you simply shake the jar so the ingredients mix together, then eat straight out of the container with a fork. That shake and eat format is what people mean when they search for the “shake salad Shark Tank” company. Popular flavors include:
- SouthWestern Cobb
- Smoked Salmon
- Simply Greek
- Heavenly Pesto
- Chicken Quinoa
Each jar generally sells for around $10.99, positioning it as a premium, grab and go option rather than a budget salad.
Who Founded Simply Good Jars?
Jared Cannon founded Simply Good Jars in 2017. Before starting the company, he spent almost 18 years working as a chef in the restaurant industry. He later enrolled in an MBA program at Temple University’s Fox School of Business, and it was during long nights of studying that he noticed a gap in the market. Most grab and go meals on shelves were either processed, unhealthy, or stale by the time you ate them.
Cannon started Simply Good Jars with a $1,000 loan and a simple goal: build a salad in a jar that actually stays fresh and tastes like something a chef would make.
What Happened When Simply Good Jars Appeared on Shark Tank?
Cannon walked onto Shark Tank asking for $500,000 in exchange for 7% equity in the company. He brought samples of the salads, walked the sharks through the jar packaging, and explained the company’s sourcing model and distribution plan.
The sharks liked the taste and the sustainability angle behind the reusable jars. Their main concern was the cost of the company’s original distribution model, which relied on refrigerated vending machines placed in high traffic spots like airports and office buildings.
Did Simply Good Jars Get a Shark Tank Deal?
Yes. Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner teamed up and offered Cannon $500,000 for 10% equity, a slightly bigger equity stake than he originally offered. Cannon accepted the deal on the spot. Based on that offer, the company was valued at roughly $5 million at the time of filming, though Simply Good Jars has not published an official current net worth figure since the deal closed.
What Makes This Salad in a Jar Company Different?
The core innovation behind Simply Good Jars is a patent pending packaging method the company calls SMARTJAR technology. The layered jar design is built to keep salads fresh two to three times longer than a typical bagged salad, without relying on artificial preservatives.
Because the ingredients are packed in layers rather than tossed together, the greens stay crisp and the dressing does not make anything soggy until the jar is shaken right before eating.
How Do You Buy Simply Good Jars After Shark Tank?
Simply Good Jars originally sold almost entirely through refrigerated vending machines in airports, universities, office buildings, and convention centers. When the pandemic sharply reduced foot traffic in those locations, the company had to pivot fast. It shifted toward:
- Direct to home delivery
- Retail store distribution
- Partnerships with third party meal delivery platforms
Because Simply Good Jars sources its ingredients from within roughly 500 miles of its production facilities, the company was able to keep its supply chain stable while many competitors struggled during that same period.
Today, you can find Simply Good Jars through the goPuff delivery platform, in select hospital cafeterias and coffee shops, and on shelves at retailers including Walgreens, Wawa, and Sheetz.
Simply Good Jars Shark Tank Update: How Has the Company Grown?
The episode aired in March 2021, and the response was immediate. Within two days of airing, the company’s website traffic spiked, and Simply Good Jars received hundreds of inquiries from potential retail and distribution partners.
Since that episode, the company has reported sales growth of more than 1,200%. In 2022, Simply Good Jars opened a new production facility in Florida to keep up with demand and support its growing retail footprint.
Simply Good Jars Timeline
- 2017: Jared Cannon launches Simply Good Jars on a $1,000 loan
- 2019: SMARTJAR packaging technology is developed
- 2021: Cannon appears on Shark Tank and secures a $500,000 deal for 10% equity
- 2021: Sales grow more than 1,200% after the episode airs
- 2022: A new production facility opens in Florida
Is Proper Good the Same Company as Simply Good Jars?
No. Proper Good is a separate Shark Tank food brand best known for its shelf stable soups and meals in cups, not salads in jars. The two companies are sometimes confused because both appeared on Shark Tank and both sell single serve, grab and go meals, but they have different founders, different products, and different Shark Tank deals.
Simply Good Jars Shark Tank FAQ
Is Simply Good Jars still in business?
Yes. Simply Good Jars is still operating and has expanded well beyond its original vending machine model into retail stores, delivery platforms, and food service accounts.
What was the Simply Good Jars Shark Tank deal?
Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner invested $500,000 for 10% equity in the company, after founder Jared Cannon originally asked for $500,000 for 7%.
Who owns Simply Good Jars?
Simply Good Jars was founded by Jared Cannon, who remains connected to the brand alongside investors Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner.
What is Simply Good Jars’ net worth?
Based on the Shark Tank deal, the company was valued at approximately $5 million at the time it aired. Simply Good Jars has not released an updated public valuation since then.
How do you eat a Simply Good Jars salad?
Shake the jar to mix the layered ingredients and dressing together, then eat directly from the jar with a fork.
Where can I buy Simply Good Jars?
Simply Good Jars is available through the goPuff delivery app, in select hospital cafeterias and coffee shops, and at retail stores including Walgreens, Wawa, and Sheetz.
The Takeaway
Simply Good Jars turned a simple idea, a fresh salad you shake and eat from a jar, into a Shark Tank deal and a fast growing national brand. From its start as a vending machine business in Philadelphia to a retail presence in stores across the country, the company’s growth has depended heavily on consistent, high quality packaging and labeling as it scales into new markets and production facilities.
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