October 22, 2024
Christopher Willard/Disney
Danielle Mahon (above), founder of South Jersey's Topsail Steamer, appears on Shark Tank this Friday, Oct. 25, at 8 p.m. to pitch her seafood bucket company.
A New Jersey seafood entrepreneur will quite literally test out her chum bucket among the sharks this Friday.
Topsail Steamer, a takeout chain, and its local founder Danielle Mahon will appear on an episode of "Shark Tank" airing Oct. 25. at 8 p.m. on ABC. Topsail sells pre-made steam pots that can be heated up at home and enjoyed family-style.
On "Shark Tank," entrepreneurs appear before four business tycoons to pitch their idea and ask for an investment in their company in exchange for equity or a portion of sales. The investors, called "sharks," can either agree to the proposed deal, pass or strike a new one. Mahon went on the show to ask for cash for technology to help the company grow, the Inquirer reported.
Customers pre-order a bucket with uncooked seafood such as shrimp, crab and clams, plus sausage, veggies and a pre-made spice blend (Topsail has nine different bucket varieties). After bringing it home, home cooks just add some water or beer and heat the bucket directly on the stove before digging in — and keep the pot.
The chain was founded by Mahon, who grew up in both Marlton and Tabernacle, New Jersey, originally in South Carolina, but has since opened up four South Jersey locations in Ocean City, Long Beach Island, Sea Isle City and Wildwood. The company also ships nationwide on Goldbelly.
Mahon only got 90 seconds to pitch her company, but said she was in the "tank" with the sharks for about 45 minutes. During that time, she served them the Wrightsville Bay Bucket, which includes snow crab, sea scallops, shrimp, clams, andouille sausage, kielbasa, sweet corn, red potatoes and onion, plus some extra lobster.
Since the episode hasn't aired, Mahon can't share whether or not she got a deal, but said there was some enthusiasm from the judges.
“I can say that they were all really excited by the product,” she told the Inquirer.
The episode also features pitches of a fried chicken-shaped ice cream, a backyard golf game and a magnetic storage solution for skis and snowboards. Todd Graves, the CEO of fast food chicken chain Raising Canes, appears as a guest judge.
