Atlas Monroe from Shark Tank

Atlas Monroe shark tank

The trends in the world of gastronomy are changing worldwide. Leading brands and restaurants are now introducing plant-based meat options to serve people well. The vegan trend hit the culinary world as people realized the importance of healthy eating habits and the cruelty involved in animal slaughtering to gain real meat options.

While some people turned vegan to maintain their health, numerous people adopted plant-based options to fight off diseases. Deborah Torres, founder and owner of Atlas Monroe, created the company’s hero product, vegan chicken when a similar situation arose. When her father was diagnosed with type II diabetes, Deborah’s entire family had to turn to a vegan diet.

The transition wasn’t an easy step as the family craved the tasty chicken. Deborah came up with the recipe for vegan fried chicken during that time. She used the same recipe to start Atlas Monroe and turn it into a brand.

Atlas Monroe, a vegan fried chicken company, serves its customers delicious plant-based chicken and mock meat recipes. The soy-free fried chicken is made up of wheat. Deborah marketed the vegan fried chicken on numerous platforms and got recognition from Times Magazine and various celebrities.

Deborah appeared on Shark Tank alongside her husband Jonathan to seek an investment of $500K in exchange for a 10% equity in Atlas Monroe. The couple wanted to invest the money in buying a facility to streamline production and delivery. The proprietary recipe gave Atlas Monroe the advantage needed in a saturated market.

The couple started the pitch with their introduction and then asked the sharks to have a taste of the fried chicken sample already laid out in front of them. All the sharks loved the tenderness and juiciness of the chicken. The couple then revealed that the dish wasn’t real chicken but wheat.

Mark jumped straight to the numbers, but Deborah didn’t answer directly, making Kevin skeptical. When Deborah revealed that Atlas Monroe had made $76,000 so far, she went into a confusing breakdown of the numbers, making the sharks immediately question the business and Deborah’s skills to lead the company. She also revealed the 60% profit margin, but the damage was done.

Kevin was the first to announce he wasn’t interested in investing in the business as he didn’t believe in the valuation of 5 million dollars. Barbara was next to announce she was out as she found the numbers too confusing and thought Deborah needed some clarity on the operational setup of Atlas Monroe. Since the business hadn’t fulfilled any orders, the sharks became more skeptical of the business’s demand.

Mark offers $500K as a line of credit with 30% equity in exchange. Meanwhile, Lori and Rohan announced they weren’t interested due to farfetched numbers and discrepancies in the operational setup. However, Rohan reconsidered his decision and went in with a new deal with Mark.

Mark and Rohan offered a million dollars to the couple for selling their brand in exchange for a 10% royalty per unit. The couple won’t have to put in any work regarding facility, branding, and production as the shark duo offered to do it all. Deborah asked Mark to return to his original offer, but Mark refused.

Deborah believed in her business and product. She declines the offer, and the sharks wish the couple well.

Our Review of Atlas Monroe

Atlas Monroe has turned out to be a profitable business, building its customer base in a short period. The business had stunned thousands of Shark Tank lovers when the duo rejected a million-dollar buyout offer. However, the business has repeatedly stunned people with its success story, which is now worth $7 million as of 2022.

Since their appearance on Shark Tank, Atlas Monroe has diversified its menu with other mock meat options such as bacon and beef. The business has attracted numerous vegan lovers, especially the ones in their transitioning phase, as the wheat-based fried chicken helps gradually distance itself from the real chicken. Atlas Monroe is also on the menu of different restaurants as a vegan chicken option for the customers.

The business has got a lot of traction and endorsements from major celebrities. Atlas Monroe continues to grow due to its unique product and excellent customer service.

Pros of Atlas Monroe

In short, Atlas Monroe has found a loyal customer base as people love the plant-based healthy fried chicken cuisine. The company’s mind-blowing customer service has also kept customers coming. Here are some things customers love about the business:

  • Atlas Monroe Fried Chicken is a 100% all-natural plant-based chicken that allows vegans to experience tasting chicken without consuming it.
  • Atlas Monroe offers a variety of cuisines to its customers with all 100% plant-based, non-GMO ingredients.
  • Atlas Monroe Fried Chicken is made of wheat protein and has zero soy contents, making it a perfect vegan chicken for people allergic to soy.
  • Atlas Monroe offers meat alternatives for several dishes, including bacon and beef.
  • All the recipes of Atlas Monroe are nut-free.
  • Customers can order the 100% plant-based cuisine of Atlas Monroe from their e-commerce platform.
  • Atlas Monroe delivers nationwide and in various parts of Canada, making it an international brand.
  • Atlas Monroe Fried Chicken and other items from its cuisine are available at popular restaurants across the nation.
  • The dishes from Atlas Monroe are easy to reheat for a delightful experience.
  • The award-worthy customer service has kept the customers coming back.

Cons of Atlas Monroe

Despite having loyal customers and an incredibly delicious product, some things haven’t worked in favor of Atlas Monroe:

  • Atlas Monroe Fried Chicken is costlier than the average mock chicken and meat options one could find easily around supermarkets.
  • The cuisine option at Atlas Monroe is limited compared to other similar restaurants.
  • The sauces used for seasoning the chicken have soy in them, limiting the cuisine options for people allergic to soy.
  • Except for a dish or two, there aren’t many gluten-free options on the menu.

Who Is Atlas Monroe For?

For all the vegan lovers who have been missing out on the mouthwatering taste of chicken and other meat options, Atlas Monroe’s cuisine is for you. The company has an extensive cuisine menu with a wide range of plant-based mock meat options to curb your meat cravings, whether you’re transitioning to a vegan diet or are curious about the taste. Atlas Monroe’s delicious fried chicken, the hero ingredient, is soy-free, but the dishes may have soy content.

Are There Any Alternatives?

Green New American Vegetarian is another popular vegan restaurant that offers a wide range of dishes made using vegan ingredients. The mock meats and plant-based cheeses add to the textural variety of the dishes without taking away the wholesome vegan element from it. The restaurant doesn’t have a signature product selling to the stores or other restaurants, but Green New American Vegetarian’s cuisine is swoon-worthy.

Our Final Thoughts

Atlas Monroe Fried Chicken has changed the culinary experience for millions of individuals. The plant-based fried chicken business has revolutionized the culinary world with its soy-free base product that people all across the nation love. Atlas Monroe is also a success story that celebrates the power of determination and belief.

Atlas Monroe has been making waves instead of riding them. The female black-owned business has been making millions and will continue to grow over the years.