Kendra Bennett walked into the Tank looking for more than just cash. She wanted a partner for her family’s dream. If you watched Season 14, you probably remember the emotional pitch for Honey Bunchies. It was one of those segments where you could feel the nerves through the screen. Honestly, it was a bit of a roller coaster.
Her family had been at this since 2010. Her dad, Ed, a former fighter pilot, spent months in the kitchen trying to recreate a snack his wife used to make. He never actually found that original recipe. Instead, he stumbled onto something else. A chewy, salty, sweet bar that was 42% pure honey. He named it after his nickname for her: Honey Bunchie.
The Pitch That Divided the Room
Kendra asked for $200,000 in exchange for 10% of the company. On paper, things looked... okay-ish. They had done about $519,000 in sales the previous year. But the profit? Only $22,000. That’s a tiny margin for a business that had been around for a decade.
The Sharks started circling the numbers immediately. Kendra was projecting a massive jump to $4.2 million in sales for the next year. How? A huge test with 7-Eleven and a potential rollout into thousands of stores.
Kevin O'Leary didn't buy it. He called the $2 million valuation "insane." He’s not one for sentiment, and he told her flat out that he couldn't take the journey with her.
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Mark Cuban was a bit nicer but just as firm. He liked the taste—everybody did—but the energy bar market is basically a war zone. To him, it was too much work for a return. One by one, they all dropped out. Even Lori Greiner, who usually loves a good "hero" story, passed because she just doesn't like honey.
The Rebrand: From Honey Bunchies to Bon Bee
If you try to find the original packaging today, you’re going to have a hard time. Just as the episode was airing in April 2023, the family made a massive pivot. They changed the name to Bon Bee Honey.
Why change a name people were just starting to recognize? Trademarking.
They wanted a name they could truly own as they scaled. Also, "Honey Bunchies" sounded a little too close to a certain famous cereal, and nobody wants a legal battle with a giant like Post Holdings.
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The bars are exactly the same, though. They still make them in Longmont, Colorado. They still use the same small-batch process that takes three days per batch. The Peanut Pecan and Coconut Almond flavors are still the heavy hitters.
Where They Stand in 2026
Despite leaving the Tank without a check, the "Shark Tank Effect" was very real for this crew. Their website crashed from the traffic. Orders poured in.
- Retail Expansion: They successfully navigated that 7-Eleven test.
- National Reach: You can find them in over 1,200 locations now, including Kroger, Whole Foods, and Walmart.
- Revenue Growth: While they didn't hit those wild $4 million projections immediately, they’ve climbed to an estimated $3.5 million in annual revenue.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a weird rumor floating around some corners of the internet that Honey Bunchies was acquired by Post or that they never actually appeared on the show. Let’s clear that up: they definitely appeared (Season 14, Episode 20). And they are still very much a family-owned, independent business.
The confusion likely comes from other "honey" brands or people mixing up their rebrand timeline. Kendra still leads the charge. Her brother handles production. It's still the same kitchen-table meetings, just with a lot more zeroes on the balance sheet.
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Why the Sharks Might Regret It
The Sharks often pass on "lifestyle businesses"—companies that provide a good life for a family but might not become billion-dollar tech giants. But Bon Bee Honey proved they could scale without a Shark's help.
They found their niche. They aren't trying to be a protein bar or a keto bar. They are a "gourmet honey bar." By leaning into the veteran-owned and woman-owned angles, they built a loyal base that doesn't care about "market disruption." They just want a snack that tastes like it came from a real kitchen.
How to Apply Their Success to Your Business
If you're an entrepreneur watching old episodes for inspiration, the Honey Bunchies story has a few practical takeaways that don't require a TV appearance.
- Don't Fear the Rebrand: If your name is holding you back from a trademark or national growth, change it early. It’s painful, but staying small because of a name is worse.
- Product is King: Every single Shark loved the taste. If the product isn't 10/10, no amount of marketing or "story" will save you when the hype dies down.
- Know Your Capacity: They scale slowly because their process takes three days. Instead of rushing and ruining the quality, they grew at a pace they could actually manage.
You can still grab these bars on Amazon or their official site. They usually sell them in 12-packs for around $38.95. If you're looking for a cleaner snack that isn't packed with "mystery" ingredients, it's worth a try just to see what the hype was about.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your local Kroger or Whole Foods snack aisle for the "Bon Bee" logo to support a family-run business that survived the Tank. If you're a founder, review your current business name's trademark status before you invest in national packaging to avoid the same pivot Honey Bunchies had to make mid-stream.