Alabama entrepreneurs receive life-changing offer on Shark Tank + more
Reading time: 4 minutes
Two small-town friends from Hayden, AL, scored a huge win this week after taking home enormous investments from Lori Greiner and Rashaun Williams on the hit reality TV show Shark Tank.
Their business, Y’all Sweet Tea, rose to fame after their “Georgia Peach” flavor sold over 10,000 units in just 35 minutes after its release.
Keep reading to learn more about this success story that led to a huge investment.
From longtime friends to business moguls
Childhood friends Darien Craig and Brandon Echols founded Y’all Sweet Tea in 2021 and the business has been thriving ever since.
One of their main inspirations when founding their business was memories of hot, sweaty summer afternoons. The two pals would come inside after playing outside and be greeted with an ice-cold pitcher of sweet tea.
They combined their family’s recipes of sweet iced tea and Y’all Sweet Tea was born.
“When we were doing festivals, we would be set up in a tent and people would come by and be pouring sweat and ask ‘Y’all got any more of that tea?’
People really enjoyed saying it and kept coming back for more refills.
I knew if we could harness that energy towards our brand, it would be a really good thing. I always knew we were going to be able to do something big with that.”
Brandon Echols, co-owner, Y’all Sweet Tea
After spending the last of his money to start the company, Darien was able to bring in his close friends and family to celebrate the launch of their business. Now, they’ve come up with a variety of tea flavors that let you sweeten it to your taste. Check out all of the flavors they have to offer:
- Georgia peach
- Juicy watermelon whirl
- Snazzy razzy
- Strawberry splash bash
- Mango tango
- Half tea & half lemonade
- Easy peasy lemon squeezy
The duo were also able to obtain sponsorship from Brenda Gantt, a famous influencer who shares her homecooking on Facebook on other social platforms.
“We knew if we got someone like Brenda Gantt that it would help launch our brand, so I slid in her DM’S. She said ‘I do not want to put my name on a company unless I approve it and its good.’
Her management was very serious about her not promoting a brand she doesn’t like.
A couple of days later, we get a call from Brenda and said ‘This is absolutely the best tea I’ve ever had and I would love to work with you guys.'”
Darien Craig, founder, Y’all Sweet Tea
Shark Tank success
Darien Craig grew up watching Shark Tank for more than a decade.
So when he got the call to inform him he had made it on the show, he was more than ecstatic. Both Darien and Brandon know this lifetime opportunity would grow their business in so many ways.
“For me, it was like living in a dream. I’ve watched this show religiously since 2013. They had to give me ‘pit pads’ to put under my arms because I was sweating and so nervous on the show.
When Laurie said ‘I can blow this company up. I can make Y’all the Name of Tea’, you can see my Adam’s apple shake and it was such a special moment for me.”
Darien Craig, founder, Y’all Sweet Tea
Their highest bids came from Lori Greiner and Rashaun Williams, who make massive investments around the country annually. The pair opted for the $500k for a 15% stake to be shared between Greiner and Williams.
Their next step is to take the company to big box retailers. Y’all Sweet Tea is already in about 600 grocery stores located throughout the Southeast but hopes to appear in Walmart, Target and other common grocery stores.
“Our initial endeavor is for our customers to be able to go down the street and buy our tea and it’s readily available. We also want to bottle our tea and compete in the refrigerated space.”
Darien Craig, founder, Y’all Sweet Tea
There’s nothing like a glass of sweet iced tea
If you’re from the South, sweet tea is a staple in most homes. Be sure to pick up a pack of Y’all Sweet Tea and enjoy rich flavors.
Y’all Sweet Tea: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Have you tasted Y’all Sweet Tea? What’s your favorite flavor? Let us know by tagging us @bhamnow.
