Where Is Spoonful Of Comfort From Shark Tank Today?

For more than a decade, "Shark Tank" has been giving businesses plenty of exposure, whether in the form of securing an investment deal or, at a minimum, allowing them to showcase their product to millions of viewers.

When Marti Wymer and Scott Gustafson had their chance to impress investors in a 2016 episode, they pitched their online care package company called Spoonful of Comfort. The concept allowed customers to go online and send a care package loaded with soup and other goodies to loved ones, no matter the reason. According to the company's website, the concept began when Wymer learned that her mother, who lived thousands of miles away, had lung cancer. Although the two couldn't be together, Wymer wanted to send her something that felt appropriate. Sadly, when she went to look for online soup delivery, she discovered that no such service existed.

Wymer and Gustafson sought $400,000 for a 10% stake in their business, but the sharks wouldn't bite. With $1.3 million invested in the company and nothing more than soup, rolls, and cookies to offer, Barbara Corcoran said it would "never, never work." Seven years later, was that the case?

Despite walking away without a deal, Marti Wymer and Scott Gustafson didn't stop pushing. And these days, it's hard to type in a phrase like "care package" on Google and not receive an ad for Spoonful of Comfort. The brand is one of many "Shark Tank" concepts that has turned into a household name — and one of only a few that did it without an investment from one of the sharks. Ultimately, their appearance on the show gave Wymer and Gustafson the push they needed to find that market and build success. 

In October 2016, Wymer told The New York Post that the company's revenues had tripled since their appearance on "Shark Tank." She also reported that she had heard from a number of investors hoping to put money into the business. Like most companies, Spoonsful of Comfort doesn't advertise its exact revenue online, but seven years later, one thing is certain: Spoonful of Comfort survived, and it appears to be thriving. There are 10 soup options, plus macaroni and cheese, and plenty of soup add-ons, even including jewelry, available to send through the company's website. 

While the investors on "Shark Tank" saw several problems with the company, shipping was one that was mentioned more than a few times. Understandably, the sharks all saw difficulty in the timely delivery required for such a product. Fortunately for Spoonful of Comfort, the need for care packages has exploded in the years since it appeared on "Shark Tank," particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In fact, the UPS website reported that it worked with Spoonful of Comfort to establish a better shipping system. The new process, called a rolling inventory system, allows UPS trucks to pick up shipments throughout the day because they are made readily available to drivers. This means that, despite an influx of orders, shipping times remained the same, and the soups weren't affected.

Spoonful of Comfort's website has more than 36,000 customer reviews and reports an average score of 4.8 out of five stars. The brand has continued to grow its social media following, with 68,000 Instagram followers and 70,000 Facebook likes. The company has gained plenty of media attention, too, and was recently named to the list of the best soup delivery services.