Where Is Creation Nation From Shark Tank Today?
When it comes to snacking, we all want options that are convenient, tasty, and nutritious. Based on a 2022 snacking report conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of Mondelez International, out of more than 3,000 surveyed participants, 84% preferred their snacks to be on the healthier side (via Food Business News). The most desired quality, however, was convenience. While you may be used to adding a heaping scoop of protein powder to your daily green smoothie, wouldn't it be nice to have an easy way to create a homemade granola bar without having to make grocery trips for all of the necessary ingredients?
That was exactly Karen Nation's thoughts when she decided to open Creation Nation in 2014. She was the first business on the market to sell protein mixes for bars and healthy snacks–ones where consumers are in control of the sugar factor. With Nation's various products, customers have free range to choose which liquid or milk to add to their mix of choice.
When Nation started her business in 2014, all of the company's expenses came out of her pocket, despite one dedicated investor. Even though Creation Nation had been making significant headway, Nation decided to head to "Shark Tank" in 2021 to see if she could score a deal with the ABC investors to further propel her company's success.
What did the Sharks think of Creation Nation?
You can always head to the grocery store and pick up what you need to make lemon berry bliss bites. But with Creation Nation protein bar and bite mixes, you only need one or two extra ingredients on hand to make a satisfying snack. Karen Nation, sports nutritionist turned businesswoman, decided to take her chances on "Shark Tank" and made her debut on Season 12, Episode 23 in 2021. Creation Nation was already being sold on Thrive Market's online grocery shop and select Whole Foods Market locations. Each prepackaged mix can make up to 12 items with up to 16 grams of protein.
Nation appeared on "Shark Tank" hoping for $300,000 for 12% of her business. The company owner needed financial help securing some stability in streamlining the packing process. The ABC investors seemed impressed with the budding entrepreneur initially, but Nation had a hard time relaying her company's success from a numerical standpoint. She made a point to state she had no clue what her profit margins were because every dollar she had made was funneled back into the Creation Nation business.
Even though Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban seemed semi-interested, they didn't believe the demand for Nation's product was high enough to be a marketable success in the long run. Nation left "Shark Tank" without a deal.
Where is Creation Nation now?
Creation Nation's prepackaged mixes make it easy for customers to prepare nutritious snacks at home. While owner Karen Nation didn't land a deal on "Shark Tank," her company continues to see success.
In 2021, Nation partnered with a non-profit organization supporting young children in the foster care system, Together We Rise, to help support children in need. Besides her humanitarian efforts, the Creation Nation website seems to be up and running, with the convenient mixes sold directly from the Creation Nation website, Thrive Market, and Amazon. There are also several grocery stores in California and along the West Coast that carry Creation Nation products.
The company has been making more of an appearance in the media as well. Not only does the company have an active Instagram account, but the healthy mixes were also featured in a "Good Morning America" segment on fall products that aired in September 2022. All in all, the Creation Nation company is still in business and continues to see additional success.