Although plant-based dieting has become more popular in recent years, many people still find it hard to give up meat. Lucas Bradbury wanted to change that with his restaurant, Project Pollo. His idea was to offer tasty fast food, but make it all from plant-based ingredients.
Lucas started his business out of a food truck, which quickly grew into a large food chain with multiple outlets in 12 locations. The fast growth of the brand got the attention of Shark Tank producers, who invited Lucas to pitch his business on the show. Even though his business was doing well, he saw the opportunity and grabbed it.
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Project Pollo began as a food truck in San Antonio, Texas, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It was founded by Lucas Bradbury to offer plant-based fast food that was both delicious and accessible. The menu featured items like vegan chicken burgers, shakes, and wraps, all made from soy-based proteins.
With affordable prices and delicious menu, Project Pollo built a strong customer base in a short time. By mid-2022, they had expanded to 12 locations in Texas.
The man behind Project Pollo was Lucas Bradbury, who has a rich background in the food industry. He studied economics at Kansas State University and held managerial roles at major chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, Pizza Hut, and Papa John’s.
Lucas’ experience in restaurant operations and his passion for sustainable food led him to create Project Pollo.
Before going on Shark Tank, Project Pollo was already successful. But when he asked the Sharks for $2.5 million in exchange for 5% of the business, they were surprised. Even though the Sharks didn’t like the price, they enjoyed the food. Kevin O’Leary said it was the best plant-based chicken he had ever tasted.
During his pitch, Lucas told them how he started Project Pollo and how fast it had grown. He said the company had already made $10 million in total sales and was hoping to make another $6 to $7 million that year. Lucas also mentioned that because of the pandemic, he was able to get good deals on store locations, which helped the business, grow faster.
Despite the success of the business, Sharks didn’t feel safe investing in the business and most of them thought that the company was growing too fast and worried it might fail. As a result, Lucas left without a deal.
Unfortunately, Project Pollo shut down after Shark Tank. As of 2024, all of their restaurant locations have closed, including their sister brand, Side Chicks. Even their official website is no longer active and their Facebook page hasn’t shared any updates since 2023. Also, their Instagram account has been taken down.
On LinkedIn, Lucas has mentioned that his time as CEO of Project Pollo ended in 2023. This is another sign that the business is no longer running. At present, Lucas is the president of a group called Houston Street Hospitality and also started a new company called Sprouted Venture.
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