Turbo Trusser Net Worth: How Much Is the Culinary Device Worth at Present?

Shark Tank has witnessed some of the wildest business ideas and weirdest tools. While some made the sharks and the audience laugh with the innovation, sometimes they were left in awe at how much a human mind is capable of thinking. One such weirdest and wildest product that made it to Shark Tank is the Turbo Trusser. 

The founders, Brian and Kirk, came up with the idea after learning about the struggle of tossing the chicken and duck and the mess they created. Turbo Trusser is a kitchen tool made up of stainless steel and comes in a frame with two wire hooks that secure the wings and legs of the chicken while cooking it evenly, holding the juice and the flavours intact. Something that emerged as a thought turned into a successful idea and a Shark Tank pitch. 

About the Brand

Turbo Trusser was founded by Brian Halasinski and Kirk Hyust in 2021 to make poultry cooking easy and mess-free. It was launched in the market in the same year, both in retail shops and online stores. The brand was marketed as a kitchen innovation that helps professional cooks and home cooks to cook perfect, juicy, and flavourful chicken or duck without the need for messy tossing. 

The product was launched in their stainless steel trussing device, which is dishwasher safe, can be used in ovens, grills, fryers, and roasters, and is reusable. By 2022, it started to appear on the shelf of selected outlets and was available on e-commerce websites. The same year, after receiving positive feedback, it appeared on Shark Tank Season 14, Episode 2, which aired on 30th September 2022. 

About the Founders

Turbo Trusser was co-founded by Brian Halasinski and Kirk Hyust in 2021. Brian came from Stark County, Ohio, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kent State University and an MBA from Malone University. His career consists of various roles like lean engineer, business analyst, and therapeutic specialist. 

Kirk, on the other hand, studied at the Culinary Institute of America and had experience in several niches, like product development and entrepreneurship, as he served as the president of Kirk Wrench LLC.

Both met in 2015 when Kirk was working on Brian’s home renovation, and they found common interest in problem-solving skills while discussing the common kitchen issue of trussing chicken and duck. Both started working on the product and invented Turbo Trussers. 

What Happened on Shark Tank?

Turbo Trusser made their appearance on Shark Tank Season 14, Episode 2, which aired on 30th September 2022. Both appeared dressed in chicken and turkey costumes and demonstrated their product live on the show. By explaining the features, they show how easy it is to cook the chicken and duck with the tool while keeping it juicy. 

Their initial ask was $100,000 for 10% equity in the company and valued their company at $1 million. Before appearing on the show, they had already made sales of $90,000 in mere 8 and half months of running their business. They priced each unit at $14.99 and sold about 11,000 units with only one return request. 

After the pitch, Rover Herjavec dropped, stating that the company is not big enough, Barbara Corcoran dropped, saying the operations didn’t require a third partner, Lori Greiner dropped, showing concern about the size of the business, and Mark Cuban dropped as he didn’t find the business scalable. Only Kevin O’Leary showed interest and offered $100,000 for 33% of equity and $1 royalty fee on each unit at all times. The duo accepted the offer. 

Is the Brand Successful?

By the end of 2022, Turbo Trussers reported $290,000 in sales, which were way higher than their previous records. They even expanded their retail distribution and are now available at over 80 stores in the USA and Canada, including some names like Mister Brisket and Ace Hardware. 

They even launched more products, like poultry rub to enhance the experience of the trussing device. However, they also faced challenges as many counterfeit products made their way onto online listings, and products were being sold from China. They did take measures to solve this issue and are now back on track with their growth. 

At present, the evaluation of the company stands at $1 million.