Before he appeared on "Shark Tank" three years ago, Al "Bubba" Baker was doing $154,000 in sales with his barbecue business, Bubba's Q.
Now, Bubba's Q is doing $16 million in sales.
On the show, Baker made a deal with Shark Tank investor Daymond John, the founder of hip-hop clothing brand FUBU.
"The future couldn't be brighter for Al," John said on Friday's episode of "Shark Tank.' "I still believe that this will potentially be my biggest deal ever."
Baker's exponential growth is the result of getting a contract with CKE Restaurants, the parent company of both Carl's Jr. and Hardee's.
"Carl's Jr. and Hardee's came up to my booth at a food show because it is a patented boneless rib. We are the only people in the United States that do it," Baker said.
CKE Restaurants is using the boneless baby back ribs in a new burger in 3,000 of its franchise locations. To make the burgers, CKE Restaurants placed an order for one million pounds of Bubba Q's boneless baby back ribs.
"When you have a project that is 30 some years in the making and you finally see it come to fruition — the emotions, it was overwhelming," said Baker. "It's been three years and sales are at $16 million and I just can't believe it."
Before getting in the rib business, Baker was a professional football player. He learned about barbecue from his Uncle, "Daddy Jr."
"I have been very lucky in my life. First to go to college. To play in the National Football League. And then to take my business to 'Shark Tank,'" Baker said. "It's proof that if you live your life with integrity, you work hard — good things happen to you."
