The Cookie Kahuna Update | Shark Tank Season 8

Wally Amos ran into financial troubles and some tough decisions that cost him his original company, Famous Amos Cookies. But even after all that, his love for baking never wavered. That passion led him to start fresh with a new cookie brand, The Cookie Kahuna, using the same recipes that made him famous. Now, he’s hoping the sharks will invest in his comeback. Will they see the potential in Wally’s vision? Check out our Cookie Kahuna update and pitch recap to find out.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to The Cookie Kahuna after Shark Tank.

Wally appeared on Shark Tank Season 8 to pitch his Homemade cookie company, The Cookie Kahuna seeking $50,000 for a 20% equity. Sadly, after his pitch, all the sharks declined to invest due to a lack of sales and image rights from a previous company.

In terms of The Cookie Kahuna update, the company attracted some attention after its episode airing but went out of business due to a series of legal hurdles. Even after trying to relaunch the cookie brand under a new name, the venture struggled to gain traction and went out of business. Wally Amos retired and eventually passed away.

Shark	Result
Mark Cuban	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Barbara Corcoran	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer

Shark Tank The Cookie Kahuna Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Wally Amos
• Business: Homemade cookie company
• Ask: $50,000 for 20% equity
• Result: No Deal
• Sharks: None

Wally entered Shark Tank with the energy and charm of a true showman, instantly grabbing attention with his playful tune, “Cookies for Sharks!” 

His mission was clear: to bring back the magic of his Famous Amos cookies and secure funding to help his new venture, The Cookie Kahuna, grow.

The Cookie Kahuna delivers a taste of Hawaii, built on the same classic recipes that made Famous Amos a household name.

Available in three delicious flavors—butterscotch Macadamia, Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate Chip Pecan—each 6-ounce pack is perfect for indulging or sharing.

Made in Hawaii, these cookies bring the flavors of the islands to cookie lovers everywhere, continuing Wally’s legacy.

But despite the nostalgia, Wally faced some tough challenges. 

He had lost ownership of Famous Amos and didn’t receive any royalties from the brand, even though his name and image were still associated with it.

At the time of his Shark Tank pitch, The Cookie Kahuna had only generated $36,000 in sales, mainly from local markets in Hawaii.

The cookies were available online and in one Costco store in Hawaii. However, high packaging and shipping costs made profit margins too slim to sustain the business.

To make matters more difficult, Wally couldn’t use his own face to promote The Cookie Kahuna due to existing agreements with Famous Amos.

This marketing restriction, combined with limited distribution and thin margins, worried the sharks.

Kevin O’Leary left the negotiations, concerned about starting over without rights to his name and image.

Lori Greiner suggested that Wally might find more success in a new direction outside of cookies. She’s out.

Robert Herjavec was discouraged by the tight profit margins and small distribution. He exits as well.

Barbara Corcoran felt that not being able to use his name was a major obstacle. She’s out.

Mark Cuban, the last to decline, explained that investing would create a conflict of interest with his own cookie business.

In the end, Wally left without a deal. Let’s see how the business has evolved since in our The Cookie Kahuna update.

Shark Tank The Cookie Kahuna Update

Our research into The Cookie Kahuna update found that, despite the initial buzz, the business closed its doors in 2018.

The shutdown was likely due to high costs and tight profit margins.

Restrictions on Wally Amos’s name and image from past legal agreements also made it hard to keep the business afloat.

Still, Wally didn’t give up. In 2019, he made another go at his cookie dream with Aunt Della’s Cookies.

Unfortunately, the venture lost momentum, and a failed IndieGoGo campaign led to the brand fading away.

By 2022, our The Cookie Kahuna update found that  Wally had stepped back from the cookie scene altogether, effectively retiring.

Sadly, Wally Amos passed away at the age of 88 after battling dementia.

Unfortunately this will be our final The Cookie Kahuna update.

For more Season 8 Episode 3 product updates, check out the links below:

• Raising Wild Update
• Night Runner 270 Update
• TekDry Phone Repair Update

Before you go, check out our Shark Tank Season 8 page for more updates.