Turbo Trusser Update | Shark Tank Season 14

Kirk Hyust and Brian Halasinski came up with the idea for the Turbo Trusser while cooking and realizing how frustrating it was to truss poultry with twine. The messy and time-consuming process led them to design a metal plate with hooks that securely hold the chicken’s legs and wings. Will the sharks cook up a deal for this kitchen gadget? Find out in our Turbo Trusser update and pitch recap.

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

Brian and Kirk entered Shark Tank Season 14, seeking $100,000 for 10% equity in Turbo Trusser. After their pitch, they landed a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $100,000 for 33% equity + $1 royalty per unit in perpetuity.

In terms of a Turbo Trusser update, the company expanded its retail presence and is now sold in over 80 stores across the U.S. and Canada.

Shark	Result
Kevin O’Leary	Accepted offer of $100,000 for 33% equity + $1 royalty per unit in perpetuity
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Barbara Corcoran	No offer

Shark Tank Turbo Trusser Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Brian Halasinski and Kirk Hyust
• Business: Poultry trusser
• Ask: $100,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $100,000 for 33% equity + $1 royalty in perpetuity  
• Shark: Kevin O’Leary

Max and Brian entered the Shark Tank in turkey and chicken costumes, using bird puns to grab the shark’s attention.

They sought an investment to scale production, marketing, and social media outreach for their product.

Turbo Trusser is a stainless steel kitchen tool that secures the legs and wings of poultry.

It ensures even cooking and juicier results without the need for butcher’s twine.

Further, the business operates as a product-based model that manufactures and sells its proprietary gadgets through a direct-to-consumer model and various retail channels.

The Turbo Trusser is designed for use in ovens, grills, and smokers and is mostly used by home cooks, barbecue enthusiasts, and professional chefs.

It is available in different sizes and works for various poultry, including chickens, turkeys, and Cornish hens.

The entrepreneurs revealed that most sales came from their website and Amazon, with additional revenue from distributors.

In addition, it costs $3.07 per unit to manufacture and sells for $14.99.

In just nine months, they made over $90,000 in gross revenue. However, currently, 60% of sales are direct from their website, 27% come from three distributors, and they are stocked in 75 stores.

All distributors and their Amazon sellers have placed multiple reorders, signaling strong demand.

Barbara Corcoran and Robert Herjavec decided to drop out because the company wasn’t big enough to justify a third partner.

For Mark Cuban, Turbo Trusser wasn’t a scalable business. He’s out.

Lori Greiner also complained that the small size of the business was obviously uninvestable and admitted that she really hates touching chicken.

In contrast, Kevin O’Leary says the business has some potential, so he offered $100,000 for 33% equity and a $1 royalty in perpetuity per unit sold.

After some intense negotiating, Brian and Kirk ultimately decided to accept Kevin’s offer.

With a deal in hand, let’s get a Turbo Trusser update to see how the entrepreneurs are doing today.

Shark Tank Turbo Trusser Update

Our Turbo Trusser update found that the deal with Kevin O’Leary was finalized on the day their episode aired.

Subsequently, they gained substantial media attention, with Kevin making a demonstration on Good Morning America in June 2023.

Furthermore, since Shark Tank, they’ve increased their retail presence to over 80 stores across the U.S. and Canada.

Notable locations include Ace Hardware stores and Mister Brisket in Cleveland Heights.

In addition, Turbo Trusser has expanded its line to include a version designed for turkeys and introduced their own poultry rub.

By the end of 2022, our Turbo Trusser update found that the company had made $290,000 in sales, which is over 300% more than its pre-Shark Tank lifetime sales of $90,000.

Unfortunately, the company faced challenges with knockoffs on Amazon, which led to a nearly $300,000 loss.

However, with assistance from the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, they addressed these issues and removed many counterfeit listings.

It looks like things are moving along for Brian and Kirk! If we get another Turbo Trusser update, we will let you know.

For updates from Shark Tank Season 14 Episode 2, be sure to check out the links below:

• The Woobles Update
• Banana Phone Update
• Stealth Bros and Co. Update

Before you go, check out our Shark Tank Season 14 page for more updates.