Childhood friends Brandon Echols and Darien Craig dropped out of college to start Y’all Sweet Tea, a Southern-style sweet tea brand. They sell tea pouches in various flavors like Chocolate, Strawberry, Peach, Mango Tango, and Lemon Squeezy, priced between $7.25 and $9.99. In addition to tea, they also sell seasonings, sauces, and other cooking equipment on their website.
The duo appeared on Shark Tank Season 16, seeking $500,000 for 5% equity, valuing their company at $10 million. They secured a deal with Lori Greiner and Rashaun Williams, who invested $500,000 for 15% equity.
As an update, Darien revealed that within a week of the episode airing, they generated $430,000 in sales and received over 70,000 visitors on their website.
| Company Name | Y’all Sweet Tea | |
| Founder | Brandon Echols and Darien Craig | |
| Founded | 2021 | |
| Product | Sweet tea | |
| Asked For | $500K for 5% equity | |
| Final Deal | $500K for 15% equity | |
| Sharks | Rashaun Williams and Lori Greiner | |
| Episode (Shark Tank USA) | S16 E5 | |
| Air Date | Nov 15th, 2024 | |
| Business Status | In Business | |
| Website | Visit Website | |
| Headquarters | Hayden, Alabama, USA | |
| Lifetime Worth (Sales) | $13.7 Million *estimated | |
| Valuation | $10 Million | |
Who Is The Founder Of Y’all Sweet Tea?
Y’all Sweet Tea was founded in 2015 by Darien Craig, while Brandon Echols joined the company in 2021, becoming a co-founder.
Darien initially pursued an MBA at Jefferson State Community College but dropped out to work as a sales representative and social media manager for various companies. Since 2016, he has also been running The Outdoors Agency, a social media marketing agency.
Brandon comes from a finance background and previously worked as a manager at Regions Bank for over a year.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of Y’all Sweet Tea?
After pitching their product on Shark Tank, Brandon and Darien explained why Y’all Sweet Tea stands out from other tea brands in the market.
They highlighted how they used social media influencer marketing to grow their brand and even introduced Mama Sue, one of their top influencers, to the Sharks. The Sharks then sampled the tea and loved its taste.
When Mark Cuban asked about pricing, Brandon shared that the cost to make each package is $2.67, the wholesale price is $4.34, and the retail price is $7.25.
Guest Shark Rashaun Williams was curious about the company’s sales, and Darien revealed that from 2021 to 2024, they had achieved $10.3 million in lifetime sales.
In 2021, they made $1.2 million, followed by $2 million in 2022, and $4 million in 2023, with a 20% profit margin resulting in $800,000 in profit. So far in 2024, they have generated $3 million and expect to surpass $5 million by year-end.
Darien also mentioned that they were currently breaking even due to increased marketing expenses. 85% of their sales come from their website, while 15% come from Amazon and 600+ Southwestern physical stores.
Additionally, in 2023, they launched their first flavored tea, Peach Flavor, which was a huge success. They sold 10,000 bags within 30 minutes, and in the first 8 minutes, they generated $100,000 in sales.
The Sharks then presented their offers. Rashaun Williams offered $500K for 10% equity, while Rashaun and Lori Greiner teamed up to offer $500K for 15% equity.
Another offer came from Rashaun and Kevin O’Leary, who also proposed $500K for 15% equity. After considering their options, Brandon and Darien accepted Rashaun and Lori’s offer—$500K for 15% equity.
Breakdown Sharks Offer
Note: Here’s a quick summary of the offers and counteroffers between the Sharks and Brandon Echols and Darien Craig:
| Sharks | Offers |
| Kevin O’Leary | $250k for 7.5% equity (Rashaun) |
| Barbara Corcoran | No Offer |
| Mark Cuban | No Offer |
| Rashaun Williams | $500k for 10% equity $250k for 7.5% equity (Lori) $250k for 7.5% equity (Kevin) |
| Lori Greiner | $250k for 7.5% equity (Rashaun) |
| Founder’s (Countered) | $700k for 10% equity |
| Final Deals | $500k for 15% equity (Rashaun & Lori) |
Y’all Sweet Tea Shark Tank Update
After securing a deal on Shark Tank, Brandon and Darien’s company experienced a massive surge in traffic and sales. Their website received 70,000 visitors, leading to 10,000 orders, and within just one week, they generated $430,000 in sales. By November-December, their total sales reached $1 million.
In 2024, their annual sales were estimated to exceed $6.5 million. During Black Friday 2024, they received over 50,000 orders, making it one of their biggest sales events ever.
What Is Y’all Sweet Tea Net Worth?
After securing a deal with the Sharks, Y’all Sweet Tea’s sales skyrocketed. The company’s last funding round was raised at a $3.33 million valuation. If we assume an annual growth rate of 4.7%, the estimated net worth of Y’all Sweet Tea in the current year is projected to be over $4 million.
