Mr. Tod's Pie Factory

Mr. Tod's Pie Factory is a New Jersey bakery known for sweet potato pie and other homestyle pies. Founder Tod Wilson grew up in the baking business and built the brand around recipes with deep family roots, selling whole pies and slices at the retail level. By the time he reached Shark Tank he already ran multiple locations, which made his pitch one of the more established small businesses to appear in the show's very first season.

Tod asked for 460,000 dollars in exchange for a 10 percent stake, a large sum that drew skepticism from the panel. The sharks pressed him hard on his debt and how much capital the business actually needed. Barbara Corcoran and Daymond John saw potential in the brand and the man behind it, and the two teamed up to make a joint offer for a much larger share of the company, which Tod accepted on air.

As one of the first Shark Tank pitches ever broadcast, the segment is part of the show's origin story, and Tod's confidence and the strength of his sweet potato pie left a lasting impression. The episode helped set the template for food entrepreneurs on the show, and the national exposure introduced his pies to customers far beyond New Jersey.

The televised deal with Barbara and Daymond did not end up closing, but the airtime was valuable on its own. The brand picked up significant media attention, including features and talk show appearances, which boosted demand and helped Tod expand his wholesale business well beyond the original shops.

In 2026 the brand continues, though the business model has shifted. The retail storefronts were closed around 2019, and Mr. Tod's now focuses on online orders and wholesale distribution, with sweet potato pie as the flagship product carried in regional grocery chains. The company kept selling and growing after the show even though the on-air partnership was not finalized.