A Perfect Pear
DealSpecialty Food
Best known from its Shark Tank appearance, A Perfect Pear is a specialty food in Season 1, and convinced Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary to invest.
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From the show
The Shark Tank pitch
- $500K
- Asked for
- 15%
- Offered equity
- $3.3M
- Sought valuation
- $500K
- Deal amount
- 50%
- Deal equity
- $1M
- Deal valuation
Susan Knapp walked into the Tank in Season 1, Episode 2 in the episode that aired August 16, 2009, bringing their Napa Valley, CA business with them. A Perfect Pear, the specialty food, pitched in the Food & Drink category, one of 318 food & drink businesses to brave the Tank across all 17 seasons.
On the carpet, the number was $500,000 for a 15% stake, which valued the company at $3.3M.
Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary teamed up at $500,000 for 50% equity. That priced the company at $1M, a haircut from the $3.3M the founders walked in asking for, which is how negotiations in the Tank usually go.
A Perfect Pear was one of 64 businesses to pitch in Season 1, where 27 deals got done. In the Food & Drink category overall, roughly 61% of pitches have landed a shark across the show's history.
The full story
Everything to know about A Perfect Pear
A Perfect Pear was a line of gourmet pear-based foods, including pear jellies, sauces, and spreads made from a Napa Valley orchard. Founder Susan Knapp built the brand around award-winning specialty products and had already placed them in hundreds of stores before appearing on the show. The pitch positioned A Perfect Pear as a premium artisanal food company with proven sales and pending orders it could not fill without more capital.
Knapp pitched in Season 1 asking for a steep five hundred thousand dollars for 15 percent. The large ask drew aggressive competing offers, with multiple sharks demanding far more equity. Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary, who were among the early sharks, ended up in the mix, and Knapp accepted a deal at five hundred thousand dollars for a 50 percent stake, making the investors equal partners.
A Perfect Pear stood out as one of the more substantial early-season food pitches, with real revenue and retail traction behind it rather than just a concept. The high dollar figure and the scramble among the sharks to take a large share underscored how much they valued an established specialty-food brand in the show's first season.
Where A Perfect Pear is now
The televised deal did not close after filming, which left Knapp to push forward on the strength of the exposure. She landed home-shopping placement and expanded into some larger grocery and specialty retailers, but scaling production to meet the post-show demand while maintaining the quality of an artisanal product proved difficult for a small operation.
A Perfect Pear is no longer in business. Reporting indicates Knapp decided to close the company in early 2010, roughly a year after the episode, as the challenges of scaling outpaced the brand's resources. The product is no longer available, and the company stands as an early example of how hard it can be to grow a niche food brand after a Shark Tank appearance.
Where to buy A Perfect Pear
A Perfect Pear is no longer available to buy, as the company closed in early 2010. The original pear jellies, sauces, and spreads are not in production and the brand is not operating, so any items bearing the name that turn up online would be unofficial, expired, or unrelated. If you are looking for a similar product, seek out other small-batch pear preserves from current specialty-food makers instead.
Is A Perfect Pear still in business?
Read our 2026 update on where the company is now.
Sold on A Perfect Pear?
Check today's price and availability before it swims away.
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy A Perfect Pear?
Check current price and availability on Amazon. Note that some Shark Tank products are discontinued or sold under a new name. The company's official website is another option.
Did A Perfect Pear get a deal on Shark Tank?
Yes. A Perfect Pear closed a deal for $500,000 in exchange for 50% equity, with Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary.
Which shark invested in A Perfect Pear?
Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary invested in A Perfect Pear ($500,000 total as aired).
What season of Shark Tank was A Perfect Pear on?
A Perfect Pear appeared in Season 1, Episode 2, which aired August 16, 2009.
How much was A Perfect Pear asking for on Shark Tank?
The founders asked for $500,000 for 15% of the company, a $3.3M valuation.
Is A Perfect Pear still in business?
No. A Perfect Pear closed in early 2010, about a year after appearing on Shark Tank. The pear jellies, sauces, and spreads are no longer in production and the brand is not operating.
What deal did A Perfect Pear get on Shark Tank?
Susan Knapp accepted a five hundred thousand dollar investment for a 50 percent stake during the pitch. As is common with the show, the televised deal was not finalized after filming.
Can you still buy A Perfect Pear products?
No. Because the company closed in 2010, its products are no longer made or officially sold. Shoppers looking for something similar would need to find pear preserves from other specialty-food producers.
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