Heirloom grains are cultivated from seeds that have been passed down through generations. This makes them authentic as they are free of any genetic modifications. Long Table Pancakes are made from these grains, boosting their taste and nutritional value. Founder Samuel Taylor pitched his product on season 14 but didn’t get a deal. In 2024, Long Table Pancakes is worth $900,000.
The Founders’ Background
Samuel McClure Taylor hails from Chicago, Illinois. Not much is known about his education, but he did spend earlier years pursuing artistic dreams. He co-founded The Back Room Shakespeare Project, a small Chicago theater company that opened branches in New York and LA.
In 2015, he started writing about his acting career. Taylor published two books, Blueprints for a Shakespeare Cult and My Life with the Shakespeare Cult. His knowledge of Shakespeare landed him a job as a lecturer at the University of Chicago and stayed there for over four years.
The Birth of Long Table Pancakes
The writer became obsessed with making pancakes to impress an acrobat he fell in love with. His flapjacks needed to be light but filled with enough nutrients to keep his partner fueled for performances. This led him to discover heirloom grains.
The two eventually got married, and their love for pancakes did not fade. Those who tasted Samuel’s pancakes encouraged him to start a business. Two of his friends offered to design the packaging and a website, while his mother took care of the paperwork.
Taylor couldn’t say no and invested $5,000 to launch Long Table Pancakes in 2015. He sourced heirloom grains from legitimate growers and sold pancake mixes, waffle mixes, and maple syrup.
Getting on Shark Tank
The whole thing initially started as a side hustle, but when the pandemic hit Samuel focused on the venture full-time as acting work dried up. By mid-2020, he managed to double his revenue but was still only making around $20,000 per year.
To keep up with increasing demand, the pancake businessman needed to raise capital to scale. Taylor got the courage to apply to Shark Tank and producers picked him to feature on episode 10 of season 14.
Sporting a glorious beard, Samuel delivered a strong pitch and the Sharks loved the pancakes. Mark Cuban described them as the “best pancakes I’ve ever had.” Friends star David Schwimmer also made a surprise appearance which got the Shark excited.
Success After Shark Tank
Sam came across as a likable guy and Schwimmer’s short cameo was a big help. After the episode aired in January 2023, the pancake mix company got over 20,000 orders. He even sold out of inventory before the segment finished airing! In the last eight months (June 2023 to January 2024) the business has done $1.25 million in sales! Before Shark Tank, the Long Table Pancakes had $250,000 in lifetime sales over six years!
Interested viewers can purchase the product in packs or wholesale on their website, LongTablePancakes.com. While initially sold in select Chicago stores, Long Table Pancakes has expanded to various locations across the United States, including stores in Wisconsin, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Hawaii. Now they’re sold in over 165 stores.
Many of their bundles received 5-star reviews from customers on their website. This is a good sign that the company is doing well and will be looking to expand into new areas. Currently, Long Table Pancakes is valued at $900,000.
