Lucas Bradbury founded the vegan fast-food chain Project Pollo in 2020. It became valued at $50 million when it appeared on Shark Tank, made $10 million in lifetime sales, and had 12 locations in the course of Texas before being purchased in April 2023 and remaining all of its places via the summer season of 2024.
Project Pollo’s founded by Lucas Bradbury
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Lucas Bradbury, the founding father of Project Pollo, saw a chance to offer plant-based, sustainable rapid food answers. Bradbury started out the idea from a food truck at a nearby brewery in San Antonio, Texas, drawing on his large revel in going for walks restaurants from Pizza Hut, Dunkin Doughnuts, and Papa John’s.
From the beginning, Lucas Bradbury developed his knowledge of the food service sector. After graduating with a degree in economics from Kansas State University, he progressed through a number of restaurant management roles until joining Earth Burgers as vice president of operations in 2017.
His conviction that fast food might be both economical and sustainable served as the foundation for Project Pollo.
Bradbury made a proposal for Project Pollo on Shark Tank’s Season 13 finale in May 2022. Although he impressed the Sharks with the quality of the food, there were issues with his proposal for $2.5 million for 5% stock.
The aggressive expansion rate and high valuation alarmed the Sharks, particularly Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O’Leary. Because of their concerns about sustainable growth, none of the Sharks made an investment.
In the end, the plan of rapid expansion was found to be unsustainable. The business started cutting facilities and reducing its growth goals in early 2023. Project Pollo was purchased by a national franchise firm in April 2023, which resulted in the closure of numerous locations. All Project Pollo and Side Chicks stores had shut down by the summer of 2024.
As president of Houston Street hotel and the founder of Sprouted Venture, an investment organisation that focusses on environmentally responsible and sustainable entrepreneurs in the hotel industry, Lucas Bradbury has made the move to new endeavours. His perspective on sustainable business development is still shaped by his involvement with Project Pollo.
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