Table 87 Coal Oven Pizza Update | Shark Tank Season 7

While running his pizzeria in Brooklyn, Tom Cucco saw that people wanted a quick slice of coal oven pizza, but no one was selling it that way. To fix this, he started Table 87 Coal Oven Pizza, making it the first place in New York to serve coal-fired pizza by the slice so customers could enjoy the same crispy, high-quality pizza without buying a whole pie. Now, he’s looking for a shark’s investment to open more locations and make his pizza available to more people. Will the sharks take a bite? Let’s find out in our Table 87 Coal Oven Pizza update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Table 87 after Shark Tank.

Tom entered Shark Tank Season 7, seeking $200,000 for 10% equity in Table 87. After his pitch, he secured a deal with Lori Greiner for $250,000 for 19% equity.

In terms of a Table 87 update, the company secured major retail partnerships, opened a third Brooklyn restaurant, and grew its annual revenue to $5 million.

Shark	Result
Lori Greiner	Accepted offer of $250,000 for 19% equity
Kevin O’Leary	$200,000 with a $0.25 royalty per slice until he recouped $600,000 with no equity
Barbara Corcoran	$200,000 for 30% equity
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank Table 87 Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Tom Cucco
• Business: Coal oven pizza by the slice in Brooklyn
• Ask: $200,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $250,000 for 19% equity
• Shark: Lori Greiner

Tom stepped into Shark Tank and introduced Table 87, a company bringing coal oven pizza to the frozen food aisle.

He sought a $200,000 investment for 10% equity, valuing the business at $2 million.

Tom explained that while frozen pizza is a competitive market, his brand stands out by offering individual coal oven-baked slices and whole pies.

To add flair to his pitch, his assistant performed pizza dough acrobatics while Tom emphasized the premium ingredients and fresh taste that set Table 87 apart.

He handed out samples of individual slices from Table 87’s 20-inch pies, which immediately won over the sharks.

Kevin O’Leary challenges Tom first, asking how he plans to compete with brands like DiGiorno and Red Baron.

Tom confidently stated that Table 87’s superior quality would make it stand out.

Kevin pushed for numbers, and Tom shared that each slice sells for $5, earning him $3. Whole pies sell for $10, bringing in $6.50 per sale.

Margins were solid, but he admitted that success would depend on scaling distribution.

When Mark Cuban asked about distribution, Tom said Table 87 Frozen was in 250 stores, including Whole Foods and Fairway Market. Over nine months, sales reached $260,000.

The sharks then learned that Tom was still making the frozen pizza in his restaurant, which limited production and impacted his business.

They agreed that an investment would need to go toward a separate production facility to scale properly.

Kevin raised another concern; slotting fees, the costs of getting retail shelf space, which Table 87 hadn’t faced yet but would become a major challenge.

Tom didn’t have a clear answer, leading Mark to pivot the discussion to online and direct-to-consumer options.

He was intrigued by the interest from Amazon Fresh, Good Eggs, and Fresh Direct. He saw potential in heat-and-serve convenience for modern consumers.

However, Mark also worried that Tom’s restaurants could compete for attention and make it harder to focus on the frozen pizza business.

Robert Herjavec voiced doubts about entering the frozen pizza market against massive competitors.

Even with potential distribution in bars and stadiums, he felt the risk was too high and quickly bowed out.

Kevin questioned the valuation, noting that Table 87 Frozen had only made $250,000 in revenue. He argued that a $2 million valuation was unrealistic.

Barbara Corcoran loved the pizza’s quality and Tom’s passion but worried he was taking on too much by targeting multiple markets at once.

She believed he should focus on single slices, which she saw as the company’s true niche.

Despite her reservations, she made the first offer; $200,000 for 30% equity, asking Tom to commit to selling individual slices.

Kevin then countered with a loan offer of $200,000 with a $0.25 royalty per slice until he recouped $600,000 with no equity.

Barbara immediately dismissed him as a loan shark, and Tom wasn’t thrilled with the terms but said he would consider it.

Lori Greiner then stepped in and offered $250,000 for 20% equity.

She supported all of Tom’s distribution ideas, including retail stores, online, bars, and stadiums. She also offered her connections with natural food companies to help Table 87 grow faster.

Lori wanted an answer on her deal right away. Tom tried to barter for 18% equity, and she decided to go down to 19%. Tom agreed to this deal.

We bet you’re curious about a Table 87 update!  Let’s see how things have gone for Tom and his frozen pizza business since leaving the shark tank.

Shark Tank Table 87 Update

Our Table 87 update found that the deal with Lori never closed, but Tom Cucco pushed forward, growing Table 87’s frozen pizza.

Shortly after the episode aired, they launched an online store, offering nationwide delivery with dry ice packaging.

By 2022, their frozen pizzas were in major grocery chains like Wegmans and Whole Foods. Retail distribution expanded east of the Mississippi.

In 2023, Table 87 continued its growth, securing shelf space in Stop & Shop and other supermarkets.

The company also opened its third Brooklyn restaurant, strengthening its presence in New York.

By mid-2024, retail expansion reached Harris Teeter, Central Markets, Fresh Markets, and Thrive Markets.

At the time of this writing, Table 87 now generates $5 million in annual revenue.

While the Shark Tank deal never happened, Table 87 has built a solid business with strong retail partnerships and a dedicated customer base.

We hope that our next Table 87 update will be even better.

What about the other updates from Season 7 Episode 4? You can find our other company updates from this episode below.

• EZ-Pee-Z Update
• Milk + Brookies Update
• Dude Products Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 7 products.