NAPA, CA – A Perfect Pear from Napa Valley, a small female-owned and operated gourmet food company recently appeared on ABC’s new reality show, Shark Tank. On the show, owner Susan Knapp pitched her business concept to the panel of investors, or “sharks,” and secured the funding she needed to save her company from bankruptcy.

At the time the pilot was filmed, A Perfect Pear held over $100,000 in orders but was unable to fill due to lack of working capital. Knapp was searching for funding to keep her business afloat when the producers of Shark Tank invited her to take part in the new reality show. The pilot was filmed in January 2009 and premiered on August 9. A Perfect Pear appeared on the August 16^th episode.

Susan Knapp

Knapp used the investment money to produce inventory, create two new products, launch a brand new website, re-hire the employees she had laid off, and hire additional staff. Sales have increased by 1000% from last year. Shark Tank producers visited A Perfect Pear’s Napa headquarters last Friday to film a follow-up “Where Are They Now?” segment, which will air on ABC in the near future.

Knapp also appeared on the Home Shopping Network on August 25, an opportunity made possible by her partnership with shark/investor Kevin Harrington. She will fly to Texas next week to participate in a cooking exposition with Houston’s Dining Diva on September 12 at The Arbor Gate. Houston’s local ABC affiliate is expected to be on site to film the event.

A Perfect Pear’s all natural pear-based products are sold in specialty food stores, gift shops and wineries, and online at www.wholesalegourmet.net. The corporate headquarters are located at 918 Enterprise Way in the Napa Corporate Park. Please contact (832) 559-7317 for additional information.

####