If you watch “Shark Tank,” you might remember the 2012 episode featuring BarkEm’s To Go. This product was designed with single-use packaging, making it easy for pet owners to take pre-portioned dog food for travel, RVs, and other activities. BarkEm’s To Go was created by Blake St. Clair, who needed a way to bring his dog Rummy’s food on his trips.
St. Clair thought of the idea for a product that was ready for travel. It included food, a tray to hold and eat from, pet waste bags for cleanup, a small amount of water, and a treat for dessert.
However, despite its convenience, the product did not impress the investors on “Shark Tank,” and St. Clair didn’t get a deal. By 2024, BarkEm’s To Go was no longer available.
What happened to BarkEm’s To Go on Shark Tank?
Blake was a dog owner and wanted a simple way to feed his dog on the go. Taking his dog, Rummy, for walks or trips was always a challenge because packing Rummy’s things took a lot of effort. He came up with an idea to create Lunchable-like packages for dogs that would provide ready-to-serve meals.
This idea helped owners avoid packing a lot of things when traveling and made it more convenient for them. The complete meal kit was made in different sizes for different dogs.
Blake St. Clair felt confident about making his idea successful when he entered the Shark Tank. He offered 51% of his company in exchange for a $100,000 investment. Blake’s dog, Rummy, was with him and helped show the Sharks how the product worked. His company, Bark’ems, focused on providing ready-to-use pre-packaged meals for dog owners.
The meal was designed to relieve owners from the hassle of packing everything when they had to go out with their pets. The pre-packaged meal included one full serving of high-quality pet food, vitamin-enriched water, and a treat that was individually wrapped.
The meal would be available for different types and sizes of pets. It provided an easy solution for owners who didn’t want to pack a lot of items. Blake opened the package and gave it to Rummy, who eagerly finished the meal. This showed that the product was ready for use.
Barbara was not impressed by Bark’ems To Go because it was messy when Rummy ate his meal. Blake explained that different sizes for various dogs would be available once the product was on the market.
Mark was interested in the packaging, while Robert focused on Rummy. Mark asked if the product would be available for different types of pets.
Blake assured him that the product would expand to include other pets. However, Kevin wasn’t convinced by the product and didn’t understand why people would buy it.
From his point of view, it wasn’t difficult to pack a bag and carry it when going out with a pet. Blake explained that the product was meant to be a novelty or a convenience for pet owners.
Daymond asked if the product had a patent. Blake explained that he had trademarked the name, and the packaging patent was still in progress. Robert seemed to like the product because, as a pet owner, he understood how annoying it could be to pack for a dog. Mark asked if Blake had been able to contact any large pet food companies.
Blake admitted he hadn’t been able to make any connections. Daymond asked if anyone had purchased the product yet, and Blake said the product had never been marketed.
Barbara asked about the logistics behind the product. Blake explained that the final product would be sold for $3, stores would sell it for $2.50, and it would cost $0.64 to pack each meal. He added that the food wasn’t included in that cost.
A licensed company would pack the premium food and treats into the patented packaging. Robert pointed out that the business idea was based on the product packaging and was not a practical business from any angle.
Blake wasn’t able to secure an investment for Bark’ems To Go. Kevin completely rejected Blake’s offer, saying he didn’t believe people would buy it. Mark also declined to invest, saying the business was still in the early stages. Daymond liked the unique idea but decided not to invest because he was unsure about the patent approval.
Barbara said that Bark’ems To Go was trying to solve a problem that didn’t really exist and decided not to invest. Robert also decided not to invest, noting that while the product had potential, Blake needed to get the patent approved and connect with companies to negotiate.
BarkEm’s To Go after Shark Tank
Although Blake St. Clair didn’t get a deal on the show, his product gained some interest from the public after the episode aired. St. Clair managed to make a deal with a pet food supplier, which allowed him to start selling the product on Amazon.
He also launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise more funds for the company. Despite the initial interest and some sales, the project didn’t reach its funding goals.
BarkEm’s To Go also didn’t fill a clear need, even within the travel category. Changing a dog’s food from its regular diet to a new travel food can cause digestive problems, which could create more worries for dog owners.
Unless BarkEm’s offered the dog’s usual food, it might lead to this issue. Finally, the waste produced by a single-use product like BarkEm’s quickly added up. Pet owners who wanted eco-friendly options may have been put off by this.
Why did BarkEm’s To Go go out of business?
The idea of an instant pre-packaged meal for pets seemed interesting at first. Blake shared details about the business and how it would work. However, the Sharks weren’t convinced by the business plan and decided not to invest.
Blake’s business idea focused on the packaging, while the actual pet food would be provided by a licensed pet food company. Daymond had concerns about whether the patent would be approved. Blake had trademarked the name Bark’ems To Go, but the patent for the packaging was still pending.
The samples didn’t offer different sizes for various pets, which made it hard to judge how useful the product would be. Mark decided not to invest, saying the business was still in its early stages and needed more time to establish itself in the market.
Blake wasn’t able to secure any pet food companies to support Bark’ems To Go. Barbara and Kevin felt the product wasn’t necessary. Daymond was uncertain whether the patent would be enough to protect the product’s design from competitors, so they all decided not to invest.
What’s next for the founder of BarkEm’s To Go?
Even though BarkEm’s To Go is no longer in business and its website and X account are no longer active, Blake St. Clair seems to be working on other projects.
Right now, St. Clair runs ProductGoGo, a company that helps create, develop, and launch new products. The website is still up and features many prototypes. However, its social media accounts, including Facebook and X, seem to be inactive.
[Updated: 04/06/2025]
