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MinusCal is a protein and diet bar business founded by Barrett Jacques. He appeared on the season 11 premiere of ABC’s Shark Tank alongside associate Crom Carmichael, and they will try to land an investor to help expand the business.
MinusCal bars set themselves apart through the use of an ingredient known as Choleve. According to the Shark Tank Blog, Choleve is a proprietary ingredient that’s made from natural fermented tea extracts.
It has been proven to block fat absorption, and can therefore help increase weight loss or prevent weight gain, according to the MinusCal team. Jacques came across the ingredient through his research, and believed that a bar that could retain its flavor while containing Choleve could be a big hit with consumers.
Here’s what you should know about MinusCal Diet Bars:
1. The Products Are No Longer Available For Purchase
At the time of writing, the MinusCal website no longer exists, instead redirecting to a shopify site asking to finish setting up the site.
The Facebook page for the company has not been updated since October 2019, and the products do not seem to be available for purchase anywhere online.
Barrett Jacques, who was previously listed as the Vice President of MinusCal, now works as the Director of Business Development for MetaPhy Health, according to his LinkedIn page.
2. The Sharks Had a Strong Negative Reaction to the Product & Advised Viewers to Steer Clear
The Sharks, Mark Cuban in particular, were not at all convinced of the legitimacy of MinusCal, which led to Cuban cutting them off and saying that they were “investing in air” when the presenters weren’t making sense.
Robert Herjavec then told Cuban that his persona was intimidating and said he wanted to hear the investors talk.
Cuban told the audience to avoid the snack bars, calling the product a scam when the presenters couldn’t explain the science behind the product.
3. MinusCal Diet Bars Contained a Special Ingredient Known as Choleve
The diet bars used a special ingredient known as Choleve, which comes from fermenting green tea.
“Scientists were initially using Choleve as a way to lower cholesterol when they noticed it was also helping patients with their weight loss,” Jacques told SUAVV. “We’re excited to have found a natural way to help people see the results they want faster while also providing them with a powerful tool for fighting hunger and fueling their bodies purposefully.”
“We’re excited to have found a natural way to help people see the results they want, faster,” he continued. “While also providing them with a powerful tool for fighting hunger and fueling their bodies purposefully.” Jacques also noted that the use of almond butter over traditional butter makes a crucial difference. “Not only does almond butter provide a nice base for producing the uncooked bar, but it also serves as a tasty masker to Choleve’s slightly bitter green tea extract.”
4. The MinusCal Business Was Founded By Barrett Jacques
In addition to his work on MinusCal, Jacques is the director of business development at MetaPhy Health in Tennessee. His LinkedIn profile states that he’s also worked as a business development associate at Mission, LLC and a recording artist at Sony Music Entertainment.
MinusCal diet bars come in three different flavors: Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Apple Cinnamon. While the results from Choleve are supposed to occur right away, the MinusCal website states that significant results should be expected after eight weeks. A healthy diet and regular exercise are encouraged among those who consume MinusCal bars.
5. MinusCal Bars Were Available In 3 Different Flavors
The diet bars and supplements can be ordered through the MinusCal website or on Amazon, and are backed by a money-back guarantee. They also come with a “no questions asked” exchange and refund policy.
Jacques and Crom Carmichael pitched to the panel of Sharks on the their business and its potential for growth. They tried to convince panelists Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec and guest Shark Daniel Lubetzky that the business is worth their investment.
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