Pork Barrel Boys Ring the Closing Bell

On Tuesday, the Alexandria, Va.,-based founders of Pork Barrel BBQ joined the Sharks from ABC’s TV show, “Shark Tank,” to ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square.

Heath Hall and Brett Thompson, founders of the BBQ sauce and rub company, accompanied the five Sharks – real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran; "infomercial" industry pioneer Kevin Harrington; fashion icon Daymond John; technology innovator Robert Herjavec; and financial expert Kevin O'Leary – in presiding over the NASDAQ closing bell.

The former U.S. Senate staffers were aggressively interviewed by the five business tycoons on the show before negotiating a deal with Corcoran that led her to invest in their start-up BBQ sauce and rub company.

Since appearing on “Shark Tank,” the entrepreneurs have capitalized on their national recognition and boosted sales for their Alexandria-based start-up.

In addition to accepting orders online, Pork Barrel BBQ Sauces and Spice Rubs are now sold in 130 grocery and specialty stores in 5 states and the District of Columbia, including Harris Teeter, Balducci’s, Bloom and other retail outlets.

Hall and Thompson recently announced a partnership with Mango Mike Anderson and Bill Blackburn to open the first Pork Barrel BBQ Restaurant in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria.  Anderson, founder of Mango Mike’s, and Blackburn currently operate restaurants in Alexandria and Dewey Beach.

“We’ve always believed that it is the small business that powers America’s economic engine.  Having the opportunity to ring in the New Year by ringing the NASDAQ Closing Bell with the Sharks from Shark Tank gave us the honor to represent all of America’s small businesses in front of the NASDAQ,” Hall said.

“We created Pork Barrel BBQ to bring our monumental flavor to the entire nation and prove that the free market system still worked. The chance to help the Sharks ring the NASDAQ closing bell is a chance of a lifetime, and another amazing opportunity that has come as a result of our partnership with Barbara Corcoran and our appearance on Shark Tank,” Thompson said.

Pork Barrel BBQ was created by the two former U.S. Senate staffers during a late night budget debate where the conversation on the Senate floor had turned to Pork Barrel spending and Heath and Brett were talking about their favorite subject of BBQ – and Pork Barrel BBQ was born.

Since 2008, Pork Barrel BBQ has been thrilling the taste buds of an increasing number of fans and critics with their Pork Barrel BBQ Sauce and All American Spice Rub.

Pork Barrel BBQ has won numerous awards, including taking second place in the Best Sauce in the Nation contest at the 2009 National Capital Barbecue Battle and receiving the People’s Choice Award at the 2009 Taste of Del Ray.

For more information about Pork Barrel BBQ, visit the company’s Web site at www.PorkBarrelBBQ.com and Twitter site at www.twitter.com/porkbarrelbbq.

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