$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Evan Ruzycky and Nancy Laslavc from Toronto, ON, pitched The Garlic Chop in Season 20, Episode 1, asking the Dragons for $100K for 10% of the company.
- Asked for$100K for 10%
- Valuation$1Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeNo deal
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Michele Romanow | No offer given; sees a missed opportunity and patent running out | Out |
| Arlene Dickinson | No offer given; advised getting retailers first | Out |
| Wes Hall | No offer given | Out |
| Brian Scudamore | No offer given; doesn't see the opportunity | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | $100,000 for 100% of the company | Declined |
Evan Ruzycky of Mississauga, joined by Nancy, pitched the Garlic Chop and Garlic Peel, kitchen tools for peeling and chopping garlic, asking for $100,000 for 10% equity. The products retail for $35 as a set (or $25 and $15 separately) and cost $3.50 to make, with lifetime sales of about $1 million over 23 years but only $22,000 in sales last year, sold mainly through trade fairs, with the patent set to expire in a few years.
Brian Scudamore, Wes Hall, Michele Romanow, and Arlene Dickinson all declined to invest, citing the expiring patent, lack of retail presence, and missed opportunity to scale through marketing. Manjit Minhas offered $100,000 for 100% of the company, arguing the offer represented years of profit, but Evan Ruzycky declined, believing the company was worth more, so no deal was made.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
The Garlic Chop today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
The Garlic Chop is still operating and sells through its website.