Ep 2. Nino's & Social Sparkling

In season 3 episode 2 of Billion Dollar Buyer, hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta meets with two companies vying for his financial investment and expertise: Nino's, a family-owned Italian restaurant chain based in New York, and Social Sparkling, a Chicago-based startup that produces all-natural, low-calorie sparkling wine alternatives.

First, Fertitta visits Nino's flagship location in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where he orders a variety of dishes to sample the restaurant's offerings. He is impressed by the quality and authenticity of the food, but notes that Nino's has yet to expand beyond its three New York locations. Fertitta encourages the Nino family to consider franchising as a means of growing their business, and also recommends that they update their branding to appeal to a wider audience. Ultimately, Fertitta offers to invest $500,000 in Nino's in exchange for a 50% ownership stake.

Next, Fertitta travels to Chicago to meet with Social Sparkling founder Leah Caplanis. Caplanis introduces Fertitta to her line of organic, gluten-free, and vegan sparkling wines, which come in a variety of flavors such as lavender, hibiscus, and grapefruit. Fertitta is hesitant at first, noting that the beverage industry is highly competitive and that Social Sparkling will have to differentiate itself in order to succeed. However, he is intrigued by the company's potential and ultimately offers to invest $1 million in exchange for a 75% ownership stake.

Throughout the episode, Fertitta emphasizes the importance of vision and execution in building a successful business. He advises both Nino's and Social Sparkling to develop clear plans for growth and to be willing to adapt to changing market conditions. He also stresses the importance of branding and marketing, noting that a strong brand can be a significant competitive advantage.

The episode showcases the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry, and highlights Fertitta's expertise as a successful hospitality entrepreneur and investor. Viewers will come away with valuable insights into the process of building and scaling a business, as well as the qualities that investors look for in potential partners. Overall, episode 2 of season 3 of Billion Dollar Buyer is an engaging and informative exploration of the world of business and entrepreneurship.