Phoenix peanut-butter maker will pitch to 'Shark Tank' celebrity

A Phoenix peanut-butter maker said he was going nuts over news Monday that he won the chance to pitch his products to a "Shark Tank" investor.

"It's delicious news," said Jeff Malkoon, 28, "It's as delicious as chocolate peanut butter."

Malkoon was referring to one of the six nut spreads made and sold by his company, Peanut Butter Americano.

Peanut Butter Americano was one of the top two vote-getters in an online ballot battle that ended Saturday between six businesses.

Thousands of votes were cast, and Monday PayPal Duel officials announced that Peanut Butter Americano of Phoenix and Earhoox of Florida won the most votes. Earhoox makes a product that stretches over earbuds to offer a secure fit.

On March 14, the two companies will get to pitch their products to Daymond John, of "Shark Tank" fame, on a live stage at the SXSW festival in Austin. Prizes for the winner are $30,000 from PayPal and one-on-one coaching from John.

Malkoon said he will ask his mother, Teresa Hamra Malkoon, to accompany him to Austin because his peanut butter venture began in her central Phoenix kitchen.

"That is where I developed all of my recipes, and really started the company, was in in her kitchen," Malkoon said.

During his pitch he will say that "social ventures do work, and that there is a net positive to being a company that is socially responsible."

He will also talk about how delicious his nut butters taste and how they are unique and low in sugar.

The prize money would come in handy for Malkoon, who has the opportunity, but not the vehicles, to sell his nut spreads in Sprouts and AJ's markets.

"I want to use the money for distribution," he said. "Right now, everything is just me and my truck."

Malkoon said he has been on PayPal's radar because he relies on the electronic-payment company for selling his six gourmet nut spreads. He sold 40,000 jars last year, he said.

His flavors are classic, cinnamon honey, white chocolate, dark chocolate, classic almond and cinnamon roasted almond.

All proceeds from the dark-chocolate peanut butter support relief work in the Western Hemisphere, including the "A Roof for My Country" charity, which builds emergency housing and provides job training in 19 countries.