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Crafting connections nationwide
Crafty Ramen, founded in 2017 by Jared and Miki Farrell in Guelph, ON, began as a mom-and-pop ramen shop aspiring to serve 100 bowls of handcrafted restaurant-quality ramen a day. Through dedication and innovation, Crafty Ramen transformed from a traditional restaurant to a multi-channel business, offering D2C subscription options and generating partnerships with over 100 local grocery stores. Throughout the pandemic, Crafty Ramen pivoted towards an e-commerce model, then ultimately launched a new format of frozen ramen for consumers to enjoy from the comfort of their own homes.
Visionary expansion
Crafty Ramen’s vision and passion expanded beyond the local noodle shop to fill a gap in the ramen noodle market. They now offer frozen restaurant-quality ramen made with real, whole ingredients for consumers to enjoy at home in minutes.
In 2022, Crafty Ramen partnered with The Erb Group to scale their unique frozen ramen product. The company experienced remarkable growth, expanding to 1,500 stores nationwide within the same year. Their partnerships with major retailers and awards earned for best new products in the Canadian food market solidified their position as a leading provider of high-quality ramen across Canada’s gourmet food market.
Crafting customized cold chain logistics solutions
The Erb Group’s cold storage (ECS) and transportation solutions have been vital in Crafty Ramen’s journey to scale its operations and enter new markets. The collaboration between Crafty Ramen and The Erb Group revolves around the mutual goals of connecting communities with quality food, fostering innovation, and providing exceptional consumer products and services.
Limited storage space
As Crafty Ramen began expanding, it faced the challenge of finding the necessary infrastructure and logistical support to effectively manage increased production and distribution demands for its new frozen product line.
The primary challenge Crafty Ramen faced was the constraint of limited freezer space. “We only had one walk-in freezer, and our freezer doesn’t even fit a pallet out the door,” shared Crafty Ramen’s Sales and Logistics Director, Adam Kennedy.
This space constraint made it difficult to store and manage their growing inventory. However, with Erb’s support, Crafty Ramen efficiently overcame these obstacles. Erb’s assistance extended to allowing Crafty Ramen to assemble their pallets within the Erb facility, thereby ensuring seamless cold storage logistics solutions.
Initially storing just one or two pallets at Erb’s facility, Crafty Ramen’s demand has now surged. As their popularity grew, they expanded to occupy 35 to 40 pallets, with expectations to reach 72 pallets by summer. In addition to ECS and logistics solutions, they needed to ensure their products were efficiently transported and stored to maintain freshness and quality from their kitchen to their consumers’ tables.
Launching in major retailers
Introducing their products in major retailers like Walmart presented further logistical complexities. Throughout the process of launching a new product with a bigger retailer, The Erb Group provided invaluable advice on navigating the complexities of larger retailer partnerships. With specialized experts in every aspect of the cold chain, Erb offers a cool advantage in navigating the different policies and nuances associated with working with various intermediaries.
“When we were launching Walmart, the overflow of information (The Erb Group) team was able to give us…was tremendous,” remarked Adam. This support played a crucial role in Crafty Ramen’s successful product launch and ongoing operations as they scale up to Walmart stores nationwide.
Erb’s readiness helped Crafty Ramen sidestep potential setbacks, ensuring a seamless launch and bolstering Crafty Ramen’s confidence in Erb’s reliability and dedication to excellence in the cold chain domain.
A seamless partnership
When asked what makes a good transportation carrier, Crafty Ramen appreciated Erb’s proactive approach to finding solutions and working as a team. “The Erb Group has really helped us along our journey.” By providing reliable storage, transportation, and expert guidance, Erb has enabled Crafty Ramen to scale successfully and confidently expand its product reach.
“It’s like I am talking to an extended arm of Crafty Ramen,” said Adam, highlighting the seamless integration and support provided by our team. This successful partnership underscores the impact of collaboration in achieving business growth and operational excellence.
What’s next for Crafty Ramen?
Staying true to its craft, Crafty Ramen’s commitment to quality and community is a top priority as it continues to grow. Its frozen products have made a significant impact in Canadian wholesalers’ frozen aisles, being available in various locations ranging from small independent grocers to partnerships with major retailers such as Sobeys, Loblaws, Metro, and Walmart.
Today, with the strategic support of The Erb Group’s cold chain solutions, Crafty has supplied ramen to approximately 1,500 stores (and counting) across the country, reflecting the immaculate growth the small business has experienced in just the past two years.
“Our collaboration with Crafty Ramen has been truly rewarding,” said our Business Development Manager, Barbara Lis.
Our shared dedication to quality and innovation has strengthened our partnership and driven growth and success for both teams. Together, we’ve achieved remarkable success, and we eagerly anticipate many more years of cool collaborations and shared aspirations for growth,” shared Barbara.
Crafty Ramen’s growth trajectory includes launching new product lines and expanding into new domestic and international markets. With plans to expand into the U.S. market in 2025, Crafty Ramen’s partnership with The Erb Group will play a crucial role in supporting its operational needs and facilitating its growth initiatives. Erb looks forward to continuing to collaborate on creative solutions with the Crafty team and bringing their ramen experience to a store near you!
Ready to streamline your cold chain logistics and take your business to the next level? Reach out to sales@erbgroup.com now! With over 65 years of expertise, The Erb Group can tailor a comprehensive solution to meet your specific needs.
