Guelph’s Crafty Ramen expands into Walmart stores across Canada

Crafty Ramen first opened in Guelph on Valentine’s Day in 2017.

Today, the company continues to expand, with their frozen ramen product now in Walmart locations across the country.

The Japanese restaurant says it has been making as much ramen as it can since the deal was finalized.

Miki Ferrall, one of the co-founders, told CityNews 570 that the idea first started after she moved here.

“I came into Canada eight-years ago and at the time at my local grocery store, I couldn’t really see any type of ethnic type of ingredients like I do now.”

It made Ferrall feel isolated, and she wanted to bring some Japanese culture to her new home.

Crafty Ramen had a line out the door on day one of opening.

Now, seven years later, their frozen ramen kits will be in 365 out of 400 Walmart locations, including every Walmart in Waterloo Region.

“We have been able to continue to grow ever since and our goal is actually to start selling some of our products in the U.S. later this year,” Khalil Khamis, CEO, said.

“I was just very, very, enthused with the pandemic pivot and the progress we have made in the last three years, we never imagined we’d be here today.”

They told CityNews their deal on the hit TV show, Dragons’ Den hasn’t come to fruition yet, but they believe the exposure and the credibility that has come with the appearance on the show, has helped them to expand.

“We’re in almost every Walmart across the country, they have just under 400 stores and were in almost all of them, so were in basically in every province.”

This spring, three of their most popular flavours will pop up on grocery store shelves for pickup.

It includes the Spicy Chicken Tantanmen, the Northern Warmer and the Kaizen Warrior.

Khamis said they are aiming to have two other flavours on store shelves as well.