Guelph-based Crafty Ramen is making a major push into the U.S. market, with plans to roll out its frozen ramen products to more than 4,200 retail locations across the country this fall. The expansion will bring the company’s restaurant-style frozen ramen to major U.S. retailers including Target, Kroger, Sprouts and Albertsons, along with a number of regional grocery banners. It marks a significant step for Crafty Ramen, which has grown from around 100 retail locations to more than 2,700 stores in three years. The company says it has now sold more than two million bowls across Canada and the United States.
Crafty Ramen is betting that the same shift in consumer expectations that helped drive its Canadian growth can translate to the much larger U.S. grocery market.
“We looked at the freezer aisle and saw instant ramen, better-for-you instant ramen, and broth-and-noodle kits but nobody was delivering restaurant quality in a convenient, ready-in-minutes format,” said Khalil, CEO of Crafty Ramen. “That gap held true in Canada, and it’s holding true in the U.S., which is why we’re rolling out to over 4,200 retailer doors across the U.S. this fall with notable banners such as Target, Kroger, Sprouts, Albertsons and exciting regional banners.”
Rather than competing directly with traditional packaged instant noodles, Crafty Ramen is positioning itself in the premium frozen food category. Its bowls are made with bone broth, scratch-made noodles, protein, vegetables and toppings, with the ingredients frozen together in layers and designed to be prepared at home in minutes.
“We’ve now sold more than two million bowls in two countries, proving people are ready for something better than instant ramen,” Khalil said. “Crafty Ramen has always been about sharing the comfort of a bowl of ramen with as many people as possible.”
The company began with a restaurant-focused approach before expanding its ambitions around packaged food. Its broader goal is to build Crafty Ramen into a household name for restaurant-quality frozen ramen, combining the convenience of a frozen meal with the ingredients and flavours consumers would typically associate with a restaurant bowl.
That strategy has helped the company rapidly increase its retail footprint while continuing to develop its products. Crafty Ramen describes its approach as moving quickly, testing products in market and iterating based on what it learns from consumers and retailers.
“Our restaurant-quality ramen is made with real bone broth, scratch-made noodles, real protein and vegetables, frozen together in layers instead of assembled from a packet,” Khalil said. “This expansion is the next big step toward making that experience available to more consumers around the world.”
Crafty Ramen was also recently featured in a Canadian startup documentary film highlighting the stories and growth of Canadian companies. The appearance comes as the company moves into its next stage of growth, shifting from a rapidly expanding Canadian brand toward a broader North American presence.
The U.S. rollout signals a larger shift in Crafty Ramen’s ambitions. After establishing distribution across Canada, the company is now focused on international expansion, larger retail partnerships and building a recognizable brand within the premium frozen food category. With more than 4,200 U.S. retail locations expected to carry its products this fall, Crafty Ramen will now have an opportunity to test whether its Canadian growth story can translate at a much larger scale. For the company, the U.S. is not intended to be the final destination. Crafty Ramen says its longer-term goal is global, bringing restaurant-quality ramen into grocery freezers and homes around the world.
