Crafty Ramen

This is the story of how a husband-and-wife duo started in 2017 and transformed a humble 10-seat ramen shop into a national brand, now found in over 1,600 grocery stores across Canada with another 1,000 stores coming online in fall 2025. It's a story of resilience, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of bringing real ramen to more people. Jared and Miki's journey began in 2017 in Guelph, ON, with a simple but bold idea: to serve handcrafted ramen inspired by their time in Japan. With Jared's Michelin-star culinary expertise and Miki's deep understanding of operations, Crafty Ramen quickly became a local favourite. But just as they expanded with a second location, the pandemic hit, forcing them to pivot overnight. Instead of shutting down, they rolled up their sleeves and hand-packed their first meal kits, bringing the Crafty experience into people's homes. What started as a survival move became an unexpected breakthrough, one that redefined how Canadians enjoy ramen. The demand skyrocketed, leading them to build a full e-commerce platform and ship ramen across the country. This relentless drive to innovate didn't stop there. The success of their meal kits led to the development of a frozen consumer-packaged goods (CPG) line, now stocked in grocery stores nationwide. From a tiny shop in Guelph to a category-defining brand, Crafty Ramen has rewritten the rules of what a restaurant can be. But at its core, this story isn't just about ramen; it's about taking risks, trusting your craft, and turning obstacles into opportunities. It's a love story between two founders, a love letter to the craft of ramen, and a testament to the power of perseverance.