Crafty Ramen Receives SOFII Funding to Scale Production, Accelerate Innovation & Expand into New Markets

Crafty Ramen Receives SOFII Funding to Scale Production, Accelerate Innovation & Expand into New Markets

Bringing Restaurant-Quality Ramen to Homes Across Canada

We’re excited to share that Crafty Ramen, an innovative Canadian food company known for bringing restaurant-quality ramen to households nationwide, has received funding through the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII), administered by Community Futures Western Ontario.

With two thriving restaurants in Guelph and Kitchener and a rapidly growing manufacturing arm Crafty Ramen Market Inc., has redefined convenient dining through its premium frozen ramen bowl, made with real ingredients.

Available in major retailers across Canada including Sobeys, Walmart, and Loblaws, as well as online via HelloFresh, Crafty Ramen is the first and only brand in Canada to deliver true restaurant-quality frozen ramen at scale. With demand accelerating and expanded production capacity coming online in Waterloo and Orangeville, Crafty Ramen is positioned for continued national growth as it brings bold flavours, exceptional quality, and a fresh category of ready-to-enjoy meals to Canadians everywhere.

“We’re excited to share our favourite comfort food with more households across Canada. This support from SOFII allows our team to scale production, advance innovation, and meet rising demand. It positions Crafty for long-term growth as we expand our retail footprint and prepare for U.S. expansion,” says Khalil Khamis, CEO, Crafty Ramen.

Positioning Crafty Ramen for Canadian and U.S. Market Leadership

Crafty Ramen is entering an exciting new chapter of growth as it expands its lineup of chef-crafted frozen ramen meals and strengthens its relationships with major grocery partners across the country. Retail momentum continues to build: A new collaboration between Sushi à la Maison launched in IGA Québec locations, and private label products for M&M Food Markets and Farm Boy will launch in Q1 2026.

With five SKUs already available nationwide and presence across major retailers, Crafty Ramen continues to innovate with new offerings including Chicken Shoyu and Pork Shoyu. As Crafty deepens its presence across Canada, the company is also preparing to enter the U.S. market where growing demand for premium, globally inspired frozen meals presents significant opportunity.

This integrated strategy of product innovation, retail expansion, and scaled production positions Crafty Ramen to become a category leader across North America.

The Impact of SOFII: Fueling Innovation and Growth in Southern Ontario

SOFII is proud to support Crafty Ramen, a homegrown food innovator known for its bold flavours, culinary creativity, and commitment to quality. The investment will help the company scale production, strengthen its innovation pipeline, and prepare for expansion into major new markets, including the United States.

Boosting Production Capacity in Orangeville

With SOFII’s support, Crafty Ramen will acquire advanced automated assembly and packaging equipment for its Orangeville facility. This will:

• Increase production output
• Improve efficiency and reduce input costs
• Support diverse private label packaging needs
• Enable Crafty to keep all production in-house, protecting quality and brand integrity

Funding will also support employee training, ensuring the team is equipped to operate and maintain new technology as the company scales.

Accelerating Innovation in Waterloo

At Crafty’s expanded Waterloo facility, SOFII’s investment will enhance R&D capabilities, supporting:

• New frozen ramen offerings
• Private label product development
• Future single-serve Japanese-inspired meals

This strengthened innovation capacity will allow Crafty to meet rising demand and continue delivering high-quality, chef-led meals.

Preparing for U.S. Expansion & Strengthening Operations

SOFII funding will also enable Crafty Ramen to:

• Build the inventory needed for new retail launches
• Participate in major U.S. CPG trade shows with a professional booth
• Establish the groundwork for export growth
• Increase production shifts in Orangeville, creating new jobs in Southern Ontario

By boosting operational capacity and financial agility, this investment positions Crafty Ramen for long-term success as it shares its unique, chef-driven ramen experience with households across North America.

Website: https://craftyramen.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/craftyramen/

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For more information, HR images, or to schedule an interview, please contact:

SOFI Contact: Todd Copeland, Executive Director todd@cfwo.ca 519-752-0381

Crafty Ramen Contact: Adrienne Harry, Aldeen Consulting, Adrienne@aldeenconsulting.com, 905-464-4167

About SOFII: Empowering Innovation and Growth

SOFII is proud to fuel innovation and drive growth for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across both urban and rural communities in southern Ontario. Through our program, eligible businesses can access interest-bearing loans ranging from $150,000 to $500,000, with the potential for additional funding in exceptional cases. Launched in July 2012 by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario, SOFII is delivered in southwestern Ontario by Community Futures Western Ontario, helping ambitious businesses turn bold ideas into lasting success.