Interview with Kenshiro Uki – President of Sun Noodle

Today on the Irresistible Factor, I have an incredibly inspiring guest, Kenshiro Uki,  president of North America and Europe of one of my new favorite companies, Sun Noodle Ramen. Sun Noodle makes easy-to-prepare (at home), fresh Ramen. Kenshiro is on a mission to bridge the cultures of Japan and the U.S. by in essence, creating a new category,  restaurant quality Ramen at home. Kenshiro’s father started the Sun Noodle  brand 42 years ago on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii after moving there from Japan. The brand started by serving premium noodles to the best ramen restaurants and chefs throughout Hawaii, and have since worked with the best ramen shops in the foodservice industry. The brand has just  recently expanded into the CPG world by creating fresh ramen kits so that people can create a truly amazing bowl of ramen they can enjoy in their own home. Kenshiro talks about some of their awesome collaborations with iron chef Morimoto and chef David Chang of Momofuku, and why collabs like this can be  a win-win for everyone involved. Kenshiro also tells us about challenges transitioning from food service into a consumer brand.  He shares some of the incredible advice he’s gotten from mentors and thought partners that were critical to his success. One of my favorite pieces of advice is  around the opportunity a negative customer experience can be, if you handle it right. This episode is a must listen with tons of advice every  entrepreneur should  hear. Lastly, if you are a Ramen lover and haven’t tried this product, you’re going to want to get your hands on this one! Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Kenshiro Uki, President of Sun Noodle North America and Europe.  Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

• How critical it is to get consumers  to try his products 
• Kenshiro’s definition of success as it pertains to Sun Noodle
• How Sun Noodle made the shift from food service to being a consumer brand  
• The importance of mentors

Links mentioned in this episode:  Kenshiro Uki on LinkedIn  Sun Noodle  Naturally New York   John Lawson on LinkedIn  Elly Truesdell on LinkedIn Setting the Table  Masaharu Morimoto  Morimoto Restaurant  David Chang on Instagram Momofuku Restaurant  Simon Sinek  Bill Shen on LinkedIn The Irresistible Factor Podcast  Sawtooth Group