Every noodle has a story

From sleeping on pallets of flour and watching his father make noodles by hand, to winning the 2025 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented by the Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs (ACCE), Kerry Tam has come a long way when it comes to the family business.   

Currently the president of Mimigo – a handcrafted noodle-making company founded by the Tam family in 1960, Kerry is taken aback by how the business has evolved in such a short time in Canada.   

Originating in the vibrant city of Hong Kong, China, the Tam family had a passion for traditional Chinese cuisine and saw an opportunity to bring their authentic flavours and recipes to the world. They began by selling their fresh noodles in local markets, quickly earning a reputation for their high-quality ingredients and consistent quality. As their products grew in popularity, the Tam family began to expand their business, opening new locations throughout Asia and to their surprise, even entering the Australian market.   

Although business was booming, China wasn’t in the most favourable of conditions at the time and Kerry’s parents knew something needed to be done, to give him a better life. That’s when they decided to venture out on their own – bringing the family business with them as they immigrated to Canada, opening their first noodle shop in Toronto, Ont. in 2001.   

“I describe our North American journey as a very old startup,” says Kerry. “We moved here out of necessity, essentially starting over in a small warehouse, but this was a major milestone for the company that marked the beginning of a new era of growth and innovation.”  

After working the corporate path for quite some time, Kerry took a leap of faith in 2022 when his parents retired – taking over the family business and building a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. This allowed Mimigo to expand its product offerings, while focusing on sustainability and efficiency. 

Cue 2024 – where a delivery truck chase and a few conversations led to Mimigo’s partnership with Loblaw.  

“A receiver at the back of Daniel’s No Frills in Mississauga, Ont., noticed our products doing well at a local restaurant, so when he saw our truck he chased us down,” says Kerry. “He wanted to bring us in for a meeting and ironically enough, we really wanted to connect with Loblaw, so this opened the window of opportunity.” 

Word of mouth spread like wildfire among store owners in the No Frills community, which led to listings in more locations and eventually, to becoming part of Loblaw’s Small Supplier Program.  

“With Loblaw, it truly feels like we’re partners,” says Kerry. “They’re proactive, we have open communication and even though we’re small, they take us seriously.”  

Mimigo products are available nationally at No Frills and Maxi stores.