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2016-2019· Exited· Co-founder

Crave Japan

Bootstrapped a Japanese-snack subscription box from zero to $400K+ ARR.

EcommerceRetailSupply Chain
Crave Japan monthly snack box
The monthly snack box.
Crave Japan product on retail shelves
On shelves at national retail.
Crave Japan warehouse packing operations
Packing operations in our California warehouse.
01 / 03

The idea

A monthly box of hard-to-find Japanese snacks, curated and shipped to subscribers in the US. Built for the cohort that loved Japanese culture but didn't have easy access to the snacks.

What I built

  • The product: monthly subscription box with curated seasonal assortments, branded packaging, and inserts that taught the story behind each snack.
  • The supply chain: partnered with a leading Asian wholesaler in California to import directly from Japan and pack in-warehouse, keeping margins healthy without sacrificing freshness.
  • Two channels at once: DTC subscriptions through our own online storefront, plus retail distribution into national chains across all 50 U.S. states.

The outcomes

  • $0 → $400K+ ARR, operating profitably from year one.
  • Product is still being sold online and in-stores today as of 2026.