Business: Maly’s Foods
Address: Naperville
Phone/website: 630-303-9170; www.MalysFoods.com
Owner: Lisa Kapryan, 50, of Naperville
Years in business: 3
What does your business do? “We have one product, Maly’s Vegetable Egg Rolls. They are vegan-friendly, delicious, easy to heat and serve. Ready in 10 minutes or less. … I go to a lot of farmers markets,” Kapryan said.
Why egg rolls? “We’ve made them since we were younger. My mom used to work at Grayhill in La Grange and we made egg rolls for mom to sell to her coworkers.”
What’s the background? “My three sisters and I learned how to cook at an early age. Our grandma and our mom, Maly, taught us how to make Lao egg rolls, a family tradition. We made them for family and friends’ home gatherings. Every time, everyone commented that they were so good and that we should sell them.
“In 2016, I lost my job and became our mom’s full-time caregiver, helping our dad. Over the years, finding work was unsuccessful. … My mom is permanently disabled and requires 24/7 care…. After one of my sisters decided to take a break from her nursing career in 2022, we switched roles caring for our mom. I got the opportunity to launch this business.”
How is your mother? “Mom had a stroke 21 years ago, another last August and one in April. She’s still kicking. She’s still with us. She just turned 70.”
What’s your family history? “We’re from Laos. We had to escape. I was a baby, but my mom is a survivor. She crossed the river from Laos to Thailand. …. My mom took me and my older sister. She had to hold onto my mom. Mom held me. …. She said a communist soldier let us go.
“We were in a refugee camp for some years, we were sponsored by a Christian church in the U.S. … Dad told me when he got off the plane, he had $11 in his pocket. … They worked assembly jobs in factories here. … Two sisters were born here. (My older sister and I) cared for them when my parents were working.”
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How’s the business doing? “Maly’s Foods is growing. We have more demand than anticipated. Our customers really enjoy the egg rolls and want us to succeed.”
How does it work? “I make the egg rolls here in my kitchen and sell them at seven farmers markets each week.”
How many egg rolls do you prepare in one session? “Maybe 200 or 300 in a day. … Sometimes, I run out at markets.”
What’s in the recipe? “It’s all vegetables. … I took the eggs out because I have a cousin who became allergic to eggs. … It tasted the same (as with eggs).”
Where are you this weekend? “I’m at the Tinley Park farmers market from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. On July 27, I’m at the Jefferson Park Sunday market in (Chicago), 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. … I’m at Naper Settlement on Tuesdays. … My schedule is on my website.”
And in the winter? “There are some winter farmer markets. I do a lot of school craft shows.”
What are your prices? “Five egg rolls for $12 and 10 for $23. My customers say they’d still buy if I increase the price.”
How many employees do you have? “No employees. I’m still a one-woman show. My family helps with some administration and marketing aspects to help promote and tell people about the business.”
What do you like? “Talking and getting to know our customers. … I figured out building this business was more than just about product and sales. Customers tell me that I’ve inspired them, career wise and in life. This journey is truly about inspiration and hope.”
Any negatives? “Not many. Push through the negatives. Keep moving forward.”
What challenges do you face? “Resources for finances and cash flow. I am bootstrapping right now. What we make, we have to put back into the business. … Another challenge is time. The business runs seven days a week and some days there will be 15-hour days. There’s never enough time.”
Any future plans? “Potentially moving to a commercial kitchen space. And hiring for production and sales.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Build your business step by step at your pace. … Write your business plan, adjust as you go. Invest in yourself through learning. Learn all aspects of your business, learn from others, learn from trial and error. Most importantly, always provide good customer service. Our customers are the key to our success.”
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at [email protected].