Married for just three days when the 2020 pandemic shut down in-person dining at their family restaurants, Allan and Candace sidelined their honeymoon plans. They focused on ways to bolster their business, service their clients, and provide incomes for out-of-work employees.
Reassessing the production arm of their business, the couple sensed a new opportunity, and recognized a most obvious solution: when life hands you a detour, deliver dumplings!
Their fledgling dumpling delivery service was a game-changer, sparking a series of unexpected and happy outcomes. The rapid growth allowed the couple to retain staff, expand their frozen dumpling production, and launch a new product line of USDA Certified Organic dumplings — which can be found in the freezer section at all Bristol Farms locations.
Recently, we caught up with Allan to learn more about his journey and hear his advice for fellow entrepreneurs.
1. Why did you start Cali Dumpling?
Cali Dumpling began as a labor of love and necessity, fueled by both crisis and care. Candace and I founded Cali Dumpling in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. As restaurants shuttered and the hospitality industry faced a deep freeze, we saw a way to keep our staff employed and provide comfort to the local community. What started as a simple dumpling delivery service quickly evolved into something more meaningful: a mission to bring restaurant-quality dumplings into people’s homes when they needed it most.
In 2022, we welcomed our daughter into the world. This joyful milestone also sparked a moment of deep reflection. As we considered feeding our daughter dumplings, we were struck by how many traditional options were filled with MSG, preservatives, hormones, and artificial ingredients.
2. What obstacles did you face along the way?
One of our biggest challenges was navigating the complex landscape of the Safe Quality Food Program (SQF) and USDA certifications. Launching our organic line was a major milestone, but achieving it required overcoming countless regulatory and operational hurdles. From understanding strict compliance standards to ensuring every aspect of our production met “clean label” expectations, the process was anything but easy. Despite the hoops we had to jump through, we’re incredibly proud to now offer certified organic products that meet the highest standards—and to bring them to households across the country through our trusted retail partners.
3. What lessons do you have for other entrepreneurs?
Don’t fear failure—it’s part of the journey. While no one sets out to make mistakes when building a business, they’re inevitable. Every misstep is a learning opportunity that helps you better understand your business and your resilience. If you approach each challenge with the mindset to grow, you’ll return stronger and smarter every time.
4. What’s on the horizon for Cali Dumpling?
We have some exciting new launches on the horizon, and we're thrilled to keep delivering fresh and new innovative products that surprise and delight our customers.
5. How do you keep work/life balance? What drives/inspires you?
I’m a family man above all else. As a business owner, it’s easy to get consumed by the daily grind—it often feels inevitable. But I make it a priority to carve out time to unplug and be fully present with the people who matter most. Whether it’s a few days away or just a few uninterrupted hours, that time with family is what keeps me grounded. My drive and inspiration will always be my wife and daughter.
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