OCNews

Eight years ago, Courtney Koga and her sister Meiko started CrAsian Food Truck. Today, they continue running a successful food truck business in addition to two brick and mortar kitchens in tasting rooms of two popular Kelowna breweries: Kettle River Brewing and BNA Brewing. Recently Koga was nominated for two Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards for Young Entrepreneur and Social Leadership. We caught up with her to hear more about what she’s been up to since graduating from OC in 2011.

What program did you take and when did you graduate from OC?
Business Administration Diploma, Specializing in Hospitality & Tourism, January 2011.

Would you recommend the program you took? Why/why not?
Yes! Enrolling in a Business Diploma is a great starting point to open your path up to endless opportunities. Whether you’re already confidently headed in a certain direction, or you’re still a little unsure of future plans, the Business Admin Diploma will help you find areas you’d like to explore further, and some which you’ll learn you dislike. It will pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses and provide a foundation of useful skills no matter which career path you choose.

Looking back at your time at OC, what is your best memory?
Attending events organized by the OCSU - there was always something fun happening on campus to look forward to.  A close second would be treating myself to the baked goodies from the cafeteria - those morning glory muffins were something else!

When did you start CrAsian Food Truck? What made you decide to do it?
The CrAsian Food Truck process began in early 2014, opening for business later that summer.  My love for food and people and years of working in the restaurant industry lead me to start my own business where I could be hands on involved in all aspects of running my own food service.   I knew a food truck would be a good starting point to jump into the industry as a business owner.

Tell us more about Provisions and BoxcAr Kitchen? How did those come about?
The food truck was a great gateway to earning our name in the community and industry, providing the opportunity to meet thousands of people.  Provisions and BoxcAr were both created after growing these relationships we had already created through the food truck.  We had previously partnered with BNA Brewery and Kettle River Brewing.  Once there was a need from both for permanent food service it made perfect sense to put brick and mortar kitchens into both tasting rooms.

What do you think has been the biggest turning point for your career path?
The opening day of CrAsian. It officially turned an idea into a reality and there was no looking back. Every place we parked, every person we met…one thing lead to another and things snowballed from there.

What’s the biggest challenge you face?
As of lately couldn’t name just one. Covid caught us in our biggest time of growth, and just as for so many business owners, the challenges have come nonstop. On top of trying to establish our businesses through a pandemic we were dealing with severe labour and product shortages, inflation, fires and floods. It has been a lot of uncertainty. 

What are you most passionate about in your career?
The food and the people. It’s the basis of our business and my biggest love.

What’s next for you?
In a perfect world: slow and steady growth. There’s always a project waiting to happen.

What advice would you pass on to current/future students?
Keep learning - the teaching doesn’t end when school does. Watch, ask questions and listen, write it down, immerse yourself, go for it, fail, and then get back up.

When you’re not working, what are you doing?
Spending time with my dogs, family, friends, and partner.

Stay up to date by following Koga’s businesses on social media: @crasianfoodtruck, @boxcarkitchen and @provisionsatkettle.