Success Story Powered by Statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership Member MTRC
Calverton, NY based Lucky Lou’s Inc., doing business as Lucky Lou’s Gourmet Rice Pudding, is a certified WBE L.I. local business manufacturing gourmet rice pudding products in the Stony Brook incubator in Calverton. Two full-time and four part-time employees manufacture their variety of products consisting of original, no suger added, chocolate, vanilla protein and chocolate protein rice pudding sold at many retailors including 7-Eleven, Union Markets, hospitals, butcher shops and many other retailers.
Lucky Lou’s was about to expand into state universities and had just launched an on-line ordering process with direct no-contact delivery service to the customer’s location. This introduced the challenge of delivery while keeping the products under 39-degrees coupled with the need to ramp up production to handle the additional demand.
MEP’s Role
Through communication with their local New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership member, MTRC (Manufacturing & Technology Resource Consortium), they discovered they were eligible for a matching grant of $10,000. MTRC assisted with the application helping Lucky Lou’s Gourmet Rice Pussing win the award. Leveraging these additional funds they were able to make the investments required to deliver products at appropriate temperatures and ramp up production of their gourmet rice pudding products.
“The $10,000 supplemental matching award allowed us to purchase additional equipment to improve our production. As we expanded our business, we were able to relocate to a space at the Stony Brook Calverton Incubator and purchase additional kitchen equipment. MTRC has increased our awareness and knowledge base of the resources available to small businesses on LI. We had attended numerous workshops suggested/communicated to us by MTRC. The MTRC Director is very knowledgeable and always provided professional guidance/service to Lucky Lou’s Rice Pudding.”
Results:
- Acquisition of a used truck with Thermo King refrigeration
- Invested in packing equipment and additional kitchen equipment
