Interview with Karat Packaging CEO Alan Yu: From Boba Tea Shop to Packaging Powerhouse

Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing

The Motley Fool

Investing, Business

4.3 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 September 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What began as a single Boba tea shop in 2000 has transformed into a leading supplier of sustainable packaging for local startups to national brands like Panda Express and Chipotle. Motley Fool CEO Tom Gardner and Chief Investment Officer Andy Cross talk with Alan Yu about the evolving business of packaging: Boba Tea beginnings Eco-friendly alternatives Partnership and leadership Strategic expansion Host: Tom Gardner, Andy CrossProducer: Mac GreerEngineer: Adam LandfairDisclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Even though our company has grown from a startup to almost half a billion dollar company,
0:10.5	we still act as a startup.
0:12.6	We treat our customer as our family, as our core customer.
0:16.1	Every customer is a VIP.
0:21.9	That was Alan Yu, co-founder and CEO of carrot packaging.
0:26.8	I'm Motley Fool producer Matt Greer.
0:29.0	Now, carrot packaging makes all sorts of food and drink supplies.
0:32.8	The stock trades under the ticker, KRT, on the NASDAQ.
0:36.8	Motleyful co-founder and CEO Tom Gardner and Motley Full Chief Investment Officer
0:41.3	Andy Cross recently had a chance to talk with Alan Yu about the business of Carrot.
0:47.3	Hello, Fools. Welcome to another Motley Fool conversation. I'm Andy Cross, joined here by the co-founder and CEO of the Motley Fool, Tom Gardner.
0:55.0	And Tom, we're really pleased to welcome Alan you, the co-founder and CEO of carrot packaging,
1:01.2	one of our recommendations across our Hidden Gems universe. And Alan is coming to us on Full 24 here.
1:06.3	Alan, great to have you here. Thanks for joining us.
1:09.3	Thank you also. Thank you for inviting.
1:11.6	Alan, maybe we can just start, Tom. Let's start the conversation. Alan, just in your own words, talk a little bit about what is care of packaging? I mentioned. You're the co-founder of the company. You're the CEO. Just lay out its business and its strategy for us and for our listeners here.
1:25.6	Sure. Well, care of packaging started in the year 2000.
1:28.6	I mean, we originally started as a Boba tea shop, and we expanded our offering, not just
1:33.9	to selling the raw material that actually made these Boba milk tea, but we move into transitioning
1:39.9	to packaging.
1:41.4	And we first started with the Clear Cup.
1:44.0	And then we added additional utensils,
	...

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