Lending Successful

Pasta-Making Equipment

by The Pasta Lab
Pasta-Making Equipment

The Pasta Lab is taking the next step for their business by purchasing equipment that will streamline their processes and meet growing customer demand.

Project Summary
  • Location: Philadelphia, PA
  • Products: Value added/CPG
  • Loan Term: 60 months
  • Interest Rate: 7.50% APR
  • Repayments Begin: 1 month after disbursement
  • Individual Lender Cap: $2,000
$62,700
100% of $62,700

Funded on 04/26/2023

Share

Overview

The Pasta Lab was born from a desire to share the flavors and varieties of freshly milled flour with their community. Gina Rubinetti and Chris Wright have built The Pasta Lab over the past five years with a focus on sourcing exclusively from regional producers. Gina shares, "We just want to introduce more of our community to these small producers in our area." Over the years, they have built relationships with the local producers who sell their products next to their stall at weekend markets, and they have crafted their own products as a result of these relationships: the cheesemaker who sells next to them, the veggie farmer with delicious sweet corn, and the free-range egg producer who is also growing their business, just to name a few. In fact, The Pasta Lab originally learned of Steward from one of their egg suppliers, Horse Shoe Ranch, an existing Steward borrower. 


Use of Funds

This loan will help The Pasta Lab increase their production and meet their rapidly growing customer demand. Several key pieces of equipment will be purchased as Gina and Chris intend to move into a larger space in the coming months and expand operations. Such items include walk-in refrigeration, a larger pasta dryer, and an orecchiette machine. Offering dried pasta increases their market reach given the lower price point and the ability to ship a shelf-stable product. Additionally, the increasing number of requests for wholesale orders gives Gina and Chris confidence to take their business to the next level.


Regenerative & Sustainable Practices

As a small food business creating a regional value-added product, The Pasta Lab is playing a critical role in our agricultural supply chain. Their regenerative and sustainable practices include:


  • Sourcing locally from a diverse mix of regional producers and food businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York to strengthen their local food supply chain

  • Nurturing direct farmer-sourcing relationships for most of their raw materials (i.e. produce, grain, eggs, meat, & cheese), including 4 local grain and flour suppliers, 7 egg and dairy producers, 8 produce & vegetable suppliers, and 6 local meat producers.

  • Purchasing over two tons (over 4,000 lbs) of local, stoneground flour every year, which is their most significant ingredient.

  • Showcasing farmers' stories on the packaging of their products in order to introduce their customers to their local producers and to highlight the impactful differences of high-quality ingredients.

  • Reducing food waste through packaging practices that increase shelf life, and taking a data-driven approach to weekly production to ensure minimal product is wasted.

  • Selling a premium product at a price point that is also affordable for lower-income communities.


You can learn more about The Pasta Lab by visiting their website at www.thepastalab.com

  • April 27, 2023

    Thank You All!

    We are overwhelmed by the support you've shown for this project. As a small business in this industry access to capital has always been a challenge for us. We are grateful for the community here at Steward and are optimistic about our future. If you happen to find yourself in Philadelphia on one of our market days, please pay us a visit. We would love to connect and thank you in person.

    - Gina & Chris

Walk-in Cooler & Freezer - $22,635

Orecchiette Machine - $16,441

Ventless Hood for Oven - $4,080

Pasta Dryer - $17,446

Loan Fees - $2,098

Total Loan Budget - $62,700

This loan will be made to The Pasta Lab LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company, that makes fresh pasta from regionally sourced, sustainable ingredients.


This $62,700 loan will be used to purchase new pasta-making equipment and will allow The Pasta Lab to grow and expand their business. The loan will be secured by a first position lien across all business assets, including the new equipment that will be purchased with this loan. 

This loan is set at a 7.50% annual interest rate, with a 60-month term, and fully amortized monthly payments beginning one month after funds are disbursed.

Borrower Loan Agreeement Download
Lender Participation Agreement Download

Join the Steward Newsletter

Get project announcements, farmer introductions, company updates, and more by subscribing to the Steward newsletter. Join our growing community of people who are making regenerative agriculture the foundation of our future.

Become a Steward Lender

Join a growing community of sustainably-minded lenders reaping the rewards from responsible farming