Starting Small: Importing Food from One Pallet

You can start importing food with a small first order if the supplier has a low minimum order quantity (MOQ). Our MOQ can be as low as one pallet. Check each product's own minimum, budget for the costs beyond the product price, and prove demand before you order a container.

What MOQ means

A wholesale food minimum order, or MOQ, is the smallest quantity a supplier will sell in one order. It exists because every order involves packing, paperwork and shipping, and very small orders cost more to handle. The unit varies: pieces, cartons, pallets, tons or whole containers.

A low MOQ helps a new importer in three ways. You spend less money before you know what sells, you can test more than one product over time, and a mistake in the specification costs a pallet rather than a container.

Our MOQ can be as low as one pallet. The minimum for each product is shown on its product page, and some products, such as fresh fruit, are sold only by the full container. Always check the product you want.

Pallet, container or part-container

• A pallet is a flat base, usually wooden, that holds a stack of cartons. It is the usual unit for a small order.
• A full container (FCL) is a whole 20-foot or 40-foot container for one buyer. Fruit and many frozen foods are shipped this way.
• A part-container (LCL) shares a container with other buyers. It suits small orders of products that do not need cold storage.

Pick the smallest unit that keeps your cost per carton sensible and your goods safe.

Costs beyond the product price

New importers often budget for the goods and forget the rest. Plan for:

• Freight from the loading port to your destination port.
• Cargo insurance.
• Import duty and local taxes.
• Customs broker and port charges.
• Delivery from the port to your warehouse.
• Cold storage, if you buy frozen or chilled goods.
• Labelling in your language, if the product needs it.
• Tests or inspection, if you want them.

Ask for a quote on each, and compare your total cost per carton with the price you plan to sell at. Our guide to EXW, FOB and CNF shows which of these a seller covers.

A first-order checklist

1. Check your country's rules: import permits, labelling, minimum shelf life and any restrictions on the product.
2. Choose one product with steady demand, and do not start with five.
3. Request a quote that includes the specification, the packing and the trade term.
4. Ask for a sample and test it with your own customers.
5. Agree the payment terms in writing, including the deposit and the balance.
6. Plan the shipping and book your customs broker.
7. Prepare storage before the goods arrive.
8. Check the delivery against the specification, and keep records.
9. Reorder once you know how fast the goods sell.

Importing into the Gulf, the UK, the USA and South Africa

The checklist is the same everywhere, but each market has its own entry rules. We deliver across the Gulf, the UK, the USA and South Africa, and can deliver to other locations in compliance with local laws. Here is what tends to change:

• UAE and the wider Gulf: buyers doing bulk food procurement in the Gulf region usually need a halal certificate and Arabic labelling.
• UK: if you import FMCG products to the UK from China or Pakistan, expect border checks. Food of animal origin needs health certificates, and labels must follow UK rules.
• USA: the FDA must be told about food shipments before they arrive, and importers generally have to verify their foreign suppliers. When you shortlist B2B grocery exporters to the USA, ask whether they can support that paperwork.
• South Africa: supermarkets usually ask suppliers for food-safety certificates, and animal products may need an import permit.

We offer labelling in your language and customs clearance agency services, so tell us your destination when you ask for a quote.

Documents for your first shipment

Confirm the exact list with your customs broker, because countries differ. Most food shipments need a commercial invoice, a packing list and a bill of lading or air waybill. Add a certificate of origin and, depending on the product, a health certificate, a phytosanitary certificate or a halal certificate. Ask your supplier to send draft copies before the goods ship, so you can correct mistakes while it is still cheap to do so.

Mistakes first-time importers make

• Ordering a full container before testing the market.
• Comparing prices without the freight, duty and delivery costs.
• Paying the full amount in advance to an unverified supplier.
• Ignoring the shelf life and the storage space.
• Waiting until the ship has sailed to find a customs broker.
• Accepting a verbal specification instead of a written one.

Check shelf life against your sales speed

A low price is no use if the goods expire before you sell them. Ask for the production date and the shelf life on arrival, and compare it with how long your stock normally takes to sell. For frozen goods, also confirm that you have freezer space at -18 °C or colder. Our guide to shipping frozen food internationally covers the cold chain.

How we help new buyers

We offer customised cross-border procurement, warehousing, labelling in your language, international logistics, customs clearance agency services and delivery solutions. If a product or brand is not in our catalog, contact us and we will put together a solution. Before you commit, our guide on how to choose a reliable supplier lists what to check. Browse the food and beverages collection, the frozen foods range or the fresh fruits collection, then send us an inquiry with your product and the quantity you want to start with.