Clearing the Shipping Hurdles for a First-Time Fancy Food Show Exhibitor
Within the walls of the Moscone Center in San Francisco lies booths teeming with enticing specialties from culinary purveyors. When the Winter Fancy Food Show arrives each January, the center bustles with more than a thousand exhibitors marketing their exotic, trendy, wholesome, spicy and sweet offerings.
But it can take time and determination to bring foreign foods to this American show, given regulations that require imported food to be verified as produced with the same safety standards as those produced in America. Once verified and depending on the classification of food being shipped to the U.S., a heap of documentation will likely be required for Customs clearance. The Winter Fancy Food Show’s official freight forwarder and U.S. Customs Broker, Phoenix International Business Logistics (PIBL) has seen its share of late-in-the-game requests by international exhibitors to manage their shipments, including at the recent January show.
Liv’On Services, an importer based in Austria, approached PIBL in mid-November to assist with shipping its products manufactured in Belgium and Greece to San Francisco. Their frozen products included salmon and seabream soufflés and a sea scallop shell with pastry crust. Their mini cocktail lollipops incorporate ingredients such as Jerusalem artichoke and shrimp. On the sweet side, they offer Belgian Chocolate Bliss and French crème brulee dessert glasses. This was Liv’On’s first time exporting these and other items to the U.S. and they needed to gather the necessary documents to meet U.S. Customs requirements.
With the show occurring in January, they couldn’t miss the air freight deadline of January 6. It was a tight timeframe to navigate a complicated process, further shortened by three national holidays when many offices closed. PIBL team members worked steadily through nights and weekends, determined to assist Liv’On with transport arrangements that could help them clear the Customs hurdles.
According to Phil Hobson, President of PIBL, “Their shipment contained a variety of products with ingredients such as eggs, milk and fish that require extensive documentation for importation. The documents, including Veterinary Health Certificates provided by suppliers, had to be original documents signed and stamped by the vet officers with statements that would be accepted by Customs, USDA, FDA and FSIS. The challenges included securing correct documents from government agencies and suppliers under the time constraints, considering the special requirements involved with fish products, and ensuring that each statement was precisely worded. For example, the milk statement needed to indicate such details as species of bovine and that the milk came from a region free from foot and mouth disease, while the health certificate from the egg supplier had to state that the egg materials were cooked to reach an internal temp of 165F.”
PIBL needed to have the original documents in its hands for Customs clearance prior to shipping, or the cargo could be delayed, possibly missing the show and creating additional fees in storage. As USDA does not allow importation of goods without proper documentation, cargo without the correct documents can be seized for destruction or re-exportation. PIBL also researched options to store the food upon arrival in America to ensure that these perishable items were maintained at the proper temperatures before the show. The shipment was packed in dry ice with just enough time to clear it through Customs and then transport it to a refrigerated warehouse before the dry ice melted.
Georgia Zombola of Liv’On commented, “Liv’On made a big enough splash at this show to repay our efforts. We generated some serious interest for collaborations with key distributors and retailers. From comments we received, we were considered to have some of the most innovative products at the show, and with the taste and quality to match. We thank PIBL for its patience and expert guidance with our exhibit at the Winter Fancy Food Show. We’re grateful for the tireless support (and all those sleepless nights) to assure our shipments arrived at the show on time and in good condition.”
Liv’On looks forward to distributing its products in the U.S. (PIBL is helping with those arrangements, too). Although this story has a positive ending – challenges met with perseverance and a knowledgeable partner – it is a cautionary tale. With the Summer Fancy Food Show scheduled for June, Phil Hobson tells international exhibitors, “Make your transport plans 90 days in advance of a U.S. food show, especially if it’s the first time your products are being imported here. Too little time will create stress and doubt about your shipments. We were successful with Liv’On’s exhibit, but with today’s regulations concerning food shipments, more planning time will give you peace of mind and a greater sense of certainty when you invest in these exhibitions.”
Phoenix International Business Logistics (PIBL) is an international freight forwarder and U.S. Customs broker specializing in trade show logistics, general cargo, Customs clearance and freight management. Contact: Phil Hobson Phobson@phoenixlogistics.com. In the United States + (908) 355-8900 and on the web at PhoenixLogistics.com