How to Start a Food Import Business in the USA: Requirements and Planning

Plan a U.S. food import business around the actual products, sales channel and responsibilities in the supply chain. The importer needs a route to market, a workable landed-cost calculation, and the category-specific entry and food requirements.

Identify the manufacturer, seller, customs importer, FSVP importer where applicable, and the parties storing and distributing the product. Confirm their roles before placing the first order rather than relying on an unsourced percentage of the U.S. food supply.

• Is there growing demand for this product in your target market?
• What’s the shelf life? Dry, packaged goods are much easier to handle than fresh or perishable items, especially if you’re just starting out.
• Who are the competitors, and how will your product stand out?

Determine which agencies cover the exact food and ingredients. For FDA-regulated products, check whether the relevant facilities require registration and whether the shipment requires Prior Notice; exemptions and product-specific provisions exist.

Identify the FSVP importer for each covered food and foreign supplier. Establish the applicable hazard analysis, supplier evaluation and verification records; a broker’s entry filing or a supplier’s certificate does not by itself fulfil the importer’s programme.

Confirm the product’s label and any additional category-specific requirements before dispatch. For commercial organic imports, the certified importer and exporter chain and the valid NOP Import Certificate must be in place for the shipment. Determine agricultural admissibility from the exact product, origin and destination using APHIS where relevant.

Coordinate customs entry separately, with accurate classification, product descriptions and documents. Agree who provides each data element and who makes each filing.

Set up the business and check the state/local permissions for the activities and premises you will use. Arrange the appropriate customs importer identity and any required CBP record update; an EIN alone is not the entire customs-entry setup.

For FDA systems, obtain the required FDA-acceptable UFI for the relevant facility or FSVP importer. FDA currently recognises DUNS for these uses, so it should not be described as merely optional credit-check information.

Confirm any facility registration and renewal obligation, and keep the facility, FSVP and customs roles distinct. Use a licensed customs broker where appropriate while retaining the importer’s responsibilities for the accuracy of its entry.

Request samples, a specification, ingredient and allergen information, current labels and the quoted supply terms. Verify certificates and supplier identities against the applicable official scheme; attendance at a trade fair or use of a marketplace does not establish that a producer has been vetted.

For covered U.S. food imports, supplier approval and verification should follow the importer’s FSVP process. Record the product, manufacturing site, controls and documentation relevant to the food rather than treating a trial order as the sole qualification.

For coffee purchasing questions, use the supplier checklist to structure the enquiry.

Agree transport, delivery, customs filing, storage and distribution responsibilities before dispatch. A freight forwarder arranges transport services; customs brokerage and food-compliance work need the appropriate authorised party and defined scope.

Calculate landed cost using the actual product classification, origin and current tariff measures, plus freight, insurance, handling, storage and agreed fees. Select air or ocean freight around product requirements and a real quotation rather than assuming one method is always cheaper.

Check the manufacturer’s handling instructions and the warehouse/distributor’s capacity for the quoted SKU. Record the handover points and the parties responsible for each step.

• Build a recognizable brand - From your logo to your packaging to your tone of voice - consistency builds trust and helps your product stick in people’s minds.
• Tell your origin story - Share the journey behind your product: where it comes from, who makes it, and why it matters. Storytelling adds depth and meaning that today’s consumers love.
• Get out there locally - Specialty food shows, pop-ups, and farmers’ markets are great for product testing, direct feedback, and building early buzz.
• Partner with retailers and restaurants - Sampling programs, local grocer placements, or featuring your product on a café menu can create exposure and word-of-mouth momentum.
• Sell online - Launch your own website or use platforms like Amazon, Faire, or Etsy to reach a wider audience without relying solely on physical retail.

Start with a defined product, approved supplier, entry plan and route to market. Confirm the written supply terms and the importer’s regulatory responsibilities before increasing order size.

For finished branded Vietnamese coffee, chocolate and dried fruit, send MR.VIET’s wholesale team your U.S. channel, selected products and estimated volume. Request the current specification, wrapper information, available documentation and quotation, then use those inputs with the parties handling your import.