How To Buy Groceries From Nigeria To U.S.A

The demand for Nigerian foodstuffs is currently high in the United States due to the high migration of Nigerians to the United States. The reason for the demand is that many people are not satisfied with all the burgers and pizza, and many love to have a taste of home even while away. Should we call it obsession, or is it just what they are used to?

Here is the opportunity that comes with it: if you are a Nigerian living in the US or a resident of Nigeria, you can start food exportation from Nigeria to the US. Despite the lot of work and processes involved, it’s a very profitable venture and a means to earn some foreign exchange.

In this post, we will be walking you through the process involved in exporting groceries from Nigeria to the United States.

How To Buy Groceries From Nigeria To The USA: a step-by-step process

-Conduct market research

This is the first step you should take when starting a new venture like this. You need to know what Nigerians and Africans generally in the US want, the local foodstuffs that are scarce over there, and places to move the groceries to—usually places with a high Nigerian population.

A market survey or research will not only help you figure out what to sell, but also help you to make adequate plans on where and how to get them in Nigeria as well as how to market them in the US.

-Get all the needed licenses and certifications

Since you are exporting the groceries outside the shores of Nigeria and not within, you need lots of licensing from both Nigerian and US authorities. For Nigeria, you may need to get certification from NAFDAC and SON, as they want to be sure what you are moving out of Nigeria is safe for consumption. Also, things like an export license are among the things you need to obtain. Plus, the US authorities want to make sure what you are bringing in is safe for exportation, so you may need to obtain a license from the appropriate authorities their too.

-Find a trusted shipping company

There are a lot of international freight or shipping companies in Nigeria that can help you move these goods to the United States. The various things you need to consider when choosing one are trust, speed, and efficiency. DHL and FedEx are the top companies in Nigeria when it comes to moving goods to foreign countries. Though more expensive than the other alternatives, they are faster and more reliable, as they can get the goods to arrive in the US in 2 to 5 days.

Below are the two ways to export goods to the U.S.

• Air freight

This is the fastest and best way to move food items like fish, crayfish, vegetables, oil, etc. Your stuff will arrive in the United States in 3 days or even less. Here, you are charged per kg for goods you want to export; most companies will normally charge you N3000 or less per 1 kg weighed item.

• Ocean shipment

This involves moving your goods on big ships over water. It is the cheapest, but it takes time. Shipments arrive in 4 to 6 weeks, so they are not suitable for perishable and semi-perishable food items. It’s best for moving food items like corn, cassava flour, yams, beans, etc. Ocean shipping is mostly necessary if you are starting the business on a very large scale.

-Get your goods ready and package them

After finding a trusted export company and reaching an agreement with them, the next step is to get your goods ready and package them. Your goods need to be properly packed and packaged for them to be allowed into the United States.

-Ship to the US

Next, move your goods to the United States either by air or sea via your preferred freight or shipping company and gather all your papers to prevent seizure by customs officers at the airport or seaport. Also, pay all the fees and charges.

-Market your goods in the U.S

Once your goods reach the United States, your next stop is to market, distribute, or sell them. You can get in touch with several African stores in the US beforehand and reach an agreement to supply them with these items in bulk.

Types of food items that can be exported from Nigeria to the United States

Yam

Vegetables

Melon

Ogbono

Cassava flour

Garri

Palm oil

Crayfish

Dried fish, etc.

Challenges Associated With Exporting Foodstuffs From Nigeria To The U.S

Below are the challenges you may encounter if you decide to venture into this business. Well, regardless of anything, people are still doing it and making a lot of money from it.

• High export duties
• Needs to acquire different licenses and permits
• Delays in delivery are common.
• Getting customers in the US

Bottom Line

Moving food items from Nigeria to the United States is a business that has been in existence for quite some time. However, due to the rise in the number of Nigerians migrating to the US, so is the demand for Nigerian foods in the US. I hope you find this article helpful.