European confectionery is a lasting success story in the USA, and the premium segment is growing faster than the market as a whole. Let's look at how to enter it.
Belgian chocolate, Italian biscuits and Nordic licorice move to the USA every week, as customs records clearly show. The buyers are specialized confectionery importers, delicatessen chains and the gift sector, where European origin is itself the product's story.
The average confectionery importer handles anywhere from about ten to a few dozen shipments a year and is constantly looking for new products, because its shelf lives on novelty.
As a food product, chocolate falls under FDA rules: producer registration, US-format labeling and ingredient compliance. Logistics deserve separate attention: chocolate wants a temperature-controlled container at least during the warmer half of the year, which adds to the freight cost but is a standard service.
On pricing, it is worth knowing that the US shelf price of premium confectionery is often higher than in Europe, which leaves more room for the import chain than the home market does.
Artisan chocolate, berry-based products and sweets with a distinctive Nordic profile are exactly what niche importers are looking for. If you have a product that works at home, we help you find an importer whose portfolio it fits, and we cover the FDA steps in the launch package.
The first consultation is free: together we'll see who in the US already buys your product and how to reach them.