Bringing a mixed farm-to-table container to Europe - Part II

No news is also news - and so it happened that our container in Santos was delayed by another week.

While loading the container, several pallets had to be rearranged, and one coffee bag was torn and patched in the process. Consequently, the person responsible for the container ship at the port terminal could not (or would not) allocate us a delivery slot at short notice. Our container was rebooked onto the following ship, the Maersk "La Paz," which then departed the port on schedule on January 27, 2026, with our cargo.

Foodflows container after successful loading

The crossing to Europe usually takes 2–3 weeks, and during this time, several things happened in parallel:

1. Finalizing Export Documents

In Brazil, export shipments are locally exempt from significant taxes. Therefore, the transfer from the producers to Foodflows occurs via a specific invoicing modality known as indirect export. Following the export, the producers must provide proof for their own processes that the goods have actually left the country. Furthermore, Brazil participates in the International Coffee Organization (ICO) program, which requires the issuance of a Certificate of Origin. This, too, can only be issued after the export has taken place.

2. Preparing for Arrival

Due to the various partial shipments, it was important to inform the customs warehouse in Bremerhaven about the container’s composition. We also requested that the goods be photographed upon arrival to document any potential damage. With shipping containers, there is never 100% certainty that the goods will arrive in perfect condition, which is why they are typically insured.

3. Establishment in Germany

To be able to offer our products in Germany in the future, we have completed initial registrations with the tax office and customs.

In mid-February, storms formed over the Atlantic, which ships had to bypass or wait out. You may recall the chaotic weather conditions in the USA that dominated the news at the time. As a result, the "La Paz" took an extra week to reach Bremerhaven, arriving on February 26, 2026. This was followed by the "unloading" of the container from the ship and delivery to the customs warehouse.

In the coming days, the first pallets will be transported to Switzerland, while the rest will remain on standby in Bremerhaven.

Where do we stand regarding our goals?

• Faster Execution Time: With the first container, delays meant it took from September 2023 to April 2024 (7 months). This time, it took from November 2025 to March 2026 (4 months) from the farms all the way to Switzerland.

• Increase in Volume and Value:

  • Volume: From 3 tons to 6 tons.

  • Value: From approx. 30k CHF to approx. 70k CHF.

• Lower Costs per kg and m³: We currently anticipate a reduction by a factor of 3.

So things are looking quite good! :) Once the first coffees from the new harvest are in our shop, Part III will follow...