U.S. Food Export to the Bahamas

Chihade International supplies American food products to licensed importers, resorts and foodservice distributors in the Bahamas, shipped from our SQF-certified facility in Georgia. We are looking for a distributor partner in the Bahamas.

Why Bahamas

The Bahamas imports nearly 90% of its food — roughly $1 billion a year — and the U.S. supplied 76% of food imports in 2024. It is the third-largest Caribbean grocery market at $1.27 billion in retail sales, and U.S. processed food exports reached around $271 million in 2024.

Hospitality is the other half of the picture. Hotels and resorts source roughly 40% through local importers and 60% direct from U.S. suppliers, so there is room for a distributor who can serve both retail and the resort trade properly.

What We Do From the U.S.

We are a U.S. exporter. We do not operate warehouses or distribution in the Bahamas — that is what our distributor partners do. Our job is everything on the American side of the shipment:

• Sourcing from more than 300 U.S. manufacturers, to your specification
• Consolidating mixed loads into full containers, so you are not forced into single-supplier minimums
• Dry, chilled and frozen storage in our 64,000 sq. ft. SQF-certified facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia
• English-language labelling, stickering and ink-jet date coding applied before goods leave the U.S.
• Export documentation — USDA and health certificates, halal certification where required, certificates of origin
• Ocean and air freight on contracted U.S. lanes, with expedited air for urgent replenishment

Import Requirements We Prepare For

The Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA) is the competent authority for food safety and import permits under the Food Safety and Quality Act 2016. The Department of Agriculture issues a separate licence to import poultry, meat, dairy and eggs, and the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality enforces labelling. Customs clears cargo through the Click2Clear single window.

There is no U.S. free trade agreement, so imports face customs duty plus VAT, and duties are a significant share of government revenue. VAT on food has moved twice recently: halved to 5% in April 2025 and then removed entirely on unprepared food from April 2026, while prepared and restaurant food stays at 10%. Because this has changed quickly, we confirm the current position at quoting rather than working from a published figure.

Labelling is in English. Import permits are required for thirteen medium and high-risk food categories, for all raw or minimally processed plant and animal products, and for processed frozen or chilled animal products over 50 lb. Permits are valid only 14 days, so timing matters. Commercial applicants must hold a valid Bahamian business licence, which effectively requires a locally licensed importer.

Nassau Container Port at Arawak Cay is the primary gateway with Freeport Harbour secondary; Lynden Pindling International handles air freight.

What We Look For in a Distributor Partner

We are deliberately selective, because these relationships tend to last decades rather than seasons. We are typically looking for:

• An established importer of record, with the licences and clearance experience the market requires
• Real coverage of at least one channel — modern retail, wholesale, foodservice distribution, or franchise supply
• Temperature-controlled storage and distribution appropriate to the categories you want to carry
• A sales team that can place and support a new brand rather than simply warehousing it
• An interest in a long-term programme, including exclusive lines where it makes sense for both sides

If that is a reasonable description of your business, we would like to talk.

See all markets we serve →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a warehouse or office in the Bahamas?

No. Chihade International is a U.S. exporter based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and we ship from there. We do not hold stock inside the Bahamas. Local importing, clearance, storage and distribution are handled by our distributor partners — which is precisely the role we are looking to fill.

Do we have to order a full container of a single product?

No. Consolidation is one of the main reasons distributors work with us. We combine products from multiple U.S. manufacturers into one container, so you can carry a broad range without committing to full-truckload minimums from each supplier.

Can we get exclusive rights to a brand in our market?

In many cases, yes. Chihade International is the exclusive distributor of Country Sun, our own brand of American cheeses, mayonnaise, frying oils, cheese sauce and breakfast meats. Where it makes commercial sense on both sides, we grant exclusive Country Sun distribution rights by territory — a line your competitors cannot stock. See the range at countrysunfoods.com.

How does the short permit validity affect scheduling?

Bahamian import permits are valid for 14 days, so the permit and the sailing have to be aligned rather than arranged independently. We coordinate documentation to the vessel schedule so a permit does not expire while cargo is in transit.

Has VAT on food changed?

Yes, twice in about a year — halved to 5% in April 2025 and then removed on unprepared food from April 2026, with prepared and restaurant food remaining at 10%. Given how recently this moved, we confirm the current treatment when we quote rather than relying on published figures.

Can you supply resorts as well as retail?

Yes. Resorts currently source roughly 60% direct from U.S. suppliers and 40% through local importers, and the categories they buy consolidate well with retail grocery in a mixed container.

How We Work With Partners in the Bahamas

Whichever channel you operate in, the U.S. side of the shipment is the same: sourcing, consolidation, preparation and documentation from our SQF-certified facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

• Franchise export — supplying U.S. franchise brands at their locations in the Bahamas.
• Distributor partnerships — for importers and foodservice distributors carrying American lines.
• Retail and supermarket consolidation — an American grocery range without single-supplier minimums.
• Export warehousing and 3PL — dry, chilled and frozen under one roof in Georgia.
• All export services — the full picture of what we handle before a container sails.
• Beef and protein export — U.S. beef, poultry and seafood, including halal programmes, with plant eligibility confirmed for each market.

Useful reading: Multi-language labelling for exported U.S. food  ·  Container consolidation for food importers  ·  How to become a distributor partner  · How franchise export works ·  all export guides

Become Our Distributor Partner in the Bahamas

Tell us about your market coverage and the products you are looking for, and we will be in touch about a distribution program.