U.S. Food Export to the Philippines

Chihade International supplies American food products to importers, distributors and franchise operators in the Philippines, shipped from our SQF-certified facility in Georgia. We are looking for distributor partners in the Philippines.

Why Philippines

The Philippines is one of the largest U.S. agricultural markets in ASEAN, at roughly $3.5 billion in 2024. Foodservice was forecast at around $14 billion in 2025 across some 96,650 outlets, with chained operators holding 72% share and limited-service restaurants the fastest-growing segment.

Crucially for a supplier like us, most Philippine retailers and foodservice operators do not import directly — they buy from importers and consolidators, and they place small volumes on new products. That makes container consolidation the deciding factor in whether a U.S. brand can realistically enter, and it is exactly what we do.

What We Do From the U.S.

We are a U.S. exporter. We do not operate warehouses or distribution in the Philippines — 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 or Filipino 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

Responsibility is split by product type.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Department of Health, regulates prepackaged processed food for retail, requiring a Licence to Operate for the importer and a Certificate of Product Registration for each product.

The Department of Agriculture covers agricultural goods through its bureaus, including the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service for meat, with a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance required before shipment.

Labels may be in English or Filipino. Halal certification is voluntary and is not an import condition.

Manila International Container Terminal and Manila South Harbor are the container gateways, with Ninoy Aquino International handling air cargo.

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

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.

Do you have a warehouse or office in the Philippines?

No. Chihade International is a U.S. exporter based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and we ship from there. We do not hold stock inside the Philippines. 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.

Who holds the product registration — you or us?

The Philippine importer holds the Licence to Operate and the Certificate of Product Registration. That is one reason the distributor relationship matters so much here: the registrations sit with your business, and we supply against them.

Can you ship mixed pallets for a first order?

Yes, and we usually recommend it for the Philippine market, where retailers characteristically take small volumes on new lines before committing to larger orders.

How We Work With Partners in the Philippines

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 Philippines.
• 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: Export documentation, in plain English  ·  Container consolidation for food importers  ·  How to become a distributor partner  · How franchise export works ·  all export guides

Become Our Distributor Partner in the Philippines

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