Premium, or not at all
We would rather lose a line than win it with product we would not put in front of our own customers.
Who we are
Royal Trade is a fully licensed US broker and a customs-bonded importer of record for premium packaged food. We began in canned and frozen seafood — sardines, anchovies and mackerel — and today we import across the whole packaged aisle: capers, olives and olive oil; dates and figs; marinated and frozen vegetables; honey; pasta, rice and pulses; sauces, condiments, nuts and snacks.
We take pride in partnering with some of the most technologically advanced and environmentally responsible plants and manufacturers in the world — in Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Greece and Mexico. Those manufacturers are themselves pioneers in premium packaged and canned food, and we bring an array of second-to-none products from them into the US market.
We do business with some of the most respected distributors in the United States and elsewhere. The suppliers we represent produce sustainably year-round, which is what lets us meet demand efficiently and on time rather than seasonally and with apologies.
What guides the work
Six things we will not trade away
Eco-friendly by choice
Environmental performance is part of how we select a plant, not a certificate we go looking for afterwards.
Supply that holds
Year-round production behind every program, so your shelf does not empty out between harvests.
One point of accountability
As importer of record we own the entry. When something needs chasing, there is exactly one number to call.
Paperwork done properly
Specifications, certificates, artwork and label review handled before production — not renegotiated at the port.
Relationships over transactions
Most of our volume goes to buyers we have worked with for years. That is the whole business model.
Our manufacturers
Chosen for the plant, not the price list
A supplier relationship starts with a visit and a specification, and it only continues if the plant keeps meeting it. That is why the list is short.
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Technologically advanced facilities
Modern lines, in-house laboratories and traceability systems that can answer a question about a lot from two years ago.
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Environmentally responsible operations
Water, waste and energy performance we are comfortable putting our name next to.
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Category specialists
Each plant is a genuine leader in what it makes, rather than a generalist that will quote anything.
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Capacity to grow with you
Room to scale a program from a trial pallet to a standing monthly container without changing supplier.
Import & compliance
We take title, so you do not take the risk
Being the importer of record is not a formality. It means the entry, the documentation and the responsibility for the shipment sit with Royal Trade — and you buy domestically, from a US company, on domestic terms.
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Licensed US broker
Authorized to transact on your behalf, with the customs bond that an importer of record is required to carry.
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Entry and documentation
Prior notice, entry filing, duties and the certificates each category requires — prepared before the vessel arrives.
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Label review before print
US labeling requirements checked against artwork at the design stage, which is the cheapest time to fix them.
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Delivered where you need it
Port, distribution center or warehouse — including temperature-controlled lanes for the frozen range.
Who you'll deal with
Small company, direct line
Zak Elasri
Founder
Zak founded Royal Trade to do one thing properly: bring premium, responsibly made food from the Mediterranean and beyond into the US market without the usual friction. He handles supplier relationships personally, and on most accounts he is the person you will speak to from the first call through to the standing order.
Our vision is to always be the leader in the industry through importing and selling premium and eco-friendly food products.
Zak Elasri Founder, Royal Trade LLC
Start with a conversation
Twenty minutes is usually enough to work out whether we are the right importer for what you are trying to put on shelf.