Japanese matcha for Delaware.

Who we supply in Delaware

Wilmington and Newark carry the state's year-round demand, with the University of Delaware driving a student-facing drink market in Newark. The beach towns — Rehoboth, Lewes, Bethany — concentrate a large share of their business into the summer, and their cafe and dessert operators buy accordingly.

• Wilmington independents serving a year-round professional customer base.
• Newark's university market, sharply term-driven.
• Coastal seasonal operators with a summer-weighted year.
• Brands registered in Delaware but operating and warehousing elsewhere.

Shipping to Delaware

The Port of Wilmington handles significant refrigerated and general cargo, but most Japanese food imports for the state route through Philadelphia or New York/New Jersey and truck in — the distances are short enough that the choice rarely matters much. Philadelphia International handles air cargo.

• Ocean: Wilmington, Philadelphia, or New York/New Jersey, all within a short road leg.
• Air: Philadelphia International.
• Onward: the whole state is within about two hours of any of those gateways.

Licensing in Delaware

Federal import requirements apply as everywhere. At state level, the Delaware Health and Social Services Office of Food Protection permits and inspects food establishments across the state. Delaware has no county-level food regulator, so there is one authority to deal with. Confirm your category with them before ordering.

• A single statewide authority makes the licensing question simpler than in most states.
• Delaware has no state sales tax, which affects your retail pricing but not import duties or licensing.

Registered here, operating elsewhere

A large share of the enquiries we get with Delaware addresses are from companies incorporated in the state but operating and warehousing somewhere else entirely — a familiar pattern for anyone who has dealt with US corporate structures.

That is fine, but it matters for the shipment. Import documentation needs to reflect where the goods physically go and who is legally the importer, not just the registered address on the letterhead. A mismatch between the two is one of the more common causes of a slow entry. When you enquire, tell us both: the entity that is importing and the address the pallet is actually going to. If those differ, we will set the documents up accordingly rather than discovering it at the port.

Your first order, step by step

Start with up to two grades of your choice. Free sample kits are available for US businesses. Test them in your own recipes before choosing your first wholesale order.

• Tell us what you serve. Share your menu, milk, cup size, and expected volume.
• Taste with your team. Compare the samples in the drinks your customers order.
• Get a delivery quote. Confirm grade, quantity, and shipping to Wilmington. Wholesale orders ship from Japan.