Importing Food Trucks to New Zealand with Platinum®
0800 166 716As one of New Zealand’s leading customs clearance brokers, we have the expertise to provide you with hassle-free customs clearance service for food trucks.
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About Food Truck Trailers
Introduction to Food Trailers
Food trailers are taking New Zealand’s culinary scene by storm, offering innovative and flexible solutions for food entrepreneurs and seasoned restaurateurs. These mobile kitchens provide a cost-effective way to launch or expand a food business without the overheads of a traditional brick-and-mortar establishment.
Whether you serve gourmet street food, operate a coffee bar, or offer food truck catering for events, a food trailer allows you to bring your culinary creations directly to customers.
Importing food trailers has become an attractive choice for those seeking unique designs or advanced features. Partnering with Platinum® allows you to make your food trailer import process efficient and straightforward, ensuring that you receive your dream food trailer with minimal hassle.
Why Import Food Trailers to New Zealand?
While there are options to purchase food trailers locally, importing food trailers from overseas can offer significant advantages in terms of style, quality, and cost. Here is why so many entrepreneurs are choosing the importing option for their food truck ventures.
International suppliers frequently provide innovative designs and advanced features that are not commonly available in New Zealand. Importing allows you to choose from a wider array of customisations, including specialised kitchen setups and unique exterior branding.
Due to lower production costs and economies of scale, imported food trailers can be more affordable compared to locally manufactured units. Furthermore, international suppliers often include efficient assembly options, ensuring that the food trailer is ready for use upon arrival.
Talk to a Food Trucks Customs Broker™ Today
Benefits of Importing Food Trailers
Affordable Business Investment
Food trailers eliminate the high startup costs of opening a full-scale restaurant. They are compact, efficient, and designed to make the most out of every square metre. Whether you are just starting out or adding to an existing brand, food trailers offer an affordable path to business growth.
Freedom and Mobility
One of the most significant advantages of food trailers is their mobility. You can set up shop at concerts, festivals, markets, or even private events. This adaptability allows your business to find the most profitable locations and attract diverse customer bases.
Quick Setup and Flexibility
Imported food trailers generally arrive in New Zealand ready to operate (sometimes the food trailers arrive with the wheels fitted, sometimes not). Most food trailers arrive fully equipped with the essential kitchen features like stainless steel bench tops, exhaust fans, a fridge and or a freezer, allowing you to hit the ground running with minimal setup needed. Food trailer imports can be customised; you can tailor the food trailer to meet your specific catering needs. Most overseas suppliers can even arrange the external artwork on the food trailer before it is shipped to New Zealand.
Expanding Revenue Opportunities
Adding a food trailer to your business may open a new revenue stream. From roadside sales and event catering to partnerships with local businesses, the opportunities are plentiful. A well-branded food trailer can also enhance your visibility, helping attract more customers.
Unique Design Options
Imported food trailers often have cutting-edge designs that stand out from conventional layouts. These designs enhance functionality and create an eye-catching storefront that sets your business apart.
The Process of Importing Food Trailers
At first, importing a food trailer into New Zealand may appear complex, but Platinum® simplifies the process so that you can focus on launching your culinary business.
1. Selecting a Supplier
Begin by researching credible international suppliers. Consider their design options, potential for customisation, kitchen layouts, and the materials used. Once you have selected your overseas supplier, Platinum® can liaise with you and your supplier to make sure that all issues can be addressed.
2. Before you make a deposit – contact the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi
Before you make a deposit for the food trailer, contact the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi and confirm with them if there are any registration or licensing issues for your particular trailer. This is also a good time to ask the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi about the registration process once your food trailer arrives in New Zealand.
3. Packaging and Transport
Most food trailers will be shipped from overseas to New Zealand ready for use and will either be shipped as LCL (sharing space with other people’s goods inside a shipping container) or the food trailer will be shipped solely in a FCL (not sharing space with any other person’s cargo). However, your overseas supplier ships the food trailer is exactly how you will receive the food trailer. It is extremely important to receive photos before the food trailer is shipped from overseas to New Zealand.
4. Check Documentation & Compliance
Platinum® will liaise directly with you and your overseas supplier together to ensure that all of the required paperwork, such as the (1) commercial invoice, (2) packing list, (3) bill of lading, (4) packing declaration, (5) Free Trade Certificate, and a (6) stamped marine insurance certificate is in order. This meticulous step ensures that the food trailer will pass through the New Zealand border with ease.
5. Shipping Logistics
Your overseas supplier will either package and deliver your food trailer to a sea freight depot for consolidation into the shipping container with other people’s cargo or your supplier will package the food trailer into the shipping container at their premise before delivering the packaged shipping container to the wharf for shipping to New Zealand. Platinum® will monitor your shipment during its voyage to New Zealand.
6. Customs Clearance
Before your food trailer arrives in New Zealand, Platinum® will have pre-cleared it through both the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Our pre-arrival clearance strategy ensures that your trailer is ready for possession without delays.
7. Arrival and Collection
If your food trailer has arrived into New Zealand in a shipping container sharing space with other people’s cargo, the shipping container will be taken from the wharf to a sea freight unpack depot. Once the shipping container has been unpacked, you will generally have three free business days to collect the goods. Most importers (1) collect the packaged food trailer themselves, (2) have a transport carrier collect the food trailer on their behalf or (3) ask Platinum® to deliver the food trailer to their address or to a mechanic for assessment and fitting.
8. FCL - Full Container Load
If your food trailer has arrived into New Zealand in a shipping container not sharing space with other people’s cargo, the shipping container is your responsibility and therefore, Platinum® will collect the Full Container Load (FCL) from the wharf, then take the FCL to the Approved Transitional Facility (ATF) to be unpacked. Platinum® will return the empty shipping container to the wharf as the shipping line generally only allows you seven (7) free calendar days from the moment the vessel arrives into New Zealand before they charge you rent/detention charges.
9. Setup and Final Preparation
Once the food trailer is in your possession, it is time for you to prepare it for operation. Have a licensed electrician and plumber check things over, have the equipment connected and start business. At this final stage – this is your first stage of having a mobile business.
Talk to a Food Trucks Customs Broker™ Today
How Platinum® Simplifies the Import Process
When you partner with Platinum® you will experience peace of mind throughout the food trailer importing process. Platinum® possesses extensive experience in food trailer customs clearances, we have assisted dozens of food entrepreneurs streamline each step of the importing process.
Expertise in Customs Clearance
Navigating the New Zealand border customs clearance requirements for food trailers is no easy feat, it is extremely overwhelming and time restrictive.
We provide expert guidance to food trailer importers from the very early stage through to the final stage. Platinum® understands what is required to have the food trailer processed through both the NZCS and the MPI. Platinum® resolves any potential issues before they even arise, saving you time and stress.
Mastering International Shipping
Platinum® ‘watches’ your food trailer shipment from the moment it departs until it arrives in New Zealand. Platinum® liaises with both you and your overseas supplier. Our logistics expertise ensures a cost-efficient and timely delivery every time.
Transparent Communication
Our experts keep you updated at each stage of the shipping and importing process. From the moment that your food trailer departs from the overseas port until it is in your possession, Platinum® ensures that you are in the loop.
Proven Track Record
With decades of customs clearance experience and successful food trailer imports, Platinum® is able to say that we are the experts in food trailer imports. Entrepreneurs across New Zealand trust Platinum® to turn their mobile food trailer businesses into a reality.
Frequently Asked Questions Importing Food Trailers
How much does it cost to import a food trailer to New Zealand?
The cost of importing a food trailer will depend on whether you are importing a food trailer that will travel as LCL or as FCL cargo. Once you have found your overseas food trailer supplier, please ask them for a proforma invoice and then contact Platinum® for a detailed estimate of costs.
Do imported food trailers comply with New Zealand regulations?
Before you make a deposit for the food trailer, contact the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi and confirm with them if there are any registration or licensing issues for your particular food trailer. This is also a good time to ask NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi about the registration process once your food trailer does arrive into New Zealand.
How long does it take to import a food trailer?
Shipping times can vary between four to eight weeks, depending on where your food trailer’s manufacturing base is located and the chosen sea route. When you rely on Platinum®, the process will go smoothly.
Can Platinum® help source reliable suppliers?
We are unable to advise where our current customers purchase their food trailers from, but once you have found your supplier, we will liaise with both you and your supplier.
Do imported food trailers come equipped with kitchens?
Most food trailers that Platinum® sees have stainless steel kitchens, exhaust fans, fridges and/or freezers, and sometimes even a cash register.
Start Your Food Trailer Journey with Platinum®
If you have been dreaming about launching a mobile food business or expanding into food truck catering, importing a food trailer could be your game-changing solution. Rely upon Platinum® to guide you through each stage of the logistics and customs process.
Reach out to Platinum® today for a personalised consultation and estimate. Rely upon Platinum® to realise your dream while ensuring a smooth and professional importing experience.