The absence makes love grow even fonder.
Every parent inside an Indian household cannot stop themselves from sending their taste of home to their children or other family members living abroad.
Be it handmade cookies, or festive sweets and snacks, sharing food in our cultural language is an untold way of saying that special someone, that ‘I Care about you’. However, international shipping of food items is not easy to catch for someone, especially if you are a newbie to the whole process as it is a very comprehensive process involving a sequential level of planning from the start.
Beginning from choosing the right delivery partner, secure packaging and compliance with customs regulations, your packaging of food items has a lot to go through.
Here is your friendly guide to help you navigate the complexity of international shipping.
1. Understand what you can send
‘It is always good to test the waters before taking a giant leap. Accordingly, you must know the restricted/permissible food items for sending items into the Canadian territory.
There are many binding rules which you may have to abide by while sending a package across borders. In general, non-perishable items and commercially packaged foods are permitted which are listed below.
- Snacks & Sweets- All kinds of Namkeens, dried fruits, cookies, chocolates, and other varieties of mithai which don’t require refrigeration.
- Spices & Masalas- Either whole spices or well-grinded ones, you can send a wide array of spices and masalas.
- Pickles- Your favorite lemon or well-rounded vegetable pickles can be sent across only if it’s properly sealed and packaged.
Items to avoid: All perishable items like fruits, fish, vegetables, meats or any kind of homemade items that come with validity are not allowed.
1. Selecting the right courier service
Identifying the one service that works for you is getting critical nowadays.
Considering the fragmented market size, with numerous operators on the horizon, making an informed decision gets tricky.
Although there are many leading players in the market like DHL and FedEx, there are also many local delivery partners, who provide similar services at affordable shipping rates.
Some of the reputable options in the context of international shipping from India to Canada are listed below,
- Brown Post, the leading reliable and affordable international courier service located in Chennai, caters to the diverse needs of customers from individuals to businesses, it comes with the inclusion of value-added services like doorstep pick up till delivery of the packages.
- Parcel Chief, the best international courier delivery partner, specializes in sending documents and other personal courier items.
- DHL, offering a wide range of services encompassing from express to standard shipment, next-day shipments, and online tracking abilities.
2. Secured Packaging
One of the most critical and ignored aspects of international shipments is ensuring that safe and secure packaging has been done.
The importance of packaging is mainly realized in administering the safe delivery of the packages to the recipients.
Specifically, when it comes to sending food items, packaging must be double folded so that those items are in good condition. Here is a list of ticks and trips of doing proper packaging,
- Cushioning- Make sure to bubble wrap all the containers and enclose them in Saturday boxes.
- Airtight containers- Always try locking up all your food items within airtight containers to avoid spillage, leakage and keep it refreshing.
- Labelling- Use clear labels to name each container and also add specific information in case fragile or special items are used.
Pro-Tip: If you are a first time to packaging, it is better to choose a holistic delivery partner who can provide you with end-to-end solutions from consolidating pickup, packaging, and customs support.
3. Customs documentation process
The crucial checkpoint of international shipping is about obtaining customs clearance to make sure your packages are exempted from unnecessary delays that are bound to happen.
It is a series of procedures which requires a complex level of documentation process, and it cannot be done perfectly without the support or guidance of an expert.
Regarding your customs procedure, here is a list of items that you may need,
- Commercial Invoice: Export document acting as proof of evidence stating that transaction has been made.
- Certificate of origin: It’s a document stating the country of origin of the goods.
- Bill of Lading: A receipt entailing the type of goods, quantity and destination.
4. Timing of the shipments
Always check with the delivery partner to see if their services cater to speed and quality.
Accordingly, many service providers offer express and standard courier options which can help the customers in making their product reach faster.
For instance, if you have an urgent shipment of sweets and snacks to be sent addressing festive occasions to your loved ones, you can opt for express services.
5. Next best alternative
If you still miss out on your plan to send the food items to Canada or struggling to navigate the intense process of the international courier service, there is always an alternative option available next to you to help you with your requirements.
To supplement it, many Indian Tiffen centers in Canada can still get you access to homemade Indian foods just like the ones straight from your kitchen. Some of the leading India’s Tiffen centers in Toronto that you can consider are enlisted below,
- Meal Maven– From the comfy kitchens of their home chefs, comes the tastiest Indian menus acting as a one-stop destination for all kinds of home food needs. Covering a wide range of regional flavors and recipes comes with a lip-smacking experience.
- Tiffen Stash- With a wider delivery network, Tiffen Stash offers easy access to healthy and nutritious homemade food delivery service fitting everyone’s budget requirements.
- Bombay Palace Tiffen- Simple and delicious North-Indian foods with an authentic style of home cooking, one can easily avail the option of grab and go.
Wrap-Up
Love waves back from India.
Cross-border shipments have always been tricky, and sending food items is a battlefield of problems.
However, upon gaining a complete understanding of how international courier service providers work, starting from choosing the right delivery partner, one can ensure that their food items have safely arrived.
On the other hand, options like local Indian Tiffen services in Canada are also another source that one can afford to make delicious homecooked food delivered to their loved ones.
Choose the one that fits and serves you right on time to keep the distant love and fondness flourishing.
