Food & Beverage Import — Pay Canadian Suppliers Faster, Cheaper
Perishable goods and slow bank payments don't mix.. And your bank makes it worse — 3-day settlements, 2-4% hidden FX spreads, and zero visibility into what your payments actually cost.
We built payment infrastructure for food & beverage import businesses. 0.5% spreads. Same-day CAD settlement. Free container tracking.
Get a Quote for Your Next Canadian PaymentFood & Beverage Import margins are too thin to donate 2-4% to your bank on every supplier payment.
Before we show you a single number, know this: we are regulated, audited, and transparent. Our pricing is published. Our client funds are segregated. These aren't marketing claims — they're regulatory requirements we meet daily.
These aren't marketing claims — they're regulatory requirements we meet daily.
Save £2,025 per £100k Payment
Typical savings for Food & Beverage Import paying Canada suppliers
- ❌ 2-3 day settlement
- ❌ Hidden FX margins
- ❌ High correspondent bank fees
- ❌ Manual compliance checks
- ✓ Settles in seconds — 2.3 second average
- ✓ Transparent pricing
- ✓ Interac e-Transfer for Business available
- ✓ 0.14s automated compliance
At £250k-£2M monthly volume, save £24,300/year
What Challenges Do Food & Beverage Import Businesses Face Paying Canada?
Industry Pain Points
- Perishability creates urgency
- Demurrage extremely costly for fresh goods
- Seasonal supply windows
- Complex compliance (FSA, duty, quotas)
Country-Specific Considerations
- Bank of Canada and FINTRAC oversight
- GST/HST (5-15% depending on province) documentation
- Business Number (BN) required for tax purposes
- PIPEDA compliance for data privacy
How Do Food & Beverage Import Businesses Typically Pay Canadian Suppliers?
Fast Settlement: Settles in seconds — 2.3 second average
Use Interac e-Transfer for Business for instant CAD settlement. Instant business payments up to CAD $25,000, email-based
Real-Time FX Exposure Tracking
Upload supplier invoices as PDFs. Our AI OCR extracts amounts and currencies. See exactly what waiting costs you in real-time. Lock rates for 15 seconds when you see a good rate.
0.14s Compliance Screening
Automated compliance checks for Canada regulations. Bank of Canada and FINTRAC oversight handled automatically.
How Food & Beverage Import Businesses Typically Pay Canadian Suppliers
If you're importing in this sector, you're likely dealing with a mix of payment terms. Here's how they work — and why speed matters.
⏱ Payment Timing
Payment on container release (perishables) or Net 30 (shelf-stable). Wine/spirits: Net 60-90 for established suppliers.
📄 Invoice Terms
CAD (Cash Against Documents) for perishables. Net 30-60 for wine/spirits. LC for large harvest contracts. 50% deposit for seasonal orders.
Highly seasonal: Harvest windows (Southern hemisphere Jan-Apr, Northern Jul-Oct). Christmas peak for alcohol. Easter for lamb.
📊 FX Risk Profile
MODERATE-HIGH: EUR (60% of wine imports), AUD/NZD (seasonal), ZAR (wine/fruit). Harvest timing creates concentrated FX exposure windows.
Direct estate relationships (wine), cooperatives (olive oil), agents (fresh produce). Harvest allocations require advance commitments.
Common Documentation for Food & Beverage Import
- Health Certificate (country-specific)
- Phytosanitary Certificate (produce)
- Certificate of Origin (duty rates)
- VI-1 Form (wine imports to UK)
- Veterinary Certificate (meat/dairy)
Popular Canada Supplier Types for Food & Beverage Import
Common Canada Suppliers
- Resource extraction equipment (Calgary, Edmonton)
- Auto parts manufacturers (Toronto, Windsor)
- Agricultural suppliers (Winnipeg, Regina)
- Aerospace components (Montreal, Winnipeg)
Payment Tips for Canada
- Canada = Natural resources leader, manufacturing hub (auto, aerospace)
- Interac e-Transfer fastest for payments under CAD $25k
- Strong US trade ties - many suppliers serve both markets
- Provincial tax variations - HST rates differ by region
Frequently Asked Questions: Food & Beverage Import Payments to Canada
How do Food & Beverage Import businesses pay suppliers in Canada?
Food & Beverage Import businesses can pay Canada suppliers instantly using Unicorn Currencies. We offer a 0.5% FX spread with 2.3-second average settlement using local payment rails like Interac e-Transfer for Business. This is significantly faster and cheaper than traditional SWIFT transfers which take 2-3 days.
What banking details do I need for Canada Food & Beverage Import suppliers?
To pay Food & Beverage Import suppliers in Canada, you need the recipient's Institution + Transit (9-digit transit number and 3-digit institution number), account number, and beneficiary name. Our platform validates these details automatically to ensure successful payment delivery.
How much can Food & Beverage Import businesses save on Canada payments?
Food & Beverage Import businesses typically save 80% compared to traditional banks when paying Canada suppliers. On a £100k transaction, that's £2,025 in savings. With Unicorn Currencies, you pay just 0.5% FX spread + £5 per payment vs banks charging 2.5% spread + £30 fees.
Is container tracking available for Food & Beverage Import shipments from Canada?
Yes, Unicorn Currencies offers FREE container tracking for Food & Beverage Import shipments from Canada. You receive real-time visibility into your cargo, including demurrage alerts to help avoid costly port storage fees. This feature is included at no extra cost with your payment account.
What currencies do Food & Beverage Import businesses typically use with Canada?
Food & Beverage Import businesses typically convert GBP to CAD when paying Canada suppliers. Unicorn Currencies provides live exchange rates with a transparent 0.5% spread, and you can lock rates for 15 seconds when you see a favorable rate. Our AI-powered invoice OCR can automatically extract amounts and currencies from supplier invoices.
Ready to Pay Canada Suppliers 80% Cheaper?
Join Food & Beverage Import businesses saving £2,025 per £100k payment with t+0 (2.3s avg within unicorn network).
Bank of Canada registered PSP | FINTRAC licensed MSB