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Food & Beverage Import — Pay Nigerian 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 NGN settlement. Free container tracking.

Get a Quote for Your Next Nigerian Payment

Food & 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.

Regulated by
Bank of Canada
PSP under RPAA
Registered with
FINTRAC
MSB: C100000159
Client funds held in
Segregated Tier-1 accounts
Never co-mingled
Published pricing
0.5% spread + £5
No hidden markups. Ever.

These aren't marketing claims — they're regulatory requirements we meet daily.

Save £3,535 per £100k Payment

Typical savings for Food & Beverage Import paying Nigeria suppliers

Traditional Bank
£4,040
FX Spread: 4% + £40 fee
  • ❌ 2-3 day settlement
  • ❌ Hidden FX margins
  • ❌ High correspondent bank fees
  • ❌ Manual compliance checks
£505
FX Spread: 0.5% + £5 fee
  • Settles in seconds — 2.3 second average
  • ✓ Transparent pricing
  • NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) available
  • ✓ 0.14s automated compliance
Your Annual Savings
87%
£3,535 per £100k

At £250k-£2M monthly volume, save £42,420/year

What Challenges Do Food & Beverage Import Businesses Face Paying Nigeria?

Industry Pain Points

  • Perishability creates urgency
  • Demurrage extremely costly for fresh goods
  • Seasonal supply windows
  • Complex compliance (FSA, duty, quotas)

Country-Specific Considerations

  • Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) foreign exchange regulations
  • Form M (Import documentation) required for imports
  • Treasury Single Account (TSA) compliance for government payments
  • SWIFT code verification critical for international transfers

How Do Food & Beverage Import Businesses Typically Pay Nigerian Suppliers?

Fast Settlement: Settles in seconds — 2.3 second average

Use NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) for instant NGN settlement. Nigeria's instant inter-bank payment system, 24/7 availability

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 Nigeria regulations. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) foreign exchange regulations handled automatically.

How Food & Beverage Import Businesses Typically Pay Nigerian 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.

This corridor settles same-day when using our rails — so you can align payments with your supplier terms instead of waiting on your bank.

📄 Invoice Terms

CAD (Cash Against Documents) for perishables. Net 30-60 for wine/spirits. LC for large harvest contracts. 50% deposit for seasonal orders.

Cash Flow Pattern:

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.

Supplier Relationships:

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 Nigeria Supplier Types for Food & Beverage Import

Common Nigeria Suppliers

  • Oil & gas service providers (Lagos, Port Harcourt)
  • Agricultural exporters (Kano, Kaduna)
  • Manufacturing (Lagos, Ogun State)
  • Construction materials (Lagos, Abuja)

Payment Tips for Nigeria

  • Use NIP for instant settlement - avoid SWIFT delays
  • Nigeria = Africa's largest economy, growing trade hub
  • Multiple exchange rates exist - ensure you get interbank rate
  • Oil & gas payments require enhanced due diligence
Typical Transaction Size
£50k-£250k
All payments are subject to standard compliance and sanctions screening. Certain industries and countries not supported.

Frequently Asked Questions: Food & Beverage Import Payments to Nigeria

How do Food & Beverage Import businesses pay suppliers in Nigeria?

Food & Beverage Import businesses can pay Nigeria suppliers instantly using Unicorn Currencies. We offer a 0.5% FX spread with 2.3-second average settlement using local payment rails like NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP). This is significantly faster and cheaper than traditional SWIFT transfers which take 2-3 days.

What banking details do I need for Nigeria Food & Beverage Import suppliers?

To pay Food & Beverage Import suppliers in Nigeria, you need the recipient's NUBAN (10-digit Nigerian Uniform Bank Account 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 Nigeria payments?

Food & Beverage Import businesses typically save 87% compared to traditional banks when paying Nigeria suppliers. On a £100k transaction, that's £3,535 in savings. With Unicorn Currencies, you pay just 0.5% FX spread + £5 per payment vs banks charging 4% spread + £40 fees.

Is container tracking available for Food & Beverage Import shipments from Nigeria?

Yes, Unicorn Currencies offers FREE container tracking for Food & Beverage Import shipments from Nigeria. 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 Nigeria?

Food & Beverage Import businesses typically convert GBP to NGN when paying Nigeria 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 Nigeria Suppliers 87% Cheaper?

Join Food & Beverage Import businesses saving £3,535 per £100k payment with t+0 (2.3s avg within unicorn network).

Bank of Canada registered PSP | FINTRAC licensed MSB