Must-Read Guide for Starting an Imported Snack Franchise Store: 2026 Customs Compliance & Pitfall Avoidance

Last year,I worked with Ms.Bi from Jiangsu,who operated 3 community-based snack franchise stores in Suzhou.Previously,she hired a local small freight forwarder to import Thai dried mangoes.Since the overseas manufacturer had not completed registration under GACC Decree 248,the entire batch worth RMB 120,000 was directly detained and destroyed by customs,plus additional expenses of RMB 30,000 for demurrage and disposal fees,wiping out the entire quarter’s profits.I encounter at least 20 such cases every year,mostly due to franchise store owners’ lack of knowledge about import compliance rules,leading to avoidable pitfalls.

Core Access Standards for Imported Food Sources for Snack Franchise Stores in 2026

In 2026,customs has adjusted the inspection weight for imported pre-packaged snacks; three items account for 70%: additive compliance,label compliance,and overseas manufacturer qualification.Access requirements vary greatly across different categories,as summarized below:

Core Paths to Reduce Import Costs for Snack Franchise Stores in 2026

Many franchise store owners think imported goods are expensive,but by applying the right rules,at least 15%-20% of sourcing costs can be reduced.I have sorted out three practical operational methods:

• For imported snacks from RCEP member countries such as ASEAN,Japan,South Korea,Australia and New Zealand,ask overseas manufacturers to apply for a certified Certificate of Origin in advance to enjoy tariff reductions of 5%-18%.Last year,Mr.Huo from Hangzhou imported Japanese and South Korean candies,saving RMB 270,000 from this item alone in a year.
• Shanghai ports offer an advanced pre-review channel for pre-packaged foods,with documents submitted for review 7 days in advance,making customs clearance 3-5 days faster than at other ports,which can avoid additional expenses such as demurrage and container rental.Calculated for a 20-foot container,nearly RMB 2,000 in hidden costs can be saved per shipment.
• After signing a purchase contract with overseas suppliers for more than 3 months,you can simultaneously apply for foreign exchange locking to fix the settlement exchange rate,avoiding exchange losses caused by exchange rate fluctuations.During the euro fluctuation period in the second half of 2025,many franchise stores that did not lock exchange rates saw their sourcing costs rise by 8% for no reason.

High-Risk Pitfall Avoidance Reminders for Snack Franchise Stores

When engaging in imported snack agency,many risks can be avoided in advance.Do not touch three high-frequency red lines:

First is the Chinese label pitfall,Many small freight forwarders do not provide professional label pre-review services,so they will make Chinese labels by copying templates casually.Once customs finds irregularities in ingredient listing or incomplete additive labeling during inspections,the goods will be detained in a supervised warehouse for rectification,which takes at least 7 days.Demurrage and container stuffing fees can cost thousands of yuan per day.In serious cases,direct return is required.Zhongshitong has a dedicated food label review team,with a 100% pass rate for pre-reviewed labels,eliminating such issues.

Second is overseas manufacturer qualification fraud,Some overseas suppliers provide fake GACC registration certificates or quarantine certificates,and domestic franchise store owners cannot distinguish them,leading to the goods being detained and destroyed upon arrival.Zhongshitong’s global agency network can verify the real qualifications of overseas manufacturers in advance,arrange shipment only after confirming compliance with access requirements,avoiding detention risks at the source.

Last is the hidden fee pitfall in freight forwarder quotations,Many small freight forwarders only quote basic freight and customs declaration fees,but add extra fees such as document exchange fees,terminal operation fees,and inspection service fees after the goods arrive.The final settlement cost is 20%-30% higher than the initial quotation.Zhongshitong’s quotations are fully transparent,with all fees listed in advance,no hidden charges,and cross-port declarations available nationwide.No matter which city your store is in,you can connect to Shanghai’s compliance resources.

The core competitiveness of snack franchise stores lies in the stability and cost-effectiveness of their supply sources.Do not choose non-compliant suppliers or freight forwarders just to save small amounts of money—once you fall into a pitfall,you will lose several months’ profits.Only by complying with the supply chain can you achieve long-term stable profitability.