Support a Kiwi Family Business Devastated by US Customs

Last September, our small family business of 8 years invested our entire life savings plus borrowed funds into a $220,000 container of premium Peruvian cacao to secure supply during the global shortage for our 300+ stockists and online customers.

The journey became a nightmare. Production delays meant the container left Peru in December, then spent a month in Colombia and another in Oakland, USA. Expected on 28 Feb, it only arrived in NZ late March — over six months after ordering — leaving us out of stock and cash flow.

When it arrived, US customs had ransacked hundreds of cartons, slicing open every bag. Cacao spilled everywhere, boxes smashed and thrown across the container floor — almost the entire shipment ruined.

The financial blow is crushing. We’ve lost a large portion of $220,000 in stock, facing months of out of stock, and tens of thousands in potential lost revenue. On top, we are spending extra money and countless hours assessing damage, salvaging what we can, cleaning, and disposing of unsalvageable product. Freight and insurance providers refused compensation as they exclude Customs related damages.

As a small family business with two young children (3 and 1), this has placed unbearable financial pressure on us and put the future of our family’s livelihood and our dream with Seleno Health at serious risk.