SinaFirst Limited
How an idea became a seafood restaurant — with a little help from us
West Africa | FCL | Agent in China “End-to-end”
Sometimes, when you have a clear idea of what you need, the first barrier is the feeling that it’s “too hard.” But in practice, a clear brief plus efficiency can turn big plans into steps you can actually take.
Two entrepreneurs from West Africa came to us with exactly that spirit. They wanted something their city hadn’t seen before — a modern seafood restaurant with professional equipment, proper cold storage, and fresh-seafood displays.
The route sounded simple and was right for the job: source everything in China, buy a 40 ft refrigerated container, load it with all required goods in China, ship it as FCL, and then use that same reefer on site as a walk-in cold room.
Two entrepreneurs from West Africa came to us with exactly that spirit. They wanted something their city hadn’t seen before — a modern seafood restaurant with professional equipment, proper cold storage, and fresh-seafood displays.
The route sounded simple and was right for the job: source everything in China, buy a 40 ft refrigerated container, load it with all required goods in China, ship it as FCL, and then use that same reefer on site as a walk-in cold room.
But the reality was the usual China puzzle: suppliers spread across cities in China, mixed payment terms in USD and RMB, factory visits, consolidation, container loading, and export paperwork. How do you do all that without drowning in coordination?
They asked us to act as their agent in China — a single point of contact, end-to-end on the China side. They provided a clear, practical sourcing list with item descriptions, reference pictures, planned quantities, and notes on what mattered most. Some items were straightforward. Others had details that had to be right.
The scope was huge. Kitchen equipment, including stoves, grills, fryers, and work tables. Refrigeration — cold rooms, blast freezers, fish tanks, and display cases. Power equipment — generators, voltage stabilizers, and solar LED lights. Then interior items — tiles, décor, and CCTV cameras — plus packaging machines and consumables for day-to-day operations. In short, everything a restaurant needs to function.
They asked us to act as their agent in China — a single point of contact, end-to-end on the China side. They provided a clear, practical sourcing list with item descriptions, reference pictures, planned quantities, and notes on what mattered most. Some items were straightforward. Others had details that had to be right.
The scope was huge. Kitchen equipment, including stoves, grills, fryers, and work tables. Refrigeration — cold rooms, blast freezers, fish tanks, and display cases. Power equipment — generators, voltage stabilizers, and solar LED lights. Then interior items — tiles, décor, and CCTV cameras — plus packaging machines and consumables for day-to-day operations. In short, everything a restaurant needs to function.
Once we agreed on the scope and cooperation terms, the process started. For the 40 ft reefer and each item on the list, we sourced suppliers, confirmed specifications, and — under the client’s instructions — visited selected factories in China. Throughout, decisions stayed tight and transparent — timely updates and approvals.
We coordinated China-side logistics and consolidated all goods at our Guangzhou warehouse. Selected items were opened and checked, and any issues were resolved directly with suppliers before shipment.
We coordinated China-side logistics and consolidated all goods at our Guangzhou warehouse. Selected items were opened and checked, and any issues were resolved directly with suppliers before shipment.
As for finance and accounting, the client received one consolidated invoice in EUR, while we handled all supplier payments on our side.
Finally, we arranged container loading in China and managed China export customs clearance. The goods were shipped as FCL with a complete export document pack, and the client cleared them at destination without trouble.
Finally, we arranged container loading in China and managed China export customs clearance. The goods were shipped as FCL with a complete export document pack, and the client cleared them at destination without trouble.
The restaurant opened. The equipment worked. The reefer became their first cold room — exactly as planned. Since then, the client has continued to order consumables, packaging materials, lighting, and generators in China with a little help from us. When something works, you keep doing it.
With efficiency in mind, what seems daunting becomes a straight path — single point of contact, one shipment, one solution. Clear intent, a precise brief, and hands-on management in China make complexity manageable.
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