AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
To sell Nigerian groceries to a Canadian supermarket you first need to be a lawful food importer: the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations prohibit importing food without a licence, and licence holders must keep a written preventive control plan, lot-level traceability records and a recall procedure tested every 12 months. On top of that, the retailer will set its own listing terms, labels and insurance requirements, which you agree with its category buyer.
Garri, palm oil, egusi, plantain chips and seasoning cubes sell well to Nigerian and wider African shoppers in Canada, and many supermarkets now run world food aisles. Getting a product onto those shelves is a two-part job. The first part is regulatory: you must be allowed to import and sell the food. The second is commercial: a retailer has to agree to list it, on its terms. This article takes them in that order, because a buyer will usually ask about the first before discussing the second.
Part one: becoming a licensed food importer
The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) are the rule book. Section 5(2) says a person may not import food unless authorised by a licence, with narrow exceptions in section 11(2), such as food additives and drinks above 0.5% alcohol. Whether you need a licence for your specific products is covered in do you need an SFC licence to import Nigerian food; for most packaged foods sold to retailers, assume you do.
- Licence term: section 33 says a licence expires two years after issue or renewal.
- Imported food standard: section 11 requires imported food to meet a standard that provides at least the same level of protection as the Canadian requirements in sections 47 to 81.
- Fixed place of business: section 12 says an importer without a fixed place of business in Canada needs one in a country whose food safety system Canada recognises, and the food must be shipped directly. In practice a Canadian address keeps this simple.
- Import information: section 13 requires your name and address, the first destination in Canada and the common name and quantity of the food, given before or at the time of import.
The preventive control plan
Section 86 requires each licence holder to prepare, keep and maintain a written preventive control plan (PCP) for each licensed activity. Section 89 sets out what it covers: hazards, control measures, monitoring, corrective action and verification, and, for importers, how you meet the section 11 standard for your suppliers. Section 86(3) narrows the requirement for licence holders with food gross sales of CAN$100,000 or less, which helps a new importer but does not remove the plan. Supporting documents are kept for two years.
For Nigerian products, the PCP is where you show that you know your supplier. Expect to hold the manufacturer's details, its NAFDAC registration where it has one, product specifications and any test results, and to explain how you check each lot on arrival.
Traceability and recalls
Section 90 requires anyone who imports food and supplies it to others to keep documents including a lot code or other unique identifier, and the names and addresses of suppliers and customers. Section 84 requires a recall procedure with named contacts, a recall simulation at least once every 12 months, and immediate notice to the Minister if a recall is needed because of a health risk. Supermarket buyers often ask to see your last mock recall, so keep the record.
Labels
Labels are where many Nigerian products fall short on arrival: packs printed for the Nigerian market rarely meet Canadian requirements for language, nutrition information and the importer's details. Re-labelling in Canada is common, but it has to be done before the goods are sold and recorded in your plan. The detail is in bilingual labels on imported Nigerian food and, for oils, palm oil labelling rules. Retailers will also want a scannable product barcode; ask the buyer which system it accepts.
Part two: getting a listing
Each chain sets its own supplier process, and we have not found a public, official standard for it. What buyers commonly ask a new supplier for:
- A vendor or new item form with product specifications, pack sizes, case dimensions and shelf life.
- Your SFC licence number and a summary of your preventive control plan.
- Proof of insurance, often with the retailer named on the certificate.
- Wholesale price, suggested retail price and promotional support you will fund.
- Delivery terms: direct to store, to a distribution centre, or through a distributor the chain already uses.
Smaller independent and ethnic grocers are often a quicker first step, and a track record there helps when you approach a larger chain. Some importers sell through an established distributor instead of listing directly; you give up margin but gain the distributor's existing listings and logistics.
Insurance
The Insurance Bureau of Canada lists the main business covers: commercial general liability (claims that your product or business caused injury or damage), commercial property for stock and equipment, business interruption as an add-on, and commercial auto if you deliver. For a food importer, ask the broker directly whether product liability and product recall costs are included, what limits the retailer requires, and whether imported goods from Nigeria change the premium. Get the answer in writing before you sign a supply agreement.
Worked example: what a listing costs before the first sale
Example only, using round numbers: CAN$1,200 a year for insurance, CAN$900 for re-labelling a first shipment of 3,000 packs, and CAN$600 for lab tests your plan calls for. That is CAN$2,700 before freight or duty, or CAN$0.90 per pack on 3,000 packs. Run your own figures; a buyer will ask whether your wholesale price covers them.
Where Pryme fits
Nigerian manufacturers often price in naira or dollars. A Pryme business account holds NGN and USD with local account details, so you can pay suppliers in the currency they invoice and convert with Swap when you choose, seeing the rate and fee before you approve. A verifiable statement from Pryme receipts can support the supplier payment trail your plan and your buyer may ask about.
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence to sell Nigerian food to Canadian supermarkets?
If you import it, yes in most cases. The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations prohibit importing food without a licence, with narrow exceptions such as food additives and alcoholic drinks.
How long does an SFC licence last?
Section 33 of the regulations says it expires two years after it was issued or renewed.
Do small importers need a preventive control plan?
Yes. Licence holders with food gross sales of CAN$100,000 or less have a narrower requirement under section 86(3), but still need a written plan.
What insurance do supermarkets ask food suppliers for?
Usually commercial general liability with the retailer named on the certificate. Limits and recall cover vary by chain, so ask the buyer and your broker.
Sources
- Justice Laws: Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, SOR/2018-108 · accessed Oct 2026
- Insurance Bureau of Canada: Types of business insurance coverage · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.