Bring your food brand to China. We handle the hard part.
From GACC registration and labeling to customs and distributors, East by North gets European food and drink producers into the Chinese market — with teams on the ground in Helsinki and Shanghai.
East by North — from the North to the East
Everyone wants the China market. Almost no one feels ready for it.
- 01
GACC registration feels like a black box — and one mistake means rejected shipments.
- 02
Chinese labeling rules are strict, exact, and change without much warning.
- 03
Customs holds anything that isn't documented perfectly.
- 04
Finding a distributor you can trust from thousands of kilometres away is its own gamble.
This is exactly what we do — every week.
East by North turns China's regulations from a risk into a process. We manage the filings, the labels, the customs paperwork and the local partnerships, with people in both Europe and China. You keep making the product.
From Nordic kitchens to Chinese tables
Three ways we get you to market.
Get China-ready
The regulatory groundwork that decides whether your product clears customs — done right the first time.
- GACC / CIFER registration
- Label & document review
- Customs compliance
Enter the market
Everything between "compliant" and "on the shelf" — the market knowledge and the right local partners.
- Market research & sizing
- Trademark protection
- Distributor matching
Export from Europe
The European side of the trade — documentation, readiness and funding in order before you ship.
- Export readiness audit
- Trade documentation
- EU promotion-grant support
Four steps, one team.
A clear route from idea to shelf — and it starts with a free assessment.
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Step 01
Free assessment
We review your product, target market and readiness.
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Step 02
Register & comply
GACC filing, labels and documentation, handled.
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Step 03
Enter
Distributor, logistics and launch into the market.
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Step 04
Grow
Ongoing support as your presence in China builds.
Brands we've already helped into China.
Linkosuon Leipomo
Export expansion to China for healthier snacks — product approval and distributor negotiation.
Bakery · China entry
Fortune Falls
Chinese-market cooperation, including Team Finland participation at CIIE Shanghai 2018.
China entry · CIIE
Fennopromo
Export consulting to Asian markets with strategic market-entry guidance.
Export consulting · Asia
Vanajan Keksit
Chinese market analysis, SWOT assessment and partnership development.
Market analysis · partnership
Ruokatieto · Finfood
A three-year EU-programme promotional campaign (€3M budget) targeting the Chinese market.
EU promotion · China
One team. Both continents.
Most consultants sit on one side of the trade. We work on both — which is exactly where China market entry succeeds or fails.
On the ground in China
Our Shanghai team speaks the language, knows the regulators, and works in the windows that matter.
Rooted in Europe
Local, accountable, and easy to reach when you need answers.
Food and beverage only
We know your category's rules — not a hundred others.
The ones we hear most.
Clear, honest answers to the questions producers bring us first.
How does GACC registration actually work?
GACC (China's customs administration) requires overseas food producers to be registered before their products can be imported. We prepare the filing, align your manufacturer, exporter and brand details, and coordinate submission through the CIFER system. Full explanation →
How long until my product is on shelves in China?
It depends on your product category and import route. Registration and label compliance are the critical path; we map a realistic timeline for your specific product in the free assessment.
Do you work with small producers?
Yes. We work with producers of all sizes — the assessment is the same, and it's free. If China isn't the right move yet, we'll tell you.
Full-service support, when you need it.
Check your product against Chinese standards before you ship.
Protect your brand in China before someone else claims it.
Test fit, positioning and price with real Chinese consumers.
Find out if your product is China-ready — for free.
A short assessment shows you exactly what it takes to bring your brand to China. No cost, no commitment.
Shanghai
Unit 933, 9th Floor, Zhongqi Office Building,2000 Zhongshan North Road, 200063 Shanghai, China