To leverage our logistical experience, market knowledge, conservative approach and 40 plus years of reliability to source domestic and imported supplies of food ingredients for our buyers worldwide particularly in North and South America. We guarantee to deliver our supplies on a timely basis, while offering products that are of consistent high quality and priced competitively.
Mercantum began as a sole proprietorship - Mercantum Trading Company - in 1961 when Joseph Christovao, III decided while working nights at the Washington Market precursor of the Hunt's Point Terminal. Market located at what today is Tribeca, to represent a cooperative from his home country of Portugal in the tomato paste industry.
In 1961 the importing business had many levels in order to get the ingredient from the overseas supplier to the North American food processor. Traditionally the overseas supplier would sell his product through an exporter who would generally hire an agent in the importing country who would sell products through an importer who would use a domestic broker and hence finally the product would be sold to the final user. Joseph Christovao, III bypassed this multitude of levels and reached an agency agreement with the Portuguese producer and supplier to deliver the tomato paste directly to the final user.
Mercantum management has 98 years of cumulative experience in logistics and in the food ingredient market. We want to tap that knowledge and grow. We welcome producers of the products that we distribute to contact us to discuss agency representation in North America.
FDA in its recently passed Bioterrorism Act has mandated effective December 12, 2003 that all food processors must be registered with FDA and those processors outside USA must name a US based agent.