From branded takeaway packaging to bespoke furniture and commercial kitchen equipment, catering and hospitality businesses source a huge range from China — often at a fraction of UK wholesale prices, and with the branding UK suppliers charge a premium for.
Most catering operators come to us with the same problem: their packaging is unbranded because branded runs from a UK supplier cost too much, and their equipment budget is set by whatever the local distributor happens to stock. Sourcing directly from Chinese manufacturers changes both. The same printed cup that carries a premium from a UK reseller is a standard product at the factory that makes it, and your logo is a print-plate cost rather than a markup.
The trade-off is that you take on the specification and quality work yourself — or you ask someone to do it for you. Food-contact compliance, print colour accuracy and the durability of equipment that runs all day are the three things that go wrong when they are left implicit. We treat them as explicit line items in the specification, verify them before any money moves, and put a physical sample in front of you before the bulk run.
What we source
Printed cups, lids and sleeves
Food containers and takeaway packaging
Paper bags and mailers
Bespoke furniture and fit-out
Commercial kitchen equipment
Staff uniforms and aprons
What to consider
Anything that touches food or drink must meet food-contact requirements — we make that an explicit part of the specification.
Custom-printed items need a physical sample signed off before the bulk run, especially for brand colours.
Commercial kitchen equipment needs the correct UK electrical specification and safety marking; we confirm both before ordering rather than after it lands.
Packaging is bulky relative to its value, so consolidating a full container across cups, containers and bags usually beats shipping each line separately.
Cambridge China Bridge in brief
Buying from Chinese factories since 2021 (the company was incorporated in September 2022), for our own businesses and for clients on the same terms.
Our own staff are based in China, at two bases: the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan) and the Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu). They visit factories themselves.
Quotes to suit how you buy: one delivered price, or an itemised quote with the factory cost, freight, duty and our service fee shown separately. Open-book detail is available on request.
Audits and inspections are usually included in the quote for an order placed with us; complex checks that need a third party are charged extra, agreed first.
Orders run from a first trial to scheduled full containers; the factory’s own minimum is stated in the quote.
In one project, a UK EV charging operator cut unit cost by 70% and scaled 3× faster. In another, a multi-site Cambridge café chain saved 50% on packaging.
A UK company in Cambridge and London: Cambridge China Bridge is the trading name of Piggy Pineapple Ltd, company number 14385590.
Send 1–3 products you buy now and what you pay. We compare the same specification, quantity, inspection and delivery scope to establish a cost benchmark.
A reference call with a past client can be arranged, with that client’s agreement.
Common questions
Can you source food-contact packaging safely?
Yes. We specify and verify food-contact compliance before ordering, and approve a physical sample first.
We are a single site, not a chain. Is our volume too small?
Usually not for packaging, where branding a stock cup or container keeps minimums accessible. We can also consolidate several product lines into one order so a single site reaches a workable volume.
How long does a fit-out order take to arrive?
Furniture and equipment ship by sea, so plan in months rather than weeks once production time is added. We give you the full timeline up front so it can be built into your opening date.
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Margarine and edible fat blends from ChinaMargarine, shortening and edible fat blends from China pay 16% UK duty, or 8% plus £23 per 100 kg with 10-15% milk fat. Spreads naming rules explained.
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Sourcing aluminium gas cylinders from ChinaAluminium cylinders for CO2, diving, medical oxygen and other gases from China pay 6% UK duty, with two listed suspensions. ISO 7866 and approval.
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Fruit presses and crushers from ChinaWine, cider and juice presses, fruit crushers and mills, destemmers and their parts from China pay 0% UK duty. Food-contact steel, hygiene and a worked example.
Milking and dairy equipment from ChinaMilking machines and parlours, portable milkers, milk separators, pasteurisers, butter churns and cheese vats from China pay 0% UK duty. Hygiene and an example.
Pickles and vegetables in vinegar from ChinaGherkins, pickled onions, mushrooms, peppers and other vegetables in vinegar from China pay 0% to 16% UK duty. Drained weight, acidity, labels and an example.
Cooked shrimp and shellfish from ChinaCooked peeled shrimp, crayfish tails, crab meat, clams and sea cucumbers from China pay 8% to 25% UK duty. Listeria limits, allergens and a worked example.
Sourcing frozen shrimp and crayfish from ChinaFrozen shrimp and prawns from China pay 12% UK duty, crayfish and crabs 6%. Approved plants, health certificates, glaze, sulphites and a worked example.
Brined vegetables for processing from ChinaVegetables in brine or sulphur dioxide for further processing, such as cucumbers, mushrooms, capers and olives, pay 0% UK duty from China. Sulphites and tests.
Stevia, rutin and other glycosides from ChinaRebaudioside A, hesperidin, rutin and glycyrrhizin salts from China pay 0% to 6% UK duty, with Reb A and hesperidin suspended to 0%. Food rules and tests.
Hexane and acyclic hydrocarbons from ChinaHexane, pentane, heptane, isooctane, butadiene and isoprene from China pay 0% UK duty. Flammable dangerous goods, food-grade extraction rules and purity tests.
Lecithin, choline and quats from ChinaLecithin from China pays 0% UK duty; choline chloride and quaternary ammonium salts 6%, with listed grades suspended to 0%. GM labels, feed use and an example.
Sourcing natural colours and dyes from ChinaNatural colours from China, such as curcumin, anthocyanins, indigo and carmine, pay 0% UK duty. Food additive rules, border checks and lot tests.
Sourcing enzymes from ChinaEnzymes and enzyme preparations from China pay 0% UK duty. Food, feed and detergent grades, activity testing, sensitiser labelling and a worked example.
Greaseproof and glassine paper from ChinaGreaseproof, glassine, tracing and vegetable parchment paper from China pay 0% UK duty. Food contact rules, grease resistance tests and PFAS questions.
Sourcing gelatin from ChinaGelatin from China pays 0% UK duty but carries a veterinary control. Food, pharmaceutical and technical grades, Bloom strength and source animal.
Sweet potatoes, taro and yams from ChinaTaro, yams and sweet potatoes from China: UK duty is 2% or £5.30 to £7.90 per 100 kg by line, with zero-rated VAT, plant health and cold chain checks.
Ginseng and medicinal herbs from ChinaGinseng roots and dried herbs from China pay 0% UK duty, but CITES, controlled drug, novel food and herbal medicine rules decide what you can sell.
Sourcing coffee beans from ChinaGreen and roasted coffee from Yunnan: UK duty of 0% on green beans and 6% roasted, zero-rated VAT, grading, ochratoxin and acrylamide, with an example.
Sourcing citrus fruit and pomelos from ChinaPomelos, mandarins, oranges and lemons from China: UK duty is 0% on most lines to 2028, plus phytosanitary, marketing standard and cold chain checks.
Phosphoric acid from ChinaPhosphoric acid from China pays 0% UK duty. Food, technical and electronic grades, P2O5 reporting and corrosive packing, with a worked example.
Natural gums and resins from ChinaGum arabic, shellac, tragacanth, benzoin and other natural gums and resins from China pay 0% UK duty. Food additive grades, CITES and controlled drugs.
Sunflower seeds and kernels from ChinaIn-shell sunflower seeds and shelled kernels from China pay 0% UK duty; food is zero-rated, bird food standard-rated. Aflatoxin, cadmium and grading.
Sesame oil and tung oil from ChinaCrude, refined and toasted sesame oil and tung oil from China: 0% to 8% UK duty, zero-rated sesame oil, allergen labels and adulteration tests. Example.
Yeast and baking powder from ChinaInstant dry yeast, active and inactive yeasts, nutritional yeast and baking powder from China pay 0% UK duty and 0% VAT as food. Activity tests and packing.
Dried beans and pulses from ChinaMung beans, adzuki beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils and dried peas from China pay 0% UK duty and 0% VAT. Sprouting seed rules, grading, tests.
Pepper and dried chillies from ChinaBlack pepper, ground pepper, dried chillies, chilli flakes and paprika from China pay 0% to 8% UK duty, with 0% suspensions. Residue tests and example.
Steam boilers from ChinaFiretube and watertube steam boilers, superheated water boilers and boiler parts from China pay 0% UK duty. Pressure equipment rules, EN 12953, example.
Steel storage tanks and vats from ChinaSteel and stainless tanks, vats and silos over 300 litres from China pay 0% UK duty. Pressure equipment rules, food contact, weld inspection and an example.
Branded paper coffee cups from ChinaPrinted takeaway coffee cups from China pay 0% UK duty; plastic lids 6%. What a few cafés can order, lid fit, the polystyrene ban, EPR and an example.
Soft drinks and bubble tea drinks from ChinaSweetened soft drinks, bubble tea and plant drinks from China: 0% to 8% UK duty, some with a sugar or milk component, plus the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.
Dried fruit and goji berries from ChinaDried apricots, prunes, apples, goji berries and mixed dried fruit from China: 0% to 8% UK duty, zero-rated VAT. Residues, sulphites and an example.
Methionine, cysteine and MSM from ChinaMethionine, cysteine, MSM, glutathione and other organo-sulphur compounds from China: 0% or 6% UK duty, with suspensions. Feed, food and supplement rules.
Saccharin and creatine from ChinaSaccharin and creatine monohydrate from China pay 0% UK duty. Sweetener rules, the GB creatine claim, impurity testing and a worked duty example.
Canned tuna, surimi and prepared fishPrepared fish from China pays 12% to 25% UK duty, but all prepared tuna, skipjack and bonito are suspended to 0% until 2028. Border checks and an example.
Dried, salted and smoked fish from ChinaDried, salted and smoked fish from China pays 10% to 14% UK duty and is zero-rated for VAT. Approved plants, health and catch certificates, and an example.
Menthol and cyclic alcohols from ChinaMenthol, benzyl alcohol, inositol, sterols and other cyclic alcohols from China pay 0% UK duty. Flavouring, cosmetic, tobacco and REACH rules, and an example.
Glycols, sorbitol, erythritol and glycerolGlycols and polyols from China pay 0% to 8% UK duty, sorbitol plus a per-100 kg charge, but many enter at 0% under suspensions. Additive rules and an example.
Vanillin and aroma aldehydes from ChinaVanillin, ethyl vanillin, benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and formaldehyde from China pay 4% UK duty. Flavouring rules, fragrance allergens and an example.
Pea protein and protein isolates from ChinaPea protein isolate from China pays 2% UK duty, or 0% at 80% protein until 2028; pea concentrate in 2106 pays 12%. Food law, testing and an example.
Sourcing frozen whole fish from ChinaFrozen whole tilapia, catfish, carp and other fish from China pay 8% UK duty and need an approved plant and border checks. Residues, glaze and a worked example.
Sourcing tomato paste from ChinaTomato paste and canned tomatoes from China pay 14% UK duty, with a narrow 0% suspension for paste in large bins to 2026. Origin, mould and an example.
Sourcing tea from ChinaGreen, black and oolong tea from China pays 0% or 2% UK duty and needs a CHED-D at a border control post. Pesticide limits, labels and a worked example.
Sourcing frozen squid and octopus from ChinaFrozen squid, cuttlefish and octopus from China pay 6% to 10% UK duty by species. Approved plants, catch certificates, cadmium, phosphates and a worked example.
Sourcing bamboo shoots and canned vegetablesCanned bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and other preserved vegetables from China pay 16% UK duty; bulk bamboo shoots are 0% to 2028. Tin, sulphites and more.
Sourcing raisins and sultanas from ChinaRaisins, sultanas and currants from China pay 0% UK duty while a suspension runs to 2028. Ochratoxin A, sulphites, pesticides and a worked example.
Sourcing manual kitchen gadgets from ChinaHand-operated food choppers, mincers, grinders, juicers and similar kitchen gadgets from China pay 2% UK duty. Food contact, blades and a worked example.
Sourcing sesame and pumpkin seeds from ChinaSesame, pumpkin, watermelon, hemp, poppy and other oil seeds from China pay 0% UK duty. Aflatoxin limits, residues, VAT and a worked example.
Sourcing bakery and food processing machineryBakery, confectionery, meat, vegetable, brewery and drink machinery from China pays 0% UK duty. Machinery safety, hygiene and a worked example.
Sourcing plant extracts, pectin and agarPlant extracts, pectin, agar, guar and locust bean gum from China pay 0% UK duty. Additive specifications, novel food rules, contaminants and a worked example.
Sourcing peanuts and canned fruit from ChinaRoasted peanuts and peanut butter from China pay 10–12% UK duty with CHED-D checks; canned mandarins and peaches 16–18%. Aflatoxin, tin and a worked example.
Sourcing walnuts and pine nuts from ChinaWalnuts and chestnuts from China pay 4% UK duty, pine nuts 2% with shelled pine nuts suspended to 0%. Aflatoxin limits, grading and a worked example.
Sourcing dried vegetables from ChinaDried onion, garlic, shiitake and other vegetables from China pay 12% UK duty, with 0% suspensions for several. Pesticides, sulphites and a worked example.
Sourcing soy sauce and condiments from ChinaSoy sauce is suspended to 0% UK duty until 2028; chilli, oyster and other sauces pay 6%, tomato sauces 10%. 3-MCPD, allergens, rice rules and a worked example.
Sourcing copper cookware and homeware from ChinaCopper pans, mugs, kettles, trays, scourers and copper sanitary ware pay 0% UK duty from China. Food contact linings, lead and a worked example.
Sourcing thermometers and hygrometers from ChinaDigital and dial thermometers, clinical thermometers, barometers, hygrometers and weather stations pay 0% UK duty from China. Rules and a worked example.
Sourcing kitchen and folding knives from ChinaKitchen knives, knife sets, table knives, pruning knives and folding knives pay 8% UK duty from China. The UK knife laws, blade tests and a worked example.
Sourcing honey from ChinaNatural honey from China pays 16% UK duty and carries a veterinary control. Approved countries, residue testing, authenticity and honey labelling explained.
Sourcing spices, ginger and turmeric from ChinaGinger, saffron, turmeric, curry powder, thyme, bay leaves and other spices pay 0% UK duty from China. Contaminant limits and food law explained.
Sourcing vitamins from ChinaVitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, C, D and E, their derivatives and natural concentrates pay 0% UK duty from China. Supplement and feed rules explained.
Sourcing cutlery, spoons and forks from ChinaStainless steel spoons, forks, ladles, cake servers and cutlery sets pay 8% UK duty from China; other base metal 4%. Food contact and grades explained.
Sourcing biscuits, cakes and bakery from ChinaBiscuits, wafers, cakes, rusks and savoury snacks pay 8% UK duty from China; crispbread and rice paper carry a per-kilo duty too. Food rules explained.
Sourcing citric acid and food acids from ChinaCitric acid, citrates, tartaric and lactic acid from China: UK duty is now 0% on most lines under suspensions. Purity rules, testing and an example.
Sourcing frozen vegetables from ChinaFrozen peas, beans, spinach, peppers, broccoli, mixed vegetables and potatoes pay 14% UK duty from China; frozen sweetcorn 4% plus £7.80 per 100 kg.
Sourcing weighing scales from ChinaHousehold, shop, platform and crane scales, checkweighers and weighing parts pay 0% UK duty from China. Trade-use approval explained.
Sourcing stainless steel sinks and baths from ChinaStainless steel sinks and washbasins, steel and cast iron baths and other steel sanitary ware pay 0% UK duty from China. Standards and fittings explained.
Sourcing wooden and bamboo kitchenware from ChinaChopping boards, chopsticks, bamboo and wooden tableware and kitchen utensils pay 0% UK duty from China. Food contact and bamboo composites explained.
Sourcing pasta, noodles and dumplings from ChinaNoodles, pasta and dumplings from China are suspended to 0% UK duty until the end of 2028, replacing mixed duties. Animal products and labels explained.
Sourcing food preparations from ChinaBuy protein blends and supplement bases with the recipe, UK tariff, VAT treatment, allergen controls and batch-release evidence agreed before production.
Sourcing aluminium foil from ChinaRetail rolls of aluminium kitchen foil from China pay 7.5% plus 35.6% anti-dumping duty; jumbo rolls and converter foil pay 6%. Gauge, length and food contact.
Sourcing toilet paper and tissue from ChinaToilet paper, facial tissues, kitchen rolls and napkins pay 0% UK duty from China. Ply, sheet count, GSM, packaging and container economics decide it.
Sourcing curtains and blinds from ChinaCurtains pay 12% UK duty from China, nonwoven ones 6%. Fibre labels, blind cord safety, fire performance for contract work and sizing to plan.
Sourcing frozen fish fillets from ChinaFrozen cod and haddock fillets pay 6% UK duty from China, Alaska pollock 12%. Catch certificates, processing statements, IPAFFS and a border control post apply.
Sourcing aluminium cookware from ChinaAluminium pans, bakeware and foil containers pay 6% UK duty from China. Food contact evidence, coatings, induction bases and thickness to check.
Sourcing electric fans and cooker hoods from ChinaFans and cooker hoods pay 2% UK duty from China. Which ecodesign rules apply depends on power: desk fans fall outside, cooker hoods have their own limits.
Sourcing for cafes and hospitalityFrom branded cups to furniture, what independent cafes and restaurants can source from China — and what to watch for.
Sourcing branded reusable coffee cups from ChinaSpecify branded reusable cups from China: material, lid seal, hot-drink use, print method and food-contact evidence, and which cups to avoid for Great Britain.
Commercial fridges and display freezers from ChinaDisplay fridges, bottle coolers, chest and upright freezers and chillers from China pay 0% UK duty. The HFC ban, energy labels, F-gas declarations and checks.
Pizza ovens from China: gas, wood and electricGas, wood-fired and electric pizza ovens from China: 0% or 2% UK duty, gas certification for the exact model, food-contact stones and a fired sample.
Commercial ice makers and ice machines from ChinaCommercial ice machines from China for cafés, bars and restaurants: 0% UK duty, the F-gas refrigerant checks, food contact, water fittings, and the deposit.
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