Florida Company Makes Sales to Europe without Leaving the U.S.

In June 2025, Douglas and Benjamin Lapin from Ben’s Best Charcuterie traveled to Houston, Texas to meet with European buyers as part of a SUSTA trade mission. They introduced their halal and kosher charcuterie and jerky to four European buyers during the trade mission. In the months following the event, the Bradenton, Florida-based small business secured a sale to the United Kingdom in the five figures, which should be the first of many. Importation of U.S. Meat into Europe is a challenge and the USDA only has about 150 U.S. companies which are authorized to do so. Now that the first shipment has been successful, other European companies introduced to Ben's Best by SUSTA have indicated that they will also be purchasing. Europe could easily be a multi-million dollar market for Ben's Best &mdash Thanks to SUSTA.

This sale and new customer are a direct result of their participation in the SUSTA trade mission. Douglas Lapin, Ben's Best's CEO said, "I love SUSTA. They have only been a help to us. We could have never broken into the European market &mdash which is huge for us &mdash but for their help."

This success is due to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.