Company History

In December 1998, with 7 years of experience as a purchasing manager for a large gourmet food importer, Scott P. Hall created Occidental International Foods.  In his years of negotiating contracts and traveling internationally to import a variety of gourmet foods, Mr. Hall established contact and friendship with many reliable exporters overseas.   

In the early years of his new business Mr. Hall worked primarily as an agent for overseas producers, marketing container-load quantities of various bulk spices to direct importers in the United States, Canada and Central America. 

Recognizing the need on the part of many of his clients and potential clients for high quality bulk spices at competitive prices in less than container-load quantities, Occidental International Foods gradually emerged as a direct importer.  The items or greatest strength included Paprika from Spain, Pure Cayenne Chili, Crushed S4 Chilies, Madras Curry Powder and Turmeric from India, Garlic Powder & Granulated Garlic from China, Cardamom from Guatemala, Allspice from Mexico, and Pure Mancha Saffron from Spain.  Occidental Foods began maintaining inventory and selling product in pallet quantities to many new kinds of clients, including manufacturers using spices as ingredients in their products, bulk spice distributors, foodservice distributors and spice packers buying bulk product for re-packing into foodservice and retail containers. 

Over the years Mr. Hall carefully developed relationships with new overseas suppliers and expanded the range of products, and today Occidental Int’l Foods imports a broad range of high quality bulk spices, herbs & seeds and sells regularly to clients throughout North America.  Our office is located in Chester, NJ and our warehouse is in Port Newark, NJ 07114.