Throughout 2025, the shifting regulatory landscape has impacted businesses across the specialty food landscape in a variety of ways, from manufacturers and retailers to restaurateurs and, of course, importers. Members of the Specialty Food Association have been sharing their experiences, strategies, and wisdom as we seek to navigate as a community this year's proposed and actual tariffs and laws that shape how food companies operate and grow. Today's interview is with Kylie VanSickle of SFA member British Wholesale Imports (BWI).
Kylie VanSickle shared the story of BWI—a family-run business founded by her mother, Kerry, nearly 40 years ago, after a simple search for a proper cup of tea in Los Angeles.
Today, BWI is one of the largest importers of British goods in the U.S., and 2025 has tested its resilience like never before.
Faced with rising tariffs, shifting regulations, and supply chain disruptions, BWI has had to rethink its operations from the ground up.
Kylie described how the company is responding by implementing a new ERP system to gain better visibility into product performance and costs. This data-driven approach is helping them streamline their catalog, reduce overhead, and make smarter purchasing decisions.
Rather than outsourcing regulatory tracking, BWI manages it internally (often late into the night) driven by the dedication of its family team.
Kylie’s husband spends over 60 hours a week monitoring pricing and compliance changes, a reflection of how deeply embedded these responsibilities have become in their daily operations. The company has already released two price lists this year, a major shift from its usual annual update, in response to rapidly changing import costs and compliance requirements.
Despite the challenges, BWI is returning to its roots: focusing on fewer products, doing them well, and being a reliable source for British staples.
Kylie emphasized that growth is uncomfortable but necessary: “Overall, I think the future is actually really exciting... the cool part about it is that it feels ridiculously tangible.”
For more coverage of how SFA members are navigating regulatory change in 2025 and looking to 2026, check out our LinkedIn Newsletter.