Seymour Binstein

Seymour Binstein founded European Imports LTD in 1978, introducing specialty cheese to the Midwest retail market. While cheese was his original passion, Seymour quickly moved into complimentary specialty products to expand geographically and offset the freight factor. Taking a chance and investing in unique products previously not introduced to the U.S. provided the opportunity for growth for European Imports.

In 1984, Seymour started a foodservice division to fulfill restaurants’ demand for high quality unique products. European Imports established itself as the premiere specialty food importer and distributor in the U.S.

Strategic acquisitions resulted in the company growing rapidly. The acquisitions led to warehouse distribution points not only in its hometown of Chicago but also in Atlanta, Denver, San Francisco, Phoenix and Dallas. Having built his family-owned company from a small entrepreneurship to a worldwide food importer with national distribution, plus a loyal supplier and customer base, Seymour established European Imports as the one-stop shopping source for chefs, retailers and even other distributors seeking innovative products and personal service. By providing reliable access to specialty foods, Seymour helped build the foundation for the success of the specialty food industry.