Our History
1920
Samuel Meisel & Co. is founded as a Commercial ship chandler serving the Port of Baltimore
1950
Samuel Meisel & Co begins to supply the foreign diplomatic corps, posted in many stations across the United States
1979
Crossroads is created as a distributor for cruise ship gift shops through the Miami Free Zone, operating as a 3PL distributing luxury goods, cosmetics, fragrances and soft goods
1983
Samuel Meisel and Company combines with Fenton Hill Americas and Ammex Tax and Duty Free, to form Duty Free International (DFI).
1984
The company begins to supply cruise ships in New York and the rest of the northeast
1989
DFI purchases Lipschutz Brothers, a Philadelphia commercial ship chandler founded in 1905, serving the ports of New York, Philadelphia & Wilmington
1992
DFI purchases UETA (United Export Trading Association), acquiring Carisam as part of the transaction. With this acquisition a new division, Carisam-Samuel Meisel, is formed
1994
Carisam-Samuel Meisel purchases A.H. Riise ship supply, making it possible to serve the Florida cruise market
2001
The Motta Family acquires the Carisam-Samuel Meisel division of World Duty Free, combining it with Crossroads, making it part of the Motta International Group
2006
Juegos de Videos Latin America (JVLAT) is created as the Latin America Master distributor for Nintendo. Carisam-Samuel Meisel assumes the logistical partner’s role in the business
2019
Continuing expansion leads to 80 touch points around the world. Operations now include locations in Blaine Washington and Los Angeles
2020
Covid hits the entire travel industry. Carisam endures and emerges even stronger
2024 & Beyond
Still to be written, but we are excited about the future!
1920
Samuel Meisel & Co. was founded as a Commercial ship chandler serving the Port of Baltimore
1950
Samuel Meisel & Co begins supply to the foreign diplomatic corps, posted in many stations across the United States
1979
Crossroads is created as a distributor for cruise ship gift shops through the Miami Free Zone, operating as a 3PL distributing luxury goods, cosmetics, fragrances and soft goods
1983
Samuel Meisel and Company combines with Fenton Hill Americas and Ammex Tax and Duty Free, to form Duty Free International (DFI). Then the British Airport Authority purchases DFI and it becomes World Duty Free
1984
The company begins to supply cruise ships in New York and the rest of the northeast
1989
DFI purchases Lipschutz Brothers, a Philadelphia commercial ship chandler founded in 1905, serving the ports of New York, Philadelphia & Wilmington
1992
DFI purchases UETA (United Export Trading Association), acquiring Carisam as part of the transaction. With this acquisition a new division, Carisam-Samuel Meisel, is formed
1994
Carisam-Samuel Meisel purchases A.H. Riise ship supply, making it possible to serve the Florida cruise market
2001
Motta International acquires the Carisam-Samuel Meisel division of World Duty Free, making it part of the Motta International Group
2006
Juegos de Videos Latin America (JVLAT) is created as the Latin America Master distributor for Nintendo. Carisam-Samuel Meisel assumes the logistical partner’s role in the business
2011
Carisam enters into a manufacturing agreement with La Aurora S.A. for the manufacturing and import of machine-made cigars
2019
Continuing expansion leads to 80 touch points around the world. Operations now include locations in Blaine Washington and Los Angeles
2020
Covid hits the entire travel industry. Carisam endures and emerges even stronger
2024 & Beyond