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In late January, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the country’s prime minister urged people to “choose Canada” by buying Canadian products amid growing threats of U.S. tariffs.
“There are many ways to get your role in your own right. This could mean checking labels and picking products made in Canada,” Trudeau said on January 22.
With U.S. tariffs now in place, effective counter-tax, shoppers keeping this information in mind are reviewing the label – and at the same time, many are asking a question: Is there a premium for patriotism? market Consumers have received dozens of messages in recent weeks, wondering if they are now paying for the same product, as they are Canadians to varying degrees.
“I want to investigate [to see] If “buy Canada” is just another beautiful marketing strategy,” one user wrote on Reddit.
Another email sent us an email saying they felt that “the price of Canadian items is rising, and some seem to increase weekly.”
so market Starting early this year, thousands of grocery products were analyzed for prices marked Canadians in downtown Lobrous stores in Toronto.
While nine out of 10 products remain the same, prices have dropped by about 2% – market It was found that the normal price of hundreds of products has risen since the government issued a call to buy food in Canada. Some of the most iconic brands from Canada include Tim Hortons, St-Hubert, Swiss Chalet and Chapman’s.
market Talked with several economists, all of whom said it was impossible to determine whether demand would soar at home with premiums, as many factors, such as how the goods were processed and whether it was affected by U.S. taxes, were at work in prices. They came to a different conclusion whether demand for Canadian products could explain the price increase. The manufacturer said it was the grocery store deciding on price tags, while grocer Loblaw denied that grocery prices were raised due to the demand for buying Canadians.
But Colin Mang, assistant professor of economics at McMaster University, said it was obvious that people wanted to buy Canadian products. He pointed to a recent survey of 9,788 Canadians conducted at the Dalhousie University in Halifax, which found that about 60% of respondents were willing to pay a premium for Canadian products over U.S. alternatives.
According to Mang, this provides retailers with openness to raise prices.
“When consumers see that Canadian flag next to the product, I think it really increases their desire to own the product,” he said. “There is a large ‘Canadian’ movement, and Canadian manufacturers and retailers are ready to take advantage of that. They can charge higher prices.”
Which Tim Hortons product is more expensive?
Loblaw has several grocery banners including No Decor, Fortinos, Independent, Real Canadian Superstore and Zehrs, he said it began launching the maple leaf logo online and launched in stores in early February to show whether the product was prepared in Canada.
market It was found that between February 3 and February 10, the prices of multiple Tim Hortons products in the Loblaws store increased.
A hot chocolate mixture jumped from $15.99 to $17.99. The same Tim Hortons hot chocolate mix also rose twice on the food delivery platform owned by Sobeys, which operates GTA in late March and early April.
Two different sized French vanilla cappuccino mixtures in Loblaws increased by 50 cents and a dollar respectively. Later this year, on March 31, the price of Tim Hortons caramel toffee coffee pods also rose from voilà to $12.99 to $13.49.
Michael von Massow, a professor at the University of Guelph, said the time to study food economy was “unfortunate.” He said coffee is becoming increasingly expensive because the Canadian dollar is weaker and its vulnerability to climate change, which can lead to production problems.
Manger said he believes grocers have raised prices due to consumer demand as cocoa prices increased in February, and wages are stable despite possible slightly higher shipping costs.
Tim Hortons Communications Director Michael Oliveira told market In a telephone interview where retailers price in stores, not the manufacturer.
Oliveira declined to explain how Tim Hortons determined the price used by retailers, or whether the suggested prices had changed, pointing out that coffee and cocoa items are at or near historical highs in terms of cost.
Manasvi Thakur, a spokesman for Sobeys, said the price increase was a “blatantly wrong” idea for the result of demand for Canadian products, saying: “There is always volatile in the cocoa and coffee industry.”
Thakur added that when supplier submission costs rise, there will be a comprehensive process to verify these changes before adjusting the prices.
In an email, Loblaw said the ingredients, labor, and more factors in price. The company explained that although Canada’s “prepared in Canada” is baked and packaged in Canada, the beans are imported and have seen a significant increase in costs over the past year.
Which St-Hubert and Swiss Chalet products are more expensive?
Two St-Hubert products – a chicken pie and Tourtière – and a Swiss cabin chicken pot pie, priced from $7.99 to $8.99 between the Loblaws locations from March 10 to March 16.
“I think you might attribute it to the increase in demand in Canada,” said Stuart Smyth, a professor in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan.
He said the tariffs might not affect the products at the time.
Von Massow said he doesn’t think any product needs a large amount of imported ingredients or is subject to significant tariffs, but it’s unclear whether the reason for the price increase is determined.
When U.S. President Donald Trump launched a trade war against Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to buy products made in the country and consider not taking leave in the United States
Speaking on behalf of St-Hubert and Swiss Chalet, St-Hubert’s communications director Josée Vaillancourt said in an email that the company has not raised the price of these products and will not share detailed information on how it determines the price, describing it as “a long-term, comprehensive exercise we don’t easily do.”
Vaillancourt said retailers ultimately decide on prices in stores, saying most policies can prevent suppliers and retailers from discussing retail prices.
She said tracking prices at a store did not indicate a total market rise or decrease, pointing out that something went wrong.
Loblaw emails market.
Which of Chapman’s products is more expensive?
Some products from Canadian ice cream maker Chapman have also increased at Loblaw locations – although the company said in early March that it would absorb instant cost increases and keep prices stable due to tariffs.
but market It was found that while the prices of some Chapman ice cream products actually dropped, the prices of three sugar-free, lactose-free Chapman products rose: vanilla ice cream, vanilla ice cream sandwich and double Dutch ice cream increased to $8.49 from $7.99 at Loblaws on March 25.
Pascal Thériault, an agronomist and economist at McGill University, said the prices of ingredients like sugar have fluctuated, and Manger noted how prices of other dairy products have risen, all of which may affect the cost of Chapman products.
Von Massow said that as the weather gets higher, the increase in demand for ice cream may raise prices.
Ashley Chapman, the company’s chief operating officer, said he occasionally receives emails from frustrated clients given Chapman’s promise. Although he understands why people are frustrated or confused, he says retailers decide what prices are in the store. He said that if the company does not absorb tariff fees, Chapman’s products will see “huge” price increases.
He also said shoppers should not consider the price increase in grocery stores “evil”.
Chapman’s, the country’s only Canadian ice cream brand, said consumers won’t pay higher prices for ice cream this season even if the trade war with the United States will increase its operating costs. The company said it will need to move forward from U.S. suppliers, some of whom have been in a decades-long relationship with them and find new international contracts for ice cream.
He said grocers may consider prices that could fall between May and September, when Chapman’s manufacturers like Chapman’s invest in more promotional strategies and pricing to compete with each other and meet higher demand for ice cream in the summer.
Loblaw emails market.
Mann said people may be willing to pay more for “buy Canadians,” but that doesn’t mean they want to see prices rise.
“People do mind paying higher prices,” he said.
Thériault said customers should try to buy ingredients and food that involve less processing to save money and avoid price fluctuations.
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