Canadian grocery retailers are adjusting their supply chains as shoppers increasingly seek domestic products and avoid goods from the United States amid a widening trade dispute. Retailers are placing greater emphasis on country-of-origin labels and exploring suppliers in Canada and other countries to meet changing consumer preferences. In Ontario, Vince’s Market has increased its Canadian produce offerings, including sourcing strawberries from Quebec instead of the United States. The retailer’s four stores now carry about 90% Canadian produce, according to its president, Giancarlo Trimarchi. The changes have also increased operating costs, prompting the company to reduce advertising spending.

The consumer movement gained momentum after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and intensified following the collapse of bilateral trade talks on Aug. 21. Canada and the United States have since exchanged additional tariffs, increasing uncertainty for businesses that depend on cross-border trade. Loblaw, Canada’s largest food retailer, has restored prominent maple leaf signs in produce and fresh food sections to identify Canadian products, along with a label marking goods affected by tariffs. Metro, the country’s third-largest grocer, has also said it will continue prioritizing local products. The United States remains Canada’s largest source of fresh produce, but its share of Canadian vegetable imports fell to 62.6% in July from 69% in the same month of 2023, according to government data cited by Reuters.