How big and small grocery stores are preparing for tariffs to hit shelves

Askews in Salmon Arm, B.C., is a locally owned grocery store with a few locations in the Shuswap region. Some Canadian grocery aisles will change in the coming weeks as the impacts of tariffs on some American goods take effect. (Jacqueline Gelineau / CBC)Social SharingCanadian grocery aisles will change in the coming weeks as the impacts of tariffs on some American goods take effect.

Stores across Canada will manage tariff price increases differently, with factors like supplier contracts, wholesale capacity and consumer preferences impacting what will be stocked.

Some major retailers, like Loblaw, will denote tariffed products with a "T" sign. Others, like the Salmon Arm, B.C.-based Askews, are choosing to offer even more Canadian-made or internationally-imported alternatives to American goods.

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"We have the flexibility to purchase from whomever we want, basically," said Heather Turner, a store manager at Askews in Salmon Arm. The grocery store is locally owned and operated, with five locations spread across the Shuswap region.

"We're not, limited to dealing with one large wholesaler," she said.

Askews in Salmon Arm is a locally owned grocery store with five locations across the Shuswap region. (Jacqueline Gelineau/ CBC)She said customers began asking for Canadian-made alternatives for everything, from shampoo to toilet paper last year, and the store listened.

"If our customers request a product and we have access to that product, we can source it and get it on our shelves," said Turner.

This round of counter-tariffs on American goods was imposed by the Canadian government as part of the ongoing trade war. It will impact items like U.S. dairy, paper products like toilet paper, make-up and hair care products.

Turner said as a result of customer demands, Askews already stocks Canadian or internationally-made alternatives for nearly every American product that will be impacted by counter-tariffs. She said if there is anything missing, the store will find an alternative as soon as possible.

Turner said in times like these, being independently-owned and able to quickly adjust to customer needs is beneficial. She added the store can work with small suppliers across Canada to bring in products that large corporations can't.

Turner noted that some items, while manufactured in Canada, may contain tariffed products from the USA, and could still see a price increase. Turner said a key product that may increase in price is protein powder, as many Canadian brands source whey from the USA.

Loblaw says it is bringing back the “T” symbol on shelf labels so customers can easily identify products coming directly from the U.S. that are affected by tariffs. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)In an emailed statement, the Canadian-owned grocery conglomerate Loblaw said the impact of tariffs may not be felt for weeks, as items already purchased and currently on shelves pre-date the tariffs.

"When tariffs drive up our costs, our price will reflect that increase only, " said Youmna Rab, a Loblaw retail communications manager. "Nothing more."

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She said Loblaw — including its brands such as Shoppers Drug Mart, Superstore, No Frills, Presidents Choice and No Name — will not benefit from tariffs.

Rab said Loblaw is pushing back on suppliers when it believes cost increases aren’t justified, and will do everything it can to keep prices down.

"We are working with our vendor to find alternatives to help keep costs as low as possible," said Rab.

Kara Stokes is the general manager of the Sweláps Market located on Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc land, in the Kamloops, B.C., area. The market is owned and operated by the Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc Nation.

Kara Stokes is the general manager of the Sweláps Market , run by the Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc Nation near Kamloops. (Jenifer Norwell / CBC)Stokes said, like Askews, Sweláps Market has been able to tailor its inventory over the last year to meet customer preference for Canadian goods. These tariffs are only accelerating that momentum.

"We have options to look for other local or Canadian suppliers," said Stokes.

She said customers should not expect to see large increases in cost in the store. Where costs may rise when switching vendors to avoid tariffs, she said quality will not waiver.

"Together, we're going to find the best solution."

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