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Want to buy Canadian? Here are 12 locally-made grocery items to replace US products

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump followed through on his promise to impose tariffs on Canada.

As per a White House press release, the President formally signed an executive order on February 1, imposing a 25% tariff on almost all Canadian goods (along with a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products), effective Tuesday, February 4.

It means American companies will soon face significantly higher costs when importing Canadian goods, putting Canada’s economy in a tough spot.

In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau swiftly announced Ottawa’s retaliation with 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of American products. This mutual tariff imposition is expected to increase the cost of American products in Canada as well.

As a result, “Made in Canada” labels are already becoming more prominent in grocery stores nationwide, with shoppers being ecouraged to support homegrown brands.

Even Costco appears to be doing more to make Canadian products easier to identify.

While these tariffs go beyond just food, if you’re looking to replace American goods with Canadian alternatives — whether for your budget or national pride — here’s a list of locally made grocery items to consider on your next shopping trip.

Deli meat

If you’re not buying cold cuts from your local butcher, there’s a good chance you’re digging through the pre-packaged deli meats section at the supermarket.

One popular brand you may want to skip out on for the next little while is Oscar Mayer, a subsidiary of the Kraft Heinz Company and a major producer of hot dogs.

Easy Canadian replacements include:

  • Maple Leafs
  • Olymel
  • Schneider’s

Syrup

Nobody needs to tell a Canadian how great maple syrup is.

However, plenty of folks on both sides of the border prefer to lather their pancakes and waffles in table syrup, which is essentially high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavours (we’re not judging!).

The Pearl Milling Company (formerly Aunt Jemima) is one of the biggest names in the table syrup market. Alternatives to the American brand include:

  • Compliments (by Sobey’s)
  • President’s Choice

But if you’re looking for the real deal, you can always spend a little extra and get pure Canadian maple syrup instead. Your taste buds will thank you!

Canned soup

From its iconic red can to its presence in 20th-century Pop Art, Campbell’s has been a staple in the canned soup aisle for generations.

If you’re seeking a hearty replacement, check out the following Canadian brands:

  • Alymer
  • Habitant (by Loblaw’s)
  • President’s Choice
  • Our Finest (by Walmart Canada)

Cheese

Kraft and Velveeta are American. But the following Canadian cheese brands won’t have you missing them anytime soon.
  • Armstrong
  • Black Diamond
  • OKA
  • Saputo
  • Tre Stelle

Coffee

This one seems like an easy fix — just buy a box of Tim Horton’s pods instead of Starbucks, right?

Well, not so fast. While Tim Horton’s was founded in Ontario and still has its headquarters there, its parent company, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), is a multinational corporation with strong American ties. The majority shareholder, 3G Capital, is a Brazilian investment firm, making Tim’s less Canadian than many people assume.

If you’re looking for coffee brands with deeper Canadian roots, consider:

  • Van Houtte
  • Second Cup

And when you’re grabbing a coffee on the go, opting for a local café will likely get you something even tastier while supporting small businesses.

Ketchup

There’s one brand that comes to mind when we think of ketchup. But while Heinz recently moved a lot its production back to Canada, the bulk of its profits still go south of the border.

So if Heinz is off the table, you can still get their signature condiment from the following companies:

  • President’s Choice
  • Compliments
  • The Ketchup Project (Available in Ontario and Quebec)

Soda

Coke, Pepsi and Sprite are some of the most consumed beverages on Earth.

Luckily, Canada produces plenty of great soda too, including:

  • Brio
  • Canada Dry
  • President’s Choice

Cookies

OREO or Chips Ahoy! (both owned by Nabisco) are certainly popular favourites. But if you’re willing to give something else a try, you might fall in love with a few Canadian cookie staples like:

  • Dare
  • Leclerc
  • Voortman

Sports drinks

Gatorade and Powerade consumers can easily get their electrolyte fix by opting for the following Canadian sports drinks widely consumed by pro athletes:

  • BioSteel
  • CWENCH

Yogurt

If Yoplait is your usual go-to for yogurt, consider swapping it for one of these brands that support Canadian dairy farmers:

  • Astro
  • Liberté
  • Olympic

Juice

Florida orange juice has been a hot topic in the trade war, with the latest tariffs making American brands like Tropicana more expensive for Canadian shoppers. If you’re looking to swap out your usual carton, here are two Canadian alternatives:

  • Oasis
  • SunRype

Cereal

Kellogg’s may be one of the biggest names in the cereal aisle, but there are plenty of Canadian-made options to satisfy your cravings for Mini-Wheats or Special K.

  • Nature’s Path
  • Quaker (some products made in Canada)

Finally, when shopping, be sure to check the back label. Products made in Canada will typically indicate their origin, helping you make informed choices.

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Why I Decided To Change My Appearance – Asake

Nigerian Afrobeats sensation, Ahmed Ololade, popularly called Asake, has opened up on the reason behind his new look. Naija News reports that Asake recently unveiled a new appearance showcasing facial tattoos and a shorter hairstyle different from his signature dreadlocks. His new appearance has left many citizens wondering what inspired the transformation. Speaking during an […]

The post Why I Decided To Change My Appearance – Asake appeared first on Naija News.

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Since when does everyone hate the Chiefs?

Are the Chiefs in their villain era  It’s a label that’s been applied ad nauseam heading into next week’s Super Bowl, by both fans and anti-fans of the long-dominant football team. The Kansas City juggernauts will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in what will be the Chiefs’ fifth trip to the championship in six […]

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Welcome to the February issue of The Highlight

One way we’re handling the depths of winter is to think about solutions — not just for personal concerns like how to deal with seasonal doldrums (though we’ve got you covered there) or how to deal with your anger (ditto), but also about large-scale issues. This month, we take a look at a promising new […]

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You’ll pay more for drinks in Quebec starting March 1 — But you can get that money back

Starting March 1, buying drinks in Quebec will cost a little more, but you’ll be able to get that money back when you return the empty containers.

Next month, L’Association québécoise de récupération des contenants de boissons (AQRCB) is launching the second phase of its expanded deposit-refund system, which now includes a wider range of beverage containers.

Everything from wine and spirit bottles to water bottles, milk, and juice cartons — basically, anything between 100 ml and 2 litres — will have a refundable deposit.

Since November 1, 2023, the deposit on most beverage bottles has been 10 cents, including beer cans over 450 ml (which previously had a 20-cent deposit). The aim was to make deposit amounts more consistent across various types of containers.

Come March, nearly all beverage containers will be covered by the program. For most containers, the deposit is 10 cents, while glass bottles of 500 ml or more will have a 25-cent deposit. This means when you buy a bottle of wine or a pack of bottled water, you’ll pay a bit more upfront, but you can get that money back by returning the containers at one of the new drop-off points.

According to a press release from the AQRCB, the province has been gradually upgrading its deposit system since 2023, with a goal to double the number of containers returned and recycled. The target is to recover five billion beverage containers per year and raise the return rate to 90% by 2032. To make the process easier, more return locations have been added across the province, including Consignaction sites and automated machines at select retailers.

Although you’ll be paying a little extra for your drinks, getting your deposit back is simpler than ever. Rather than going to a grocery store, you can drop off your containers at various return points for cash refunds or use the Consignaction app for electronic transfers.

For more information on the second phase of the expanded deposit-refund system, you can visit the Consignaction website.

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