A shift is on the horizon for Canadian shoppers, an expert says, as an emerging trend signals buyers to ignore U.S. products and opt for homegrown ones instead.
The push for buying Canadian amid a trade war with the U.S. is growing, and Canadian consumers are starting a new habit. According to a social media user, shoppers have begun to flip U.S. products upside down on store shelves, which in turn encourages others to refrain from purchasing those products.
In the comments under the post on Threads, patriotic Canadians are praising the initiative.
“Hey, that’s a great idea,” one Threads user said. “It’s an immediate sign to other shoppers to walk on by.”
“Good plan. Subtle. Very Canadian,” another user replied.
“I’m down… let’s make it the best trend ever,” another user wrote on the platform.
Sylvain Charlebois, a food researcher and professor at Halifax’s Dalhousie University, says while he hasn’t personally seen this trend appear in stores, several other movements have been popping up rapidly nationwide which further proves just how fed up Canadians are with their southern neighbours.
“I think we need to respect the fact that a lot of people will actually process [the trade war] in their own way,” he explained to Now Toronto on Monday.
“People will aim at retailers, they’ll aim at products, they’ll aim at brands… And I wouldn’t call it a boycott, it’s just a movement – a severe anti-American sentiment, influencing behaviour at the grocery store.”
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Polling from the Angus Reid Institute shows that 85 per cent of Canadians have either begun to or plan to replace U.S. products with Canadian ones while shopping. In-store domestic labelling in grocery stores has already taken effect in influencing consumer habits, where polls demonstrate that nearly all of those surveyed (98 per cent) say they’re intentionally seeking groceries with “Made in Canada” signage. More than half also say they will be shopping for Canadian-made snacks and pop (56 per cent) and clothing (54 per cent).
Charlebois says he’s “not overly surprised” at Canadian consumers’ desire to support homegrown goods, and says that grocers are also joining in on the push.
“It’s pointing to the reality that consumers are purposely asking grocers to de-Americanize their stores,” he said.
“So, right now, you’re seeing grocers promoting Canadian products as much as possible while trying to offload many American products… you can see that they’re adapting and they’re changing the way they promote products while trying to find replacements for products that they just can’t sell anymore.”
Charlebois also encourages consumers to know the difference between a “Product of Canada” label, which means at least 98 per cent of the total costs of producing the item were incurred in Canada, while a “Made in Canada” label means at least 51 per cent, but less than 98.
