tariff talk

We have been having many discussions since the start of the tariff threats. Now that they are here but still in flux, we are working with suppliers to determine what will be impacted. As this situation continues to evolve, we will keep you updated on any changes that may occur, in the meantime here is some info on what we do behind the scenes.

We follow a set of buying guidelines that help buyers in purchasing decisions. While each department has buying guidelines specific to its own product selection, one core buying guideline that applies across all departments is that we prioritize local, BC and Canadian products. We have been doing this for years and it’s one of the reasons we invest in our True Local program – to support local suppliers and strengthen our local food resiliency. This already puts us well ahead of the game in having shelves well stocked with local, BC and Canadian products.

We have put “Made in Canada” and “Canadian Company” shelf tags on all products that meet the criteria so that customers can easily see which products are Canadian and shop accordingly. We do carry products from other countries, so just because it doesn’t have a Canadian flag next to it doesn’t automatically mean it’s American so always double check the label.

During the winter months, produce is the most difficult department to continue to purchase Canadian. We still have True Local products, all BC apples, and a variety of other Canadian produce, however as it’s winter, we do receive more from California and Mexico. We are working with distributors on alternatives, such as purchasing only Mexican produce, but this takes time to coordinate as the distributors are sourcing more organic farms in Mexico. As our growing season shifts and more BC and True Local produce becomes available, we will start to switch suppliers and bring in local, BC and Canadian produce, this is what we have always done and will continue to do so. You might be interested to know that at the height of our growing season, almost 70% of the produce department is from BC with almost 40% of that coming from our own True Local region.

We will continue to do what we have always done, which is encourage people to shop local and support local products along with those made in BC and across Canada. It’s encouraging to see people engage with where their food comes from and unite behind supporting products made closer to home. As always if you have questions, feel free to reach out.