Canadians' Favorable View of the U.S. Remains Scarce Despite Persisting 'Buy Canadian' Efforts
Grocery stores across Canada are sporting maple leaf signs on various products, as shoppers endeavor to buy more Canadian goods amid heightened tensions with the U.S.
For many Canadians, this is not just a shopping preference, but a deliberate effort to dodge American products. Recent polling by Vancouver-based Research Co. reveals that only 26% of Canadians view the U.S. positively. Research Co. president Mario Canseco says this figure is lower than their expectations and even surpasses the sentiment towards Saudi Arabia.
On a conference call, Loblaw Companies Ltd. CEO Per Bank expressed doubt about the longevity of this trend, suggesting that a mere third of it will stick around. Nevertheless, given the uncertainty surrounding Canada's relationship with the U.S., largely due to Donald Trump's unpredictability, the country-of-origin signage isn't expected to vanish from store shelves anytime soon. Canseco asserts that the consumer's demand for and vendors' response to these signs indicate a continued trend.
Loblaw, Canada's largest grocer, has adapted to this shift by showcasing Canadian products in stores, developing in-app features to identify local alternatives, and introducing new Canadian-made products. The company aims to minimize U.S. imports, as less than 4% of its PC/No Name brands originate from the U.S.
The future outlook for this trend is uncertain, with possible shifts in consumer focus towards broader food trends like precision wellness and innovative flavor experiences. However, ongoing trade disputes and protectionist rhetoric may sustain economic nationalism in the short-to-medium term.
The "Buy Canadian" movement mirrors a reactive economic nationalism, with its longevity hinging on geopolitical stability and the competitiveness of domestically-produced goods in terms of price.
- The increased promotion of Canadian goods in grocery stores, such as Loblaw's, could be seen as a highlight of economic nationalism, a response to war-and-conflicts and political uncertainties.
- The Vancouver-based Research Co., in their recent polling, found that over 74% of Canadians view the U.S. negatively, a figure that exceeds even the sentiment towards Saudi Arabia.
- Moreover, the high level of preferential shopping for Canadian goods, as observed in the current climate, might not subsist permanently, as Loblaw Companies Ltd. CEO Per Bank suggests, but the current uncertainty in Canada's relationship with the U.S. could extend the visibility of country-of-origin signage in stores.
- In the face of these trends, Loblaw, the largest grocery chain in Canada, is adjusting its strategy by emphasizing Canadian products, developing apps to identify local alternatives, and creating new Canadian-made products, aiming to reduce U.S. imports.
