From 'T' labels to local sourcing: How B.C. grocers are planning for tariffs to hit their shelves | CBC News

Grocery aisles will change in the coming weeks as the impacts of tariffs on some American goods take effect

Canadian 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.

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.

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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.