2 Guelph-based food businesses make 'deliberate effort' to buy and sell Canadian products
Kanoo Coffee and The Neighbourhood Group are urging customers to buy Canadian products
To buy or not to buy Canadian? That's the question many local business are pondering as a trade war with the U.S. looms.
For two Guelph-based food businesses the only answer is to make an effort to buy mainly Canadian products.
Kanoo Coffee has changed its business model in reaction to the threat of tariffs and the trend to Buy Canadian, while The Neighbourhood Group's various restaurants in Guelph and Kitchener have been buying Canadian — mainly in Ontario — all along.
Kanoo Coffee sold coffee from around the world but starting this month they have decided to only sell Canadian coffee.
"We've always prided ourselves on bringing in some of the world's best coffee," said Steve Neville, co-owner of Kanoo Coffee. "But with the tariff war, we've basically decided to take a pretty drastic change and source exclusively roasters from Canada."
Neville says that while there are many options for Canadian roasters, customers have become accustomed to brands from around the world.
"It does require some deliberate effort to make sure we're going to bring in Canadian roasters only but also kind of learn more about what kind of roasters are out there, perhaps some from the territories or further west," he said.
Competing with Tim Hortons
Kanoo Coffee is hoping to move some people away from Tim Hortons, an essential stop for many Canadians on their morning commute.
"We have this idea of Tim Hortons being a great Canadian brand but it's owned by Restaurant Brands International, it's primarily an American conglomerate," Neville said.
Kanoo Coffee, which is a specialty coffee shop, is introducing a "budget brew" option that will offer a large coffee for $2.50.
"We're trying to attract some people who have grown accustomed to drive-thru pricing," Neville said.
For The Neighbourhood Group, the Buy Canadian movement is nothing new. The group's four restaurants, including The Wooly Pub in Guelph, go beyond just food and drink when it comes to buying Canadian. The group looks at where its tables, uniforms and cleaning supplies are made.
"We are proud to say that over 80 per cent of all of our dollars spent are purchased from within Ontario and the other 15 per cent is within Canada," said Court Desautels, president and CEO of The Neighbourhood group.
The only items The Neighbourhood Group buys from outside of Canada is some produce that can't be grown in winter.
Adapting over time
Desautels says changing a business to focus on buying Canadian has to be done slowly over time.
"It's hard to do maybe all at once, but it's just these small procurements, it's building up relationships, and you're also looking at how technologies are emerging as well," he said.
The Neighbourhood Group makes use of vertical farming facilities in Guelph and Niagara Region to grow vegetables that can't be grown outside in Canada during winter months.
Desautels says The Neighbourhood Group has a customer base that prides themselves on knowing where the food they eat is coming from. He says more Canadians should be aware of this as well.
"I think that's really critical for all Canadians to at least try to understand the whole supply chain and the importance of where and how it impacts not just the economy but local communities and the environment," he said.
Desautels urged customers to question restaurants on where they are getting their food.
"It enhances the dining experience when you get to learn a little bit more about where your food comes from," he said. "I think it will make a big impact over time," he said.
Neville said he believes customers will begin to care more about a business buying Canadian as time goes on.
"I do think there is a cultural shift happening regardless of what ends up happening with Trump's decision," he said.
LISTEN | These local food businesses are sourcing and selling Canadian products:
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