Loblaw Cos. Ltd. says it’s still working to stock its grocery store shelves with more Canadian products as shoppers look for local alternatives during the Canada-U.S. trade war, but the company’s chief executive admits the shift may not last.
“We recognize that Canadians care deeply about the region of the product they purchase and we continue to actually seek out Canadian growers and manufacturers for the products we sell,” Loblaw president and CEO Per Bank told analysts on a conference call Wednesday, as the company reported its first-quarter profit rose compared with a year ago.
While Bank said it’s difficult to gauge consumer preferences in-store, data from Loblaw’s online grocery service shows a clear pivot by shoppers toward the “Buy Canadian” movement that has gained momentum since U.S. tariffs went into effect….