With recent tariffs imposed by the U.S., more Londoners are looking to buy locally made products. This shift in consumer behavior is growing, as people become more focused on supporting Canadian businesses and products.
Tim McMillan, owner of Quartermaster Natural Foods in Wortley Village, has already seen the effects of the tariffs.
“We’ve been notified by a number of our larger distributors who do import products from the United States that there’s going to be forthcoming price increases just due to the tariffs,”
McMillan explained. While it’s still too early to know the full impact, McMillan is concerned. “We are really hoping that come April 1st for some of those products that doesn’t come to fruition. But presently, not an awful lot, but we see the writing on the wall for sure.”
McMillan has always been committed to supporting local businesses and Canadian suppliers. “Certainly, that’s always been our mantra, being a small, Wortley Village business. We’ve always been cognizant of supporting local entrepreneurs, suppliers, and vegetable producers,” he said.
McMillan noted that more customers are now asking about the country of origin, especially for bulk produce and food products. He mentioned that many suppliers have provided “Made in Canada” stickers, and it seems like every second customer is looking for this information.
The tariffs have also sparked a wave of patriotism among Canadians. “This tariff initiative by the U.S. president has certainly been a wake-up call for a lot of us here north of the 49th parallel. It has certainly created a more patriotic feeling amongst people as they come through the door.”
Many customers are concerned about local businesses and want to ensure they’re doing their part to help. “They’re worried about us, just because we’re an integral part of what goes on in the Wortley Village scene,” McMillan shared.
Despite the challenges posed by the tariffs, McMillan remains hopeful about the future. “Of all the negative doom and gloom, there will be some positives that come out of it, and let’s hope that, you know, down the road, clearer heads prevail, and they don’t bring the hammer down on a lot of our Canadian industries.”
As Canadians continue to show strong support for locally made products, the trend toward buying Canadian seems to be growing. Many hope this shift will benefit local businesses in London and the Canadian economy in the long run.
