OTTAWA, ON, Today, Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC) released the just published consumer research report, Impact of US Tariffs on Canadian Food Consumer Behaviour.
This report is part of a series of consumer surveys gathering insights into Canadians' grocery shopping habits, perceptions of available products, and response to increasing food prices and inflation. This final report in the series also assessed awareness and concern regarding US tariffs and trade rhetoric.
Research confirmed that the political environment has had a direct impact on Canadian consumer shopping habits. 98% of survey respondents have heard about tariffs or trade restrictions between Canada and the USA and 85% are concerned.
This concern has caused a drastic shift in behaviour with 43% of consumers making significant changes to their grocery shopping habits in the last two months. The primary motivation for these changes is a desire to buy Canadian products (81%) and avoid U.S. products (76%). Seniors prioritize buying Canadian, while immigrants and those under 35 place less emphasis on it. Buying products from one's own province is more important to Quebecers (82%) and less so to Albertans (48%).