An ice cream company based in Ontario has announced plans to replace over 70% of its American ingredients with Canadian or non-U.S. sources without raising prices for two years. Chapman’s Ice Cream is making this shift in response to the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States. The family-owned business began seeking alternatives to U.S. suppliers in March 2025, following the introduction of tariffs by the Trump administration.
CEO Ashley Chapman stated that the company has been actively working to implement these changes and remains committed to not increasing prices until March 2028. Chapman’s Ice Cream aims to replace more than 70% of its American ingredients and components by mid-2027. One significant change involves sourcing sugar cones locally since there are no industrial sugar cone producers in Canada. To address this, Chapman’s partnered with Original Foods Limited, a company based in Dunville, Ontario, to manufacture the cones domestically.
President Steeve Tremblay of Original Foods highlighted the importance of supporting local manufacturing to strengthen the Canadian economy and reduce dependency on external sources. The partnership between the two companies has already been formalized, with equipment procurement underway. However, delays have been experienced due to regulatory requirements unique to Canada, which Tremblay hopes to address to facilitate smoother operations.
Chapman’s is also transitioning the production of wafers for its ice cream sandwiches to Canada and sourcing ingredients like almonds from Australia and cherries from Chile. The company’s efforts to localize production and diversify sourcing have been driven by the trade dispute, prompting a reevaluation of domestic manufacturing practices across various industries in Canada.
Ashley Chapman emphasized the positive impact of these changes on businesses, noting unexpected cost savings and new opportunities for sourcing ingredients. He expressed confidence in the company’s ability to navigate these challenges successfully and reaffirmed the commitment to using 100% Canadian dairy in its ice cream products. The long-term strategy includes a five-year agreement for Canadian-made cones and ongoing efforts to enhance production efficiency to manage costs effectively.