Chapman’s Ice Cream, an Ontario-based ice cream company, has announced plans to replace over 70% of its American ingredients with Canadian or non-U.S. sources. This strategic move comes in response to the ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the United States. Despite the shift in suppliers, the family-owned company has committed to maintaining its current prices for ice cream until March 2028.
The decision to seek alternatives to U.S. suppliers was initiated in March 2025 following the imposition of tariffs by the Trump administration. According to CEO Ashley Chapman, the company has been actively working on this transition and is on track to complete the switch by mid-2027.
One significant change involves the sourcing of sugar cones, as there are no domestic producers of industrial sugar cones in Canada. To address this, Chapman’s has partnered with Original Foods, a company based in Dunville, Ontario, to manufacture the cones locally. This collaboration aims to strengthen the Canadian economy and reduce dependency on external sources.
In addition to the sugar cones, Chapman’s is also relocating the production of wafers for its ice cream sandwiches to Canada. Furthermore, the company is diversifying its ingredient sources by importing almonds from Australia and cherries from Chile.
The partnership with Original Foods has faced delays due to regulatory requirements specific to Canada, causing additional costs and setbacks. Despite these challenges, President Steeve Tremblay intends to explore more local collaborations with Canadian companies in the future.
Ashley Chapman highlighted the positive impact of the trade dispute on Canadian businesses, emphasizing the unexpected affordability of sourcing ingredients from alternative countries. He expressed confidence in navigating through the challenges and reiterated the company’s commitment to using 100% Canadian dairy in its ice cream products.