An Ontario-based ice cream company has announced plans to substitute over 70% of its American ingredients without raising prices for the next two years. Chapman’s Ice Cream is making this move in response to the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States. The company, owned by the Chapman family, has committed to maintaining its current pricing until March 2028.
The decision to seek alternatives to American suppliers was initiated in March 2025, following the imposition of tariffs by the Trump administration. CEO Ashley Chapman stated that the company has been actively pursuing this transition since then, emphasizing their dedication to the process during an interview with CBC’s London Morning.
Chapman’s Ice Cream aims to replace more than 70% of its American-sourced ingredients with Canadian or non-U.S. alternatives by mid-2027. A significant aspect of this transition involves sugar cones, as there are no domestic producers in Canada. To address this, Chapman’s has partnered with Original Foods, a company based in Dunville, Ontario, to introduce a Canadian-made cone line, becoming the sole ice cream producer in the country with this feature.
Original Foods Limited will manufacture the sugar cones for Chapman’s, following discussions that intensified during trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. The agreement between the two companies has been finalized, with equipment procurement from Germany underway. However, delays have occurred due to Canada’s electricity registration requirements and other bureaucratic hurdles, according to President Steeve Tremblay.
Tremblay expressed a commitment to fostering more local partnerships by reaching out to other Canadian companies. In addition to sourcing sugar cones locally, Chapman’s is also shifting the production of wafers used in their ice cream sandwiches to Canada and securing ingredients like almonds from Australia and cherries from Chile.
The trade dispute has spurred Canadian companies, including Chapman’s, to reassess their domestic production strategies. Chapman highlighted the positive impact of these changes, noting that some replacements have proven to be more cost-effective than anticipated. The company is focused on enhancing production efficiency to manage expenses and is buoyed by the prospect of emerging stronger from this situation.
Chapman’s Ice Cream reaffirmed its commitment to using 100% Canadian dairy in its products, underscoring its dedication to supporting local suppliers and maintaining quality standards.
