Canadian Swaps for Your Weekly Grocery Run

You don't need to overhaul your whole cart to buy Canadian. Swap a few staples you already buy every week, and those small choices add up for Canadian farmers, families and factory towns. And we bet you’ll find better quality products that you’ll stick with!

We went aisle by aisle and picked swaps that are easy to find, taste better, and come from companies that are actually Canadian-owned. Here's your cheat sheet for this week's run.

First, a 30-second label lesson

Three phrases on a package mean three different things:

Product of Canada

Almost everything inside (98%+) is Canadian, and it was made here. The gold standard.

Made in Canada

The last major step happened here, but some ingredients may be imported. Usually says "from imported and domestic ingredients."

Canadian-owned

The company itself is Canadian, so profits and head-office jobs stay here. Not printed on labels, so you have to know the brand.

The best picks hit more than one. That's what this list is for.

Instead of…

Try…

Why it's a good swap

Instead ofBarilla pasta

TryItalpasta

Family-owned in Brampton, ON since 1989. Canada's largest pasta maker, using 100% Canadian wheat.

Instead ofHeinz ketchup

TryThe Ketchup Project

Small-batch ketchup from Ottawa chef David Schaub, bottling since 2017. Tomato-forward and a little spiced.

Instead ofJif, Skippy

TryNuts to You

100% Canadian-owned and made in Paris, ON. Peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower and pumpkin seed butters.

Instead ofRitz, Triscuit

TryDare Breton crackers

Family-owned since 1889, based in Ontario. Same family also makes Bear Paws and Realfruit gummies.

Instead ofCheetos

TryHawkins Cheezies

Made in Belleville, ON since 1956. Still owned and run by the founder's grandson.

Instead ofTropicana, Minute Maid

TryOasis, Rougemont or SunRype

All from Lassonde, founded in Quebec in 1918 and still headquartered in Rougemont.

Instead ofHäagen-Dazs, Breyers

TryChapman's

Family-run in Markdale, ON since 1973. Only Canadian milk and cream, sold only in Canada.

Instead ofImported cheese and milk

TryNatrel, OKA and other Agropur brands

Agropur is a Canadian dairy co-op, owned by the farmers who supply it.

Instead ofQuaker, Kellogg's

TryOne Degree Organics or Holy Crap

Both B.C. brands: sprouted cereals and oats from Abbotsford, and gluten-free cereals from Gibsons.

Start with one swap

Pick one item off this list for your next grocery run. Next week, add another. By the holidays, half your cart could be Canadian without a single sacrifice.

Got a Canadian grocery swap we missed? DM us and send it our way, and we'll share the best ones.