Sprague Foods, a family business in Belleville that cans soups and beans, has experienced a number of ups and downs caused by the threat of U.S. tariffs. Their business in Canada is booming because of a surge of patriotic shopping, but their business dealings south of the border have been threatened.
Hearty soups, beans and chilis aren’t the typical tools of rebellion, but for many Canadians the red maple leaf on cans from Sprague Foods has become a patriotic rallying point.
The family business in Belleville, Ont., is marking its 100th year. Its owners said in that time the biggest events they’ve had to weather are World War II, the COVID pandemic and now the U.S. tariffs.
“This is a nationalistic version of shopping,” said Keenan Sprague, vice president of the company and the fifth generation of the family to work there.
“People feel that they only have so much …