Nova Scotia chocolate maker sees boost as U.S. tariffs reshape market

While the trade war and U.S. tariffs are concerning for some industries, the chocolate sector is seeing advantages in Canada, and a well-known Nova Scotia-based company is benefiting.

When the United States imposed tariffs on cocoa imports from other countries, it negatively affected American chocolate manufacturers. That impact was compounded by a sharp spike in cocoa prices due to a global supply shortage.

Tareq Hadhad, chief executive of Nova Scotia-based chocolate maker Peace by Chocolate, told 95.7 NewsRadio that because Canada did not implement tariffs on cocoa imports, chocolatiers here have gained a competitive edge.

“The U.S. manufacturers started reaching out to Canadian companies to make the product for them and ship it back to the United States,” said Hadhad. “That basically put Canadian manufacturers into a position that we can compete in the U.S. market.”

The company was already almost at capacity for making chocolate earlier this year, filling the Canadian market, but now that makers from the U.S. are building demand, Hadhad said they are trying to catch up.

“Before really going global, we have been trying our best to fulfill all of this national demand,” he said.

Hadhad said Peace by Chocolate continues to expand its footprint and distribution across the country as demand for made-in-Canada products grows.