The two\u002Dmonth saga might have permanently changed the snack landscape at Canada\u0027s grocery giant
PepsiCo stopped shipping its wide array of snacks — including Quaker products and the Frito-Lay family of potato and corn chips — on Feb. 12 after Loblaw Companies Ltd. refused to pay higher prices. The two sides resolved the dispute last week,, but Loblaw suggested that the two-month saga might have permanently changed the snack landscape across its 2,400 stores.
At the behest of government, the industry has been working on drafting a code of conduct that would implement new rules of engagement for suppliers and grocers. To cope, Loblaw started leaning more heavily on its store brand of chips, as well as Old Dutch and Neal Brothers Foods. On Friday, Loblaw told stores it had finally “resolved the ongoing disruptions,” according to a memo obtained by the Financial Post last week.
But in a statement on Friday night, Loblaw spokesperson Catherine Thomas noted that the mix of product in the snack aisles will feature “new Canadian flavours” — a possible reference to Loblaw’s increased reliance on Canadian brands like Neal Brothers. Article content