It’s been another busy stretch in food innovation as summer comes to a close, with major policy shifts, funding milestones, and industry shakeups all in the news.
Here’s what has been making headlines over the past two weeks:
📉 Canada lifts most counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, with price relief on the way
🌱 Friendlier raises $4.5M to expand reusable food packaging network
🥖 Puratos opens new innovation centre in Montréal to serve Quebec’s baking sector
🥦 Yves Veggie Cuisine to be discontinued after 40 years in market
Canada–U.S. Trade Brief: Canada Lifts Most Counter-Tariffs on U.S. Goods
Breaking down what’s changing in Canada-U.S. relations—and what it means for Canada’s food sector.
Most of Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods came down earlier this week, after Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump agreed to “intensify” stalled trade talks. U.S. tariffs on non-CUSMA-compliant Canadian goods remain steep at 35%, but both sides say free trade has been re-established for the “vast majority” of goods.
-
The federal government has launched the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), which will be delivered by regional development agencies. Applications will open soon, offering SMEs funding to cut costs, strengthen supply chains, and explore new markets in response to tariff uncertainty.
The tariff rollback delivers near-term relief, but the bigger story is resilience. Programs like RTRI signal that government and industry are preparing Canadian food exporters for a bumpier trade landscape over the long haul. Food companies should tap into these supports now and explore market diversification opportunities—before the 2026 CUSMA review sets the next rules of the game.
💡 Food Innovation News
-
Guelph-based Friendlier has secured $4.5 million CAD to grow its reusable food packaging network. Already operating in Ontario, Quebec, and B.C., the system has replaced more than 3.3 million single-use containers with partners. The funding round will help Friendlier add micro-sanitation hubs in Winnipeg and Halifax and extend into hot beverages, catering, and retail grab-and-go.
-
Puratos Canada has opened a 3,500-sf innovation centre in Montréal—its third in Canada after Mississauga and Chilliwack. The new facility will provide tailored support for Quebec’s baking sector, with specialized equipment and space for co-creation workshops and testing to help businesses move faster from ideation to commercialization.
-
Yves Veggie Cuisine, one of Canada’s earliest plant-based brands, is being retired by parent company Hain Celestial. Famous for soy-based deli slices, burgers, and veggie dogs, Yves helped bring meat alternatives into Canadian households long before plant protein went mainstream. Its exit reflects the growing pains of a maturing alt-meat category, where legacy brands face tougher competition and shifting consumer expectations.
💰 New Opportunities
🛠️ Job Openings
Here’s a few cool food innovation jobs that popped up recently:
🌟 Highlights from YODL
Catch up on this week’s top YODL conversations…
Do you have something worth including in our next Friday Food Innovation Roundup? Reply to this post to let us know about your news, events, or job openings!