Schwartz’s Deli replaces soda brand amid U.S. aluminum tariffs

Schwartz’s Deli, an iconic smoked-meat establishment in Montreal, has replaced its long-standing Cott’s Black Cherry Soda with a local Quebec-made alternative, Fleischer’s Original Black Cherry Soda.

The shift follows the discontinuation of the canned version of Cott’s Black Cherry Soda by its parent company, Refresco. According to Schwartz’s general manager Frank Silva, the production halt was influenced by American tariffs on aluminum.

The change reflects a broader trend of Canadian businesses adopting a ‘Buy Canadian’ approach to navigate supply chain disruptions caused by trade tensions and tariffs involving the United States.