Chapman's is replacing 70% of its American ingredients — now its butter tart flavour just won ‘Best Ice Cream’ on the world stage

For Canadians trying to keep more of their grocery dollars at home, it’s a useful case study. Overhauling a supply chain takes years, not just a few weeks. And that a little maple leaf stamped on the box doesn’t always mean what shoppers think it does.

What did Chapman’s win — and why does it matter?

The International Ice Cream Consortium (IICC), an association of independent ice cream manufacturers founded in 1986, held its conference in Argentina from Oct. 12 to 17, bringing together makers from 13 countries.

Officially rolled out in June, Chapman’s Pecan Butter Tart flavour swirls subtle notes of maple with praline pecans and buttery sugar cookie chunks — all churned with 100% Canadian dairy. CEO Ashley Chapman told CTV News the team tasted local butter tarts to get the blend right, adding the company has “a lot of serious butter tart people in house.”

It’s not the company’s first taste of international honour. Chapman’s took best caramel ice cream in 2024 and was named Ice Cream Maker of the Year in 2025.

How is Chapman’s dropping U.S. ingredients without raising prices?

The search for alternative suppliers began in March 2025 following the announcement of initial U.S. tariffs. At the time, the ice cream maker said it would absorb immediate cost increases rather than pass them on.

Now Chapman’s says it’s well on track to swap out over 70% of its American ingredients and components for Canadian or international sources by mid-2027, according to CBC News. That includes moving wafer production for its ice cream sandwiches to Canada and signing a five-year contract for Canadian-made cones. Supply shifts also include sourcing almonds from Australia and cherries from Chile, supported by a corporate pledge to freeze prices until March 2028.

In a social media post, the company framed the shift as part of its “outright rejection of these unjustified tariffs.”

For shoppers, the lesson is simple: switching suppliers takes time. Buying local is a long-term goal, not an instant flip of the switch. A price freeze is a company promise, not a guarantee across every product on the shelf.

Does ‘Made in Canada’ mean the food inside is Canadian?

Not necessarily. In Canada, food origin claims must align with guidelines established by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the federal body overseeing domestic food safety and labelling standards.

Under CFIA guidance, “Product of Canada” means all or virtually all of the ingredients are Canadian, which is generally considered to be 98%. A label that simply says “Canadian” carries the same meaning.

“Made in Canada” is a looser definition. It applies when the last substantial transformation of the product happened here, even if the ingredients were imported. In that case, the label must say so.

The least reliable signal is the maple leaf graphic. The CFIA notes the symbol doesn’t always mean a product is Canadian, even in part.