Key takeaways from the CHFA Supplier Roundtable

Submitted by CHFA

The Supplier Roundtable, held at CHFA NOW Vancouver 2025, was led by Suzie Yorke, Founder of 4X Better Chocolates, Love Good Fats, and Founders Helping Founders. The session brought up some timely and honest conversations about tariffs.

 “Tariffs are definitely putting pressure on the industry, but they’re also pushing companies to think differently and explore new opportunities,” reported a CHFA rep. One of the big takeaways was the importance of staying connected with others in the industry, sharing insights, finding partnerships, and learning from each other.

 There was a lot of talk around leveraging Canadian brands in light of the tariffs. Some saw potential in interprovincial trade and collaborating with other smaller companies to discover new ingredients or product pairings.

 According to the CHFA rep, “Label transparency is becoming more important. For suppliers, it means taking a closer look at product components, which could lead to sourcing more local ingredients. For consumers, clearer labelling makes it easier to identify and choose Canadian-made products. That said, challenges like tariff confusion, reduced operations, and potential impacts on product quality remain top of mind.”

 Funding was another major topic, with the group sharing ideas like private partnerships, platforms like movement51 (focused on women-led ventures), government programs, and corporate trade options through AMS. The key message was to do a cost-benefit analysis and choose the fastest, most efficient path to profitability.

 Finally, the group explored new ways to sell, beyond the traditional retail space. One example that stood out was a vitamin E spray now being sold through Booster Juice.

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