Schwartz's Deli in Montreal has replaced its long-standing partnership with Cott's Black Cherry Soda in favor of the Quebec-based Fleischer's. This transition follows a decision by Refresco to cease the Canadian manufacturing of Cott products.
How US aluminum tariffs killed the Cott's can
The disappearance of Cott's from Montreal's most famous smoked-meat shop was not a matter of taste , but of trade policy. According to the report, the discontinuation of the canned soda was driven largely by American tariffs on aluminum, which rendered the production of the beverage economically unviable for the multinational owner, Refresco. Because the distribution of the specific black cherry flavor was limited, the increased overhead costs became an insurmountable barrier.
The financial pressure is significant because of how the beverage supply chain operates. Saibal Ray, a professor of operations management at McGill University, explains that aluminum cans can represent as much as one-third of the total cost of producing a soda. As reported, most cans are manufactured in the United States using Canadian aluminum, meaning the product is effectively tariffed twice before it even reaches a shelf in Montreal. This geopolitical friction turned a staple of the Schwartz's Deli experience into a liability for Refresco.
Victor Lukoshius and the St-Hyacinthe alternative
To ensure that the tradition of pairing rich smoked meat with a sweet and spicy black cherry beverage survived, Montreal-born brewer Victor Lukoshius stepped in. Operating out of his faiclity in St-Hyacinthe, east of Montreal, Lukoshius developed Fleischer's Original Black Cherry Soda specifically to fill the void left by the multinational's exit . He began this process two years ago after receiving signals that Cott's might end its Canadian production.
Unlike the previous supply chain, Fleischer's is designed for local resilience. Lukoshius sources his ingredients locally and handles the printing of his cans directly in Montreal. By shortening the supply chain and removing the reliance on US-based canning facilities, Fleischer's is able to withstand the same tariff pressures that forced Refresco to abandon the Canadian market. This move preserves a culinary pairing that has defined the Schwartz's Deli visit for nearly a century.
The 10-cent deposit and the price of tradition
The shift to a local provider comes at a time of changing regulatory and consumer landscapes in Quebec. a 2023 update to the provincial recycling system, which introduced a ten-cent deposit for canned drinks, may have further complicated the economics for large-scale manufacturers like Refresco. Now, customers at Schwartz's Deli are paying roughly twice as much for a can of Fleischer's as they did for Cott's, though general manager Frank Silva notes that the larger size of the new cans often leads customers to share the drink.
This price increase has not deterred patrons, who are increasingly motivated by a "Buy Canadian" sentiment . Visitors such as Liam Keenan from Toronto and Ann Thinghuus from Vancouver have expressed appreciation for the Canadian flag on the Fleischer's can. for these consumers,the beverage is no longer just a refreshment but a symbol of local endurance amid a disruptive trade war with the United States.
Will Refresco ever return to Canadian manufacturing?
While the adoption of Fleischer's has been a success for Schwartz's Deli, several questions remain regarding the broader beverage market. it is currently unknown if Refresco has any long-term strategy to resume Canadian production should aluminum tariffs be lifted or renegotiated. The report focuses on the deli's successful pivot, but it does not clarify if other Montreal establishments are facing similar supply shortages for other Cott-branded products.
Furthermore, the source provides the perspective of the deli and the new local brewer, but lacks a direct statement from Refresco regarding the specific volume of losses that triggered the manufacturing halt. Whether this is a temporary retreat or a permanent exit from the Canadian canning sector remains to be seen.
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