Our Journey with Vancou-Vert Trading: Bringing Global Snacks to Canada
When we first launched Vancou-Vert Trading in November 2024, we had no idea just how quickly our dream would become a reality. At the time, we were already working with our partners at SipStop Cafe & Community Market in the USA, helping them export Canadian snacks to the U.S. However, it didn't take long for us to realize that there was an exciting opportunity waiting for us in the opposite direction – importing international snacks and food products into Canada. Little did we know, this would mark the beginning of an amazing journey filled with challenges, growth, and, of course, a lot of delicious snacks.
The Spark of an Idea
Our story began with a simple realization: Canadian consumers were eager to try and enjoy imported snacks and products that weren’t readily available here. While working with SipStop, we were able to see firsthand how much demand there was for Canadian snacks across the U.S. It sparked a thought: Why not bring those same hard-to-find international products into Canada? Armed with this idea and a lot of passion, we quickly set to work.
We launched our Shopify website in November 2024, and the response was immediate. People were excited. We’d tapped into a market that had been waiting for a reliable way to get their hands on the global snacks and food they loved, but couldn't easily find in Canada.
The Growing Pains of Business
As with any new business, the early days were filled with excitement and challenges. We were grateful for the overwhelming response from our first customers, many of whom shared their enthusiasm about being able to access snacks and foods from around the world. There was a real sense of community forming, and we could see that we were providing something special.
But, as the months passed, we started running into some unexpected hurdles. Around February 2025, we began to feel the impacts of the new Trump administration tariffs, which introduced challenges with cross-border trade. These new tariffs affected our ability to import certain products efficiently and created delays at the border. We were frustrated, but we knew that if we wanted to continue serving our customers, we had to find a way around these challenges.
Overcoming Obstacles
The border issues and tariff hikes initially slowed our operations, but they didn’t stop us. We worked closely with our partners and suppliers to explore new logistics strategies and alternative supply chain solutions.
The journey has been tough, but overcoming these hurdles helped us refine our operations and solidify our commitment to bringing the best international products to Canada without the heavy burden of tariffs. We felt it was important to make sure our customers could still get the snacks they loved, without the added costs.
A Bright Future Ahead
Now, Vancou-Vert Trading is stronger than ever. We’ve established a loyal customer base who appreciate the convenience of having access to international snacks and food products at a fair price. Our Shopify store continues to grow, and we’re constantly working to expand our product offerings to meet the needs of snack lovers all across Canada.
What started as a small idea has evolved into a full-fledged business, and we couldn’t be more proud of the progress we’ve made. We continue to listen to our customers and improve our services so we can offer the best selection of imported snacks and foods from around the globe.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to see where this journey will take us. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from our customers and partners along the way, and we’re excited for what’s to come.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Story
We want to take this moment to thank each and every one of you who has supported Vancou-Vert Trading since the beginning. Whether you’re a customer, a partner, or a friend, you’ve been an important part of our journey. Together, we’re changing the way Canadians enjoy international snacks and products, and we can’t wait to continue growing with you!
