I’ve been doing the ‘buy Canadian’ thing for a few years now. I actually enjoy the game of trying to find cool folks making cool stuff and I know that there are others like me just like there are people who lack the time or inclination to do the research.

I also think it can be tricky for people looking at starting a business to be able to identify a need.

So what’s a product you don’t know of a Canadian alternative to?

Personally, it’s cast iron cookware. Meyer makes great stainless stuff, but there isn’t a single foundry making cast iron cookware in Canada. I’ve actually started emailing a few to see if I can find a Canadian foundry that would be willing to batch produce cast iron skillets. Finding a local brand already doing it would be a LOT easier!

  • Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.caEnglish
    5·
    1 day ago

    Meyer makes cast iron cookware. https://meyercanada.ca/search?q=iron&type=product

    Edit: looks like the cast iron products are not made in Canada. Meyer bought the old Paderno factory and is basically Chinese owned. They also make the Canadian products for Paderno, which is a brand name owned by Canadian Tire.

    Sadly, we used to have a complete real set of Paderno cookware from 20 years ago. Was replaced with a Chinese made Lagostina set that we received as a gift. Now looking for a new set, and Meyer really only makes complete sets, no open stock, especially for sauté pans which we use a lot. Guess we will have to go made in EU.

    • potate@lemmy.caOP
      3·
      1 day ago

      I don’t think their cast iron is made in Canada - but I emailed customer service for confirmation.

      • Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        1 day ago

        Looking at their page some more, looks like it isn’t. All their made in Canada products are labelled as such. Will edit my reply.

    • LimpRimble@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      1 day ago

      Meyer makes

      Are they made in Canada though?

      Canadian Owned: No

      If you’re looking to buy Meyer, keep a close eye on where it’s made, as they have factories in China, Thailand, and Italy, so just because it says Meyer, it may not be made in Canada. Their website is pretty clear about what products are made in Canada, as clearly, they see this as a differentiator in the Canadian market.
      From: madeinca.ca

      The Anglicized name of the family business, a transliteration of the Chinese characters for “beautiful” and “Asia” (“mai” and “yah”), was Meyer Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
      From: encyclopedia.com

      • Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.caEnglish
        3·
        1 day ago

        Thank you. Looks like Meyer bought the Paderno factory. Now making KitchenAid, Meyer and Paderno. Guess that also explains why Paderno is so bad now.