Schwartz's Deli, a Montreal institution, has officially retired its long-standing partnership with Cott's Black Cherry Soda. The landmark smoked-meat establishment has instead adopted Fleischer's, a Quebec-made beverage, to maintain its traditional menu offerings.
Aluminum Tariffs and the End of Cott's Canadian Production
The decision to discontinue Cott's production in Canada was driven by economic pressures on the multinational company Refresco. As reported by the source, rising costs associated with American tariffs on aluminum made the low-volume canned drink unprofitable to manufacture within Canada.
Saibal Ray, a professor of operations management at McGill University, highlighted the severity of these material costs. Ray noted that aluminum cans can account for as much as one-third of the total cost of producing a soft drink. This makes specialized products like Cott's Black Cherry Soda particularly susceptible to fluctuations in the global metals market. Additionally, a 2023 change in Quebec's recycling system, which added a ten-cent deposit to cans, further complicated the local market for Refresco. This combination of trade-driven material costs and local regulatory shifts effectively priced the beverage out of the Canadian market.
Victor Lukoshius and the St-Hyacinthe Alternative
Montreal-born producer Victor Lukoshius has stepped in to fill the void with Fleischer's Original Black Cherry Soda. The report says Lukoshius began developing this specific flavor profile two years ago after hearing rumors of Cott's potential exit from the Canadian market.
Operating out of a facility in St-Hyacinthe, east of Montreal, Lukoshius sources his ingredients locally and has the cans printed in Montreal to ensure the product remains as regional as possible. This localized supply chain is intended to preserve the specific taste of black cherry soda that has been a staple at Jewish delis and hotdog stands across the province for generations.
The Double-Cost Reality of Fleischer's Cans
Switching to a local supplier has introduced new pricing dynamics for the patrons of Schwartz's Deli. Frank Silva, the deli's general manager, noted that Fleischer's cans cost approximately twice as much as the previous Cott's product.
To manage these higher costs, the deli has utilized the larger size of the Fleischer's cans to encourage sharing among customers. Despite the price increase , early feedback from visitors, such as Toronto resident Liam Keenan, suggests that the taste profile remains consistent with the tradition customers expect. Similarly, Ann Thinghuus, who visited from Vancouver, praised the visible Canadian flag on the new packaging, noting that supporting local businesses is a priority during current trade tensions.
Will Fleischer's survive the next aluminum price spike?
While the switch to Fleischer's supports Quebec manufacturing,the long-term viability of this arrangement remains an open question. victor Lukoshius has acknowledged that his small-scale operation in St-Hyacinthe is not immune to the same inflationary pressures and tariffs that drove Refresco away.
It remains unclear if Fleischer's can maintain these prices if aluminum costs spike again, or if the deli will eventually face another menu overhaul. Furthermore, the source does not confirm whether Refresco's exit from the Canadian market is permanent or merely a temporary pause in production.
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