Northern grocers and holiday bakers face a shortage of sugar.
In the baking aisle, certain northern shoppers are taking a second glance these days. Instead of finding sugar, they encounter either empty or nearly empty shelves.
Following a two-month strike at the Vancouver-based Rogers Sugar refinery, the supply is depleting.
Among the three major sugar refineries in the country that process imported cane sugar, the Rogers Sugar refinery in Vancouver is currently experiencing an interruption in production. This is having a ripple effect on the supply chain and availability of sugar in western and northern Canada.
Towards the end of last week, Rogers Sugar Inc. announced its request for mediation to facilitate the resolution of an eight-week-long strike at its Vancouver refinery. Since September 28, 138 workers have been on strike.
The outcome of mediation efforts between Rogers Sugar and its workers remains uncertain. Even if production resumes in the near future, there is no information on the timeline for the supply chain to replenish shelves to a more typical level in the northern regions.
