Windsor-based Dainty Foods to separate Canadian, American production as it launches new product line

A Windsor-based company that’s known for its rice products has just launched a new line of pasta side dishes.

And the CEO of Dainty Foods says it’s aiming to keep Canadian production of the TimeWise products in Canada.

James Maitland says the plan to expand Dainty’s product line predates the trade war with the United States.

But the plan to separate production by market was influenced by the policies of the Trump administration.

“What we saw and what we’re seeing indicators of — that’s our long term goal is to have the Canadian operation be 100 per cent dedicated to Canada and the U.S. operation 100 per cent dedicated to the U.S.,” Maitland said.

Dainty was hit with tariffs from both Canada and the U.S. when the trade war began in early 2025.

The company ships 50 per cent of its finished products to the U.S., Maitland said, which were being targeted by U.S. tariffs. 

It also imports 80 per cent of its rice from the U.S., which resulted in counter-tariffs from Canada. 

Had the tariff regime continued, it would've driven up Dainty's costs by 50 per cent, he said.

The uncertainty prompted the company to delay expansion plans in the U.S.

Since then, the U.S. and Canada have returned to following the terms of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement (CUSMA), freeing Dainty from the tariff hit at least for the duration of the agreement.

And the company has gone ahead with the purchase of a new U.S. facility, which should be operating by late 2026 or early 2027, Maitland said.

It had just completed a $25-million renovation of its Canadian facility in anticipation of the new product line prior to the start of the trade war. 

Dainty decided to expand its product line because it saw a gap in the ready-to-eat pasta market, Maitland said, and the experience of its sister companies led managers to believe they could offer a high quality, lower cost product.