Canadian in US

rea · #1 (**permalink**) 02-15-2006, 10:51 AM

Have to say to all you Americans out there - I was totally impressed with the number of restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores that offered no sugar added versions of their products in the US.

Went down to Vegas last year, and it was a shock. In Canada, I have maybe two coffee shops I know of that offer sugar free specialty coffees, and its very hard to find many of the not-so-healthy but no-sugar added candies or treats that are nice to have once in a while.

TvBabe · #2 (**permalink**) 02-15-2006, 12:05 PM

You really can't compare what is available in both countries, it's an unfair comparison. The US has what over 200 million in population and Canada has around 32 million? The bigger the market the more likely a product can succeed.

If Canada had a similiar market we'd have the same products. Also many products found in the States are not willing to comply with Canadian laws and label their products in both official languages and that's why we don't see them on shelves in Canada.

rea · #3 (**permalink**) 02-15-2006, 02:56 PM

Thats totally true.

But its not really a comparison, I was just stating how interesting of a fact it was.

I think alot of it is because of the larger population, and the higher rate of diabetes.

Europe also has a high population - and you don't see that type of food market there either.

But it still astounded me!

rzrbks · #4 (**permalink**) 02-15-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

rea

Thats totally true.

But its not really a comparison, I was just stating how interesting of a fact it was.

I think alot of it is because of the larger population, and the higher rate of diabetes.

Europe also has a high population - and you don't see that type of food market there either.

But it still astounded me!

In the U.S., the philosophy is

In Don't Know what I want but I want it NOW.

So, Corps. spend Bazillions of $ trying to find out what They Want.

DeusXM · #5 (**permalink**) 02-16-2006, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Europe also has a high population - and you don't see that type of food market there either.

Europe isn't really a single market though. Despite the existence of the EU, there's a whole host of individual regulations for each country, not to mention language barriers. As a very crass generalisation too, Europeans simply don't seem to be as consumerly inclined as Americans

It's a double-edged sword. When I was in the US I was dead pleased about the variety of diet soft drinks available, although the flipside is that there are also so many more ways to insert sugar into your body.