Loblaws has reversed is its decision to stop carrying French's Ketchup.
In an email to CTV News, from Kevin Groh, Loblaw’s vice president of corporate affairs and communication, says they’ve heard their Loblaws customers.
“We will re-stock French’s ketchup and hope that the enthusiasm we are seeing in the media and on social media translates into sales of the product,” said Groh. “We will work with French’s to make sure we are in-stock as soon as possible.”
Leamington Mayor John Paterson says he’s excited about the decision to re-stock. He says it’s good news for the region.
Earlier on Tuesday, Paterson said he was left shaking his head when he heard Loblaws was going to drop the ketchup made with Leamington tomatoes. He had planned on writing a letter to Loblaws president Galen Westin, but now he won’t have to.
The ketchup is made with tomatoes grown in Leamington and part of the tomato production is based in a local plant that once belonged to Heinz.
Heinz closed the plant in 2014, and about 705 jobs were lost as a result.
Then French's – a company better known to many for its mustard -- started making ketchup, and decided to use tomatoes grown in the southwestern Ontario town.
Last week, Ontario MPP Taras Natyshak presented a petition calling for French's to be served at the Ontario legislature.
And others on social media have taken up the call, with some pointing out that Loblaws no longer stocks French's ketchup. The grocery chain said on Twitter that it was no longer carrying the brand due to low sales and demand.
With files from CTVNews.ca
