The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, March 14, edition that sales of American products are "rapidly dropping" in grocery stores amid the trade war with the U.S. as shoppers keep a sharp eye on where their food is coming from, according to the chief executive officer of Sobeys parent Empire. The Globe's Susan Krashinsky Robertson writes that CEO Michael Medline said on Thursday during a conference call, "We have heard loud and clear from our customers that they want Canadian products." Empire, which operates grocery banners including Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and IGA, currently sources about 12 per cent of its products from the U.S., Mr. Medline said. The retailer has identified alternative sources in nearly every category, he said, and is also pushing back on suppliers to ensure that "reactionary or unnecessary costs are not passed on to customers." Suppliers who do not want their products to become less competitive are also looking at alternatives, Mr. Medline said. He cited Lindt & Spruengli as one example: about half of the products the Swiss chocolatier sells in Canada come from its U.S. plants, but last week the company decided to shift its supply to the country to sell chocolate coming from Europe.