Vancouver deli hit with hefty bill after products stall at border

A specialty grocery store is losing thousands of dollars due to shipping delays – an additional and unexpected cost in an already difficult economic climate.

A longstanding family-run business in Vancouver is experiencing frustrating, costly and unexplained shipping delays at the border.

Mediterranean Specialty Foods on Commercial Drive imports food from overseas – mainly Türkiye – in bulk every few months.

“More often than not, those shipping containers have been delayed,” said Ahmet Gurses, who helps run the Specialty Food store.

The store offers homemade hummus, baked goods like baklava and a variety of international products including olives and cheeses from countries including Greece, Macedonia and Lebanon.

Gruses told CTV News that as they were preparing for the Christmas rush, a container was held by the Canada Border Services Agency for months before arriving on December 25th.

He says his family’s business was forced to pay hundreds of dollars per day to a customs broker, which added several thousand dollars more to the container’s price, which has soared.

“It was originally around $65,000 to $70,000. Now it’s gone up to $90,000. And we’re worried it might go up to above the $100,000 mark if this keeps up,” said Gurses.

“I am praying that doesn’t happen to us because I don’t know how we can handle that.”

He went on to explain that if it did, they wouldn’t be able to stay open.

CTV News contacted CBSA about the family’s concerns and the agency provided a written statement, declining to speak directly about the Gurses situation.

“The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for establishing the policies that govern the importation of food, plant and animal products into Canada. CBSA is responsible for administering and enforcing these policies to the extent that they apply at the border,” a spokesperson wrote.

The agency added that goods entering the country undergo examination and inspection based on the risk they present to Canadians’ health, safety, and security.

“Under the authority of the Customs Act, the CBSA has the authority to examine shipments imported to Canada and may detain goods suspected of non-compliance,” the statement continued.

Ian Lee, an associate professor at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, believes this process is in good faith and ensures everyone’s safety. However, the strict measures could be influenced by more than just concerns over safety.

“There are increasing suggestions and claims made that some countries are using food safety as a non-tariff barrier and a subtle form of protectionism,” said Lee.

He said it remains unclear if that is what Canada is doing in this case, but with heightened tensions in international trade, it could be a possibility.