Nestle CanadaB次元官网网址檚 decision to pull its pizza and frozen meals from Canada over the next six months could leave a gap in supermarket freezers, a food expert says.

The four brands that will no longer be sold in the freezer aisle at Canadian grocery stores are Delissio, StoufferB次元官网网址檚, Lean Cuisine and Life Cuisine.

Nestle said it will work with its retail partners to facilitate the exit of these products from stores.

Still, the move could leave grocers scrambling to replace the popular frozen products, said Sylvain Charlebois, a food policy professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 going to be a void in the freezer aisle,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t will be difficult for other (consumer packaged goods) companies to pick up the slack that quickly.B次元官网网址�

Current labour shortages would make it hard for another company to fill the gap right away, he said.

In addition, it can take years to expand a facilityB次元官网网址檚 capacity or build a new plant to increase production or add new products, Charlebois said.

B次元官网网址淭his could be an opportunity for Canadian companies or companies based here,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut it takes two years to design and launch a new frozen food (stock keeping unit).B次元官网网址�

Moreover, inflation has diverted spending away from restaurants and to grocery stores as Canadians look to save money, a trend that has likely boosted demand for prepared frozen foods, Charlebois said.

B次元官网网址淐onsumers are eating more at home B次元官网网址� you would think that demand for frozen (food) is only going to go up,B次元官网网址� he said.

Nestle said it is focusing on categories that support long-term business growth, including confectionary, coffee, ice cream, premium water and pet food.

Nestle Canada president and CEO John Carmichael says this decision will allow the company to further invest in the categories itB次元官网网址檚 prioritizing.

The company does not manufacture these products in Canada, so no manufacturing facilities in Canada will be affected.