The race against tariffs: How Lineage helped a frozen food customer avoid disruption
August 25, 2025
Case Study Snapshot
Issues Addressed
- Looming tariffs on Canadian imports
- Cross-border transport under deadline pressure
- Inventory protection and cold chain coordination
- Avoiding added costs and U.S. store shortages
Overview
With potential tariffs threatening to stall shipments and spike costs, a Canadian frozen food manufacturer needed a fast cross-border solution. Lineage stepped in, helping the customer stay ahead of disruption and keep product moving into U.S. retail channels.
How Lineage helped a food manufacturer beat the tariff clock
Sudden trade changes can send shockwaves through even the most stable supply chains. That was the reality facing one Lineage customer, a Canadian frozen food manufacturer, when news broke that tariffs on cross-border imports were likely on the horizon.
With pricing, timing and customer relationships on the line, they needed to act fast, before new costs and delays took hold. So they turned to Lineage.
The problem: beat the deadline to avoid added costs and delays
As news spread that tariffs on Canadian imports might soon take effect, the stakes were clear. Getting product into the U.S. before tariffs kicked in meant preserving inventory levels, avoiding extra costs and keeping store shelves stocked for their U.S. retail partners. Their goal: avoid potential supply chain disruptions and price increases for their customers at checkout.
As is often the case for sudden disruptions in the supply chain, there wasn’t time for extensive planning sessions or drawn-out solutions. The customer needed real answers, and they needed them fast. Fortunately, they had a logistics partner in Lineage.
“The Lineage team in North America swiftly executed the recent product transfer to the U.S., adapting on short notice to meet a tight deadline and avoid extra costs due to the potential impending tariffs. Their efforts and flexibility during this unprecedented time in trading history were greatly appreciated.”
— Corporate Transportation Manager, Canadian Food Manufacturer
The solution: agile thinking meets the right fit
The first thing we did was get on the phone. Not just with the customer, but across our internal teams. Alignment was essential and we needed everyone on board. It wasn't just about cold storage space. It was about finding a facility that made geographic sense and the integrated solutions needed to get the product from point A to point B, quickly. This required coordinating freight across the border under the pressure of a looming deadline.
We proposed a plan using a Lineage warehouse in the Pacific Northwest, close to the Canadian border and key U.S. destinations and already equipped for temperature-controlled product. Within days, it was all in motion.
The solution wasn’t just about finding space, it required building a fast, compliant and integrated solution for their cross-border supply chain.
We helped our customer get ahead by providing:
Expertise to find the right facility
Coordinated support across teams
Speed to execute under pressure
More than storage
What the customer needed went beyond just storage. Our teams quickly aligned across functions—operations, transportation, warehousing—to deliver a holistic cold chain solution that included pallet-level planning, fulfillment coordination and cross-border transportation.
The right location
With a short window to act, geography mattered. Lineage identified a facility in the Pacific Northwest that checked every box: close to the Canadian border, near key U.S. retailers and ready with the temperature-controlled infrastructure needed to protect frozen product. The location wasn’t just convenient, it was critical.
The right communication
Because Lineage already understood the customer’s business, we were able to onboard them quickly. Our teams expedited the setup in the Warehouse Management System, helping ensure product could start moving into storage without delay.
The right platform
To keep everything connected and visible, the customer enrolled in Lineage Link®—our digital platform for real-time supply chain visibility. It allowed teams to monitor inventory, schedule appointments and track orders in motion.
The result: fast action, smooth handoff
In less than a week, the plan was in place and the product was moving. Our customer’s frozen meals were transported across the border and stored at our Pacific Northwest facility; cleared, cataloged and ready for U.S. fulfillment.
Why it worked: the Lineage difference
When policies shift without warning, it pays to have a partner who can flex. Our customer avoided disruption by leaning on:
- Cross-border transportation solutions ready to move on short notice
- Strategically located U.S. facilities positioned near the Canadian border
- Integrated cold chain services that connect storage, transportation and fulfillment
This wasn’t just about reacting quickly. It was about having the right tools and the right people in the right place, before the clock ran out.
Built for what comes next
Trade policies will change. Markets will shift. But with a partner like Lineage, you don’t have to navigate that uncertainty on your own.
Whether it’s a looming tariff or a new logistics challenge, we help customers stay ahead of disruption and keep their business moving forward.
