Touchscreen at the Heart of the Buy Canadian Movement

A young IT professional from Brandon has developed an innovative app designed to help Canadians easily find domestic food products. The app, known as CanMade, allows users to scan barcodes with their smartphones and quickly determine whether a food item is Canadian-made.

Hashim Farooq's Vision

Hashim Farooq, a 22-year-old graduate from Brandon University, released CanMade in February. Since its launch, it has been downloaded over 4,000 times, demonstrating a strong interest in supporting Canadian goods.

Farooq was motivated to create this app after noticing an increase in social media discussions encouraging Canadians to buy local products, especially in response to U.S. tariff threats. "I just saw an opportunity to help Canadians," he mentioned in a recent interview.

How the App Works

The CanMade app utilizes an open-source database from OpenFoodFacts.org, which collects global food product information. Farooq dedicates his personal time to regularly update this database by visiting grocery store websites, but faces challenges due to data protection measures on these sites.

He recognizes the importance of creating a reliable and accurate database, as many consumers are now more cautious about their purchases than ever before. Currently, the app identifies products labeled as "Made in Canada"—which must contain at least 51% Canadian content—and "Product of Canada," which requires at least 98% Canadian input.

User Interaction and Feedback

Since its inception, users have scanned over 9,000 products, with popular searches including coffee and cereal items. Farooq has received hundreds of emails from users, expressing gratitude for the app and some from companies ensuring that their product data is correct.

Farooq is actively exploring ways to further improve the app, including the ability to crowdsource product information from users. He emphasizes that while the app strives for accuracy, it's essential for users to verify product details before making a purchase.

The Importance of Supporting Local

Farooq firmly believes that buying Canadian products is more crucial than ever. He maintains that efforts to support local goods should transcend political views, promoting unity among Canadians. Farooq's goal is to assist consumers in making informed decisions that favor domestic products.

In addition to CanMade, there are other apps developed by various individuals aimed at promoting Canadian goods, such as O SCANada and I Buy Canadian. These apps collectively reflect a growing movement towards endorsing local manufacturers and sellers.

Conclusion

Hashim Farooq's dedication to building software that supports Canadian businesses highlights an important trend in today’s consumer behavior. As more people turn to technology to shop consciously, apps like CanMade play a significant role in helping consumers make informed choices.

Canada, technology, app, business