Huge appliance brand leaving China to avoid tariffs
A top kitchen gadget company leaves China to dodge tariffs.
It’s the kind of product you didn’t know you needed — until you used it.
Across TikTok, creators are showing off how they’re transforming protein shakes, canned fruit, or even leftover coffee into creamy, soft-serve-style desserts.
One popular video calls it “like having a FroYo shop in your kitchen.” Others post “dupe recipes” for Cold Stone or Jeni’s, sparking thousands of views and comment threads.
Related: Tariffs to hit a grocery item already battered by price hikes
The obsession has only deepened on Reddit, where entire threads are dedicated to swapping flavor hacks and sharing tips with new users.
That kind of cult following doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of a product that hit a sweet spot — literally and figuratively — for consumers who wanted a better way to make their favorite treats at home.
And while the online buzz is focused on ice cream, the company behind the device is now making a massive, behind-the-scenes move that could reshape how it builds and delivers its viral products.
That company is SharkNinja — the maker of the Ninja Creami. Image source: Shutterstock
SharkNinja is shifting supply chain out of China
SharkNinja plans to manufacture nearly all of its household appliances outside of China by the end of 2025, according to CEO Mark Barrocas.
During the company's Q1 earnings call, Barrocas said, “Our high-quality, fast-turn, low-cost, and highly diversified supply chain has taken an enormous effort to achieve and stands as a key competitive advantage for SharkNinja.”
He framed this infrastructure as a central piece of the company’s long-term strategy, especially as it works to reduce exposure to Chinese manufacturing.
SharkNinja began plotting its exit from China back in 2018, when the Trump administration slapped steep tariffs on a wide range of Chinese imports, forcing companies to rethink their manufacturing footprints.
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The company has since shifted production to a number of Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
By the end of Q2 this year, the company expects to have 90% of its U.S. volume manufactured outside of China.
Barrocas noted that this shift has already helped improve supply chain flexibility — and that the company’s cost-saving moves, from feature tweaks to supplier negotiations, are boosting profitability.
How SharkNinja is boosting margins despite tariff pressure
While the Ninja Creami may be dominating social media, SharkNinja is playing a long game to protect its margins and reduce volatility.
CEO Mark Barrocas told investors that tariffs have already cost the company “hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Rather than pull back, the company doubled down — ditching low-margin products, upgrading packaging, and repositioning itself with premium-priced launches that customers are still snapping up.
