diff --git a/custom_components/shopping_list_manager/data/catalog_loader.py b/custom_components/shopping_list_manager/data/catalog_loader.py
index 2f168aa..a79719d 100644
--- a/custom_components/shopping_list_manager/data/catalog_loader.py
+++ b/custom_components/shopping_list_manager/data/catalog_loader.py
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
-
 """Product catalog loader for Shopping List Manager."""
 import json
 import logging
-import os
 from typing import List, Dict, Any
+import aiofiles
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def load_product_catalog(component_path: str, country_code: str = "NZ") -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
-    """Load product catalog from JSON file.
+async def load_product_catalog(component_path: str, country_code: str = "NZ") -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Load product catalog from JSON file asynchronously.
     
     Args:
         component_path: Path to the component directory
@@ -18,26 +17,28 @@ def load_product_catalog(component_path: str, country_code: str = "NZ") -> List[
     Returns:
         List of product dictionaries
     """
+    import os
+    
     # Try country-specific catalog first
     if country_code:
-        country_file = os.path.join(
+        catalog_file = os.path.join(
             component_path, "data", f"products_catalog_{country_code.lower()}.json"
         )
-        if os.path.exists(country_file):
-            catalog_file = country_file
-            _LOGGER.debug("Using country-specific product catalog: %s", country_code)
-        else:
+        if not os.path.exists(catalog_file):
             _LOGGER.warning(
-                "No country-specific catalog found for %s",
-                country_code
+                "No country-specific catalog found for %s at %s",
+                country_code,
+                catalog_file
             )
             return []
     else:
         return []
     
     try:
-        with open(catalog_file, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-            data = json.load(f)
+        # Use aiofiles for async file reading
+        async with aiofiles.open(catalog_file, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            content = await f.read()
+            data = json.loads(content)
             
         _LOGGER.info(
             "Loaded product catalog version %s for region %s",