Food inflation is causing Canadians to spend less at grocery stores.

Opinion: Food sales mirror Canada’s impoverishment

Our population is growing much faster than our GDP and food spending is falling

Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada appears to be a “trading-down” market, a trend that may persist for some time. Recent data from Statistics Canada on the food retail and service industries, as well as fresh GDP figures, paint a concerning picture, especially for those looking to attract more food companies or grocers to our country. Our population grew by […] Read more

The upward trend in grocery fees, primarily driven by Loblaw and Walmart, exacerbates the challenges for suppliers and independent grocers alike.

Opinion: The emerging consensus on food prices

Why all political parties agree that the grocer code of conduct is necessary

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Parliamentary Agriculture Committee has embarked on a mission to address rising food prices, extending an invitation to both Loblaw and Walmart. In a letter from the committee, Ottawa urges both retailers to voluntarily comply with the proposed grocer’s code of conduct or risk facing legislative action. In other words, Canada is on the verge […] Read more


Michael von Massow says Canada’s grocery sector would benefit from more competition, but beleives, “they are not necessarily contributing significantly to food price inflation.”

No silver bullet for food price inflation

The causes might not be what you think they are, one food academic says

Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian food price inflation has many causes, but grocers gouging customers isn’t one of them, Michael von Massow of the University of Guelph said during the December Fields on Wheels conference hosted by the University of Manitoba. Even the carbon tax hasn’t had much impact, according to the associate professor of food […] Read more

Loblaw’s gaffe and apology

Loblaw’s gaffe and apology

The grocers code of conduct is needed to offset political grandstanding

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa recently witnessed a dramatic scene, especially during the proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, where a few witnesses chose to prioritize their agendas over assisting our elected officials in comprehending the complexities of food prices and the necessary actions to be taken. One particular individual, an economist seemingly more interested in grabbing headlines […] Read more



While it’s true that some level of greed exists in the food industry, as in any economic system, it can also be taken to an extreme.

Opinion: Sticker shock on grocery profits hides truth

The total number doesn’t look at profit margins, which paint a clearer picture

Reading Time: 3 minutes When it comes to selecting the most significant non-scandal of 2023, the “greedflation” campaign is the absolute winner. Politicians, and even some knowledgeable economists, have convinced many that Canadian grocers have taken advantage of the recent inflationary cycle to profit unfairly. Despite compelling data and many reports pointing to the contrary, many Canadians remain convinced […] Read more


“We’ve had a massive trading down in food choices in Canada over the past year, mostly from February to October. That is stabilizing now.” – Sylvain Charlebois, Dalhousie University.

Report sees lower Canadian food inflation through end of 2024

Project lead Sylvain Charlebois sees return to inflation “sweet spot” by year-end

Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian food prices are expected to rise between 2.5 and 4.5 per cent in 2024, according to a new report. “It is probable that Canadians will continue to experience the strain of food inflation compounded by increasing costs of housing, energy and various other expenditures,” says Canada’s Food Price Report 2024, an annual joint effort […] Read more

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Canadian food inflation to slow through 2024, report says

More certainty has brought an uptick in grocer promotions, but consumers are struggling

Canadian food prices are expected to rise between 2.5 and 4.5 per cent in 2024, according to a new report. “It is probable that Canadians will continue to experience the strain of food inflation compounded by increasing costs of housing, energy and various other expenditures,” according to Canada’s Food Price Report 2024.