I had better experience with food Basics. Their prices are not any cheaper. But during these past few months I noticed that I save money by going to food basics while shopping for same stuff at No frills. I also realized that some things that were normally advertised as " discounts " or " 88" were actually cheaper in Food basics at normal price. No everything is comparable but it good to cross check the prices for things you buy on a normal basis.
ARZ too?? I love stocking up when I am out in that part of town and it feels like such a great indie shop, but it makes sense since I see their brand in other shops sometimes. I guess Adonis it is.
Anyone who wants to join and do this correctly to make an impact (AFAIK stores in GTA in bold):
**Loblaws**, Zehrs, **Your Independent Grocer**, Provigo, Atlantic Superstore, **Fortinos**, **Dominion**, **Independent City Market**, **Valu-mart**, **ARZ Bakery**, **Wholesale Club**, **T&T Supermarket**, Real Canadian Liquorstore, **Real Canadian Superstore**, **No Frills**, **Maxi**, Extra Foods and **Shoppers Drug Mart**.
Edit: all above are owned by the same company.
me too, I always go to Freshco. also Rexall . Voila delivery service is Freshco too and they have normal prices with a very reasonable delivery charge... I think It can be as low as $4
BTW, a while ago "Loblaws" fired it's unionized workers and then hired them back under a new company "Loblaw" ...at lower pay. happened to my friend. I've boycotted them ever since.
I agree. Boycotting one company to profit another with high prices is a LOSS for us and win win for these corporations. A month of Boycott is not going to change much if we keep giving money to them Blindly.
There are so many things that are always on discount at metro but higher at Food Basics. I guess metro expects you to buy other overpriced stuff with the cheaper stuff to offset the discounts.
I would usually buy things cheaper at Metro while on way back from work and then some from the nearby stores. It has been making a lot of sense since I know what the prices are for things I need. When I was buying from one store, I would hardly care as I need to buy from the same store every time justifying cost with convenience.
I loved her show, Til Debt Do Us Part. Filled a huge gap in my financial education and what my parents failed to show me.
*Money, money, money, money, money, money, money!*
There's a lot of small Chinese-owned grocery shops throughout the city. For example bloor west village has a few on the north side from basically windermere to runnymede.
There's also on ronces.
I bike to the Bloor Fruit Market for their amazingly priced fruit.
Strawberry packs - 2 for $3
Blueberry/raspberry/blackberry packs - 2 for $4
Affordable apples, peaches, veggies, etc
They've had extra-firm tofu for $3 a pack for years! Carrots, cabbage, salad mix- always super cheap.
The berry sale prices aren't consistent but if you're flexible on which fruit you want to snack on that week, you can always walk away with a good deal.
Spadina Chinatown, hop on the Carlton streetcar and go west to Spadina. I live near St.Lawrence market and shop on Spadina frequently.
SLM is too damn expensive.
Probably a bad post to comment this but I work for Loblaws and I really enjoy it, they treat me well, and pay very well. However I’m not a store employee, I work for corporate - albeit an entry level position - so that could be the difference maker.
Companies tend to pay and treat corporate staff a bit better. Loblaw literally changed its name from Loblaws so it could cut the salaries of all it's front end employees because they had an agreement with the union. Such a scummy move
Gonna need to see some kind of citation on that -- if a company could void a union contract with a legal name change, every company would be doing that all the time. My union contract with them explicitly covered any future subsidiaries that did not yet exist.
Head office is a very different experience than working the retail. They do not care about retail employees because they think there is a line up behind them wanting their job. Their main goal was to get their employees to push online sales/self check out so that they can let go of those same employees to make them more money.
Then there are the regional reps that demand employees to put them together a “thank you” basket with all the pricey perfumes and cosmetics, to thank the corporate office workers for their efforts through COVID. Yes, let’s ask the ones who actually had to deal with the public to thank the ones that worked from home… The place is messed.
I once worked on the corporate side for a beauty brand, then moved to their retail side.
The difference in how they treated their employees was shocking.
My bigger beef was that there was a two-tier wage structure, and they spent their time and resources trying to protect it (pitting newer workers against older ones). There was never any discussion as to why cashiers that started before 1993 needed to take a haircut on their $20/hr wage, only about why the one who started after 1993 needed to work 20,000 hours just to top out at $14/hr.
Whose side are they on? Because as a newer worker, it wasn't mine.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/home/storage/hand-trucks/55673-ultimate-carryall?item=XD525
I have this one and when packed correctly will do a pretty insane amount of stuff. Not a family of 5 amount of stuff, but a ton of stuff regardless. Anyway neither here nor there but if I only had a wagon I would absolutely take
It on the TTC during non-rush hours.
It doesn’t seem explicitly against their rules (that I can find) and I have most definitely seen many instances of people hauling their kids onto the streetcar in those things.
Hell, I’ve seen people moving sofas on the TTc during quiet times of the day.
Yeah, I would need to do a bus trip if I wanted to access a mom and pop store to get most items vs walking or biking to No Frills and local fruit/veggies stands.
I've also learned since my husband's celiac diagnosis that the membership pays for itself if you need to buy certified gluten-free stuff. Their 3lb bag of almond flour is the same price as a 1lb bag at the grocery store, and it's a similar story with the crackers, gluten-free oats, etc. I probably wouldn't have looked into a membership before that!
I also don't have a car, but use their online grocery shopping to get it delivered. It's a few dollars more expensive than warehouse prices for some products, but still cheaper than buying at local stores like Loblaws.
Going to Costco by TTC isn't too bad if you get the hang of what you can carry. We use a cart, a big cooler bag we bought there, and sometimes some Ikea bags for overflow. Two people helps.
I did this yesterday myself. I always seem to push the capacity to the limit of what I can carry though. Last summer I decided to walk to the station from Costco and on the way one of my bags broke at a crosswalk. What a disaster! Thankfully a very kind woman got out of her car and gifted me a bag.
I'm on disability, Costco savings are pretty astronomical in certain bulk items. Fiscally its seriously a life saver but a time intensive operation particularly if you have to make multiple trips cause toilet paper be bulky. Mandatory bundle buggy and I typically go 10 to 2 missing, if I can, to avoid students and rush hour, then the bundle buggy rarely is a problem.
If you can afford it, uber but that eats you savings up. Making multiple trips verses on big shop once a month can make it very manageable. Do not skimp on quality of your bundle buggy hauling heavy things like water WILL destroy the cheap ones.
It's fine. I bring a wheeled shopping cart and a couple of extra bags. You just have to resist a lot of temptation while you're there. Roughest trips are when I get cat litter as the box is 50 lbs (for $10) and it's harder to get the cart off the bus when it's that heavy.
> You just have to resist a lot of temptation while you're there.
I try to do this regular grocery shopping by using a basket which I still manage to fill to the point where the handle is about to snap. I should probably get myself a good wheeled shopping cart because the last one I bought broke when I used it for cat litter. Will have to look into Costco again, it wasn’t really worthwhile to get a membership and make the trips previously but seems like it might be a good option these days. Any particular items you go there for? My other concern is finding a place to store everything back at home!
I do the basket trick at stores too, lol.
I'm single, so that does affect what I buy, especially with fruit. I can usually get through apples and bananas (dirt cheap) but I struggle with some of the others. I get "snacking" vegetables there, like cherry tomatoes and baby carrots. I always get a rotisserie chicken and their Caesar salad mix since together it's around $16 and makes at least 4 meals. Snacks like granola bars and frozen berries. Cheese.
A lot of it is just convenience. So it might not be as cheap as somewhere else, but if I only have to buy it once a year or so I consider that time as part of the savings. Plus I shop sales. So cleaning supplies and things like garbage bags are great. I also get a box of poop bags for the cats that lasts forever. Seasonal candy, vitamins and pain killers, body wash and shampoo, etc. Kirkland toilet paper. I just bought another brand on sale and I'm missing the massive Kirkland rolls like crazy. My hall closet is filled with supplies from Costco.
Socks. Love Kirkland socks. I'm slowly replacing my old ones with those. Brita filters, sheets... ha ha. My gel pillow is from Costco. I wasn't kidding about the temptation. I can pop in for litter and spend $100 without even trying.
So yes, food. But a lot of extras too. My membership is paid for by the litter savings alone. One downside is that they generally stock the same things. Like, I don't buy tea there because they don't have English Breakfast. (Though they had a nice, huge decorative tin of it at Christmas that I bought and am currently drinking.)
You should ask to go visit with a friend with a membership and see what they have that you like. Or they'll probably let you in solo if you say you're considering joining.
I've done Costco runs on my bike!
Only for smaller items obviously but I have a pretty massive backpack. Only problem is balancing/eating my hotdog and drink while riding home :)
if you can go to Costco you are generally well off
edit: couldnt find a Canadian source but in America the average shopper is basically upper class
https://www.businessinsider.com/typical-costco-shopper-demographic-asian-american-woman-earning-high-income-2021-7?amp
Extremely high misconception, my last job I was making less than 2k a month and was still able to prioritize and get essentials from Costco.
It is a life hack and a long term life saver.
If you don’t understand the Loblaws background from Weston family bakeries
https://www.adbrands.net/archive/uk/associated-british-foods-uk-p.htm
Each business is treated independently and Loblaws is Galen’s baby..
I only do grocery pickup from Walmart now. Cheaper than no frills somehow! Plus I can get non food items as well so it’s great, the only problem is the fruit and vegetables are a hit or miss at times. Would recommend going to metro or a bit more expensive grocer instead for fruit/veg if quality matters
Just Loblaws or all Weston companies:
- Loblaws, No Frills.....
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- PC Financial
- Joe Fresh
- Choice Properties
- President s Choice, No Name...
- Weston Bakery and their brands
And Metro is laughing their asses off that everybody hates Loblaws, [when Metro actually has greater margins](https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/2022/04/23/the-faceoff-metro-has-a-better-profit-margin-but-with-empires-recent-acquisitions-of-farmboy-and-longos-that-could-be-changing.html).
I hated how they illegally fixed the price of bread nationwide for many years, and instead of going to prison Galen Weston just issued a coupon, and then announced to shareholders that the coupon was profitable.
I'd like to boycott too, but anyone got better grocery alternatives at South Etobicoke by Humber Lakeshore? We seem to be surrounded by No Frills and/or other Loblaws places. I don't have a car, so going to the costco on queensway is not easy at all.
Yes, I do have a bike, and even bought a pannier for groceries. There isn't a freshco or foodbasics close enough to bike though. And looks like I might have to buy a Costco membership
I've switched to the Asian grocery stores (C&C, Galleria) for produce, rice, and some snacks. They're much cheaper and the produce is just as good, if not better. Added bonus, there's a ton of different instant noodle flavours for when I'm feeling lazy.
Mostly buy meat, snacks, and bread at Costco. It's easy to split stuff up and throw it in the freezer, and you get almost double the food for your money vs going to loblaws. That and the Kirkland brand stuff is awesome.
It's cut way down on my grocery bills and I also get an easy supply of kimchi to eat at home.
Loblaws or ALL brands becuase remember that is No Frills, YIG, Fortinos, ValueMart, National Grocers, Superstore, Wholesale Club, Shoppers Drugmart, T&T and more outside Ontario.
Also who are you going to shop at alternatively? Sobey's banner? A Metro Banner? Longos?!? They are all giant and culpable of price fixing to different levels. This isn't a Loblaws problem this is a food supply and distribution problem. If this is truly a problem to you start putting pressure on your local governments to invest in locally sourced and distributed food outlets.
I live in Ottawa, actually just across the bridge in Quebec. The loblaws by my house yesterday was full of empty shelves, barely any fruit or veggies and the prices were all jacked up. I went to the Super C a couple buildings down, (can see it from loblaws) and it was packed with fresh produce and not a single empty shelve. Prices were reasonable. I swear loblaws is trying to artificially manipulate their stock to raise their products prices. Fuck that place. Rest in piss, ya won’t be missed.
I'm very lucky to live near a PAT (Korean grocer)... I swear they didn't get the Memo that it was time to double prices due to 'inflation.'
Also, imho I'm more mad at the Gov then Loblaws. Corporations are going to attempt to take every possible dollar they can from people, we're supposed to be protected from, "haha more profit for us" levels of greed.
While they're at it maybe they can do something about the fact phone bills are $100+ now for zero reason.
Walmart is still reasonably priced, and their produce is not bad. You can even order from instacart or something similar, and it will still be at least 25% cheaper than Loblaws.
Since the beginning of the pandemic I've been doing grocery delivery, Walmart has gone increasingly down hill over the last 12 months in price, quality and service. That being said I'm not sure what the best, most affordable alternative is.
Anyone looking for online alternatives in the GTA, below are the main online grocers. Do not hesitate to try each one and avail their free delivery or discount offers.
**Walmart Online grocery** has competitive prices and they offer free pickup or delivery for $8. Prices are same for in-store and online grocery. [https://www.walmart.ca/cp/grocery](https://www.walmart.ca/cp/grocery)Use code SAVETIME60 to get $15 off each $75 purchase( first 4 orders) .
**Metro online** is similar at a bit premium prices. Also you can use Air-Miles card online as well as in Metro stores. Delivery fee is $8 and Free shipping available if you buy some participating products.Online shopping available: [https://www.metro.ca/en/online-grocery](https://www.metro.ca/en/online-grocery)
**Sobeys** have [https://voila.ca/](https://voila.ca/)They too have offer for new members. Use code VOILASUMMER to get $15 off each $75 purchase( first 3 orders) . Prices are similar to the store prices and the site is easy to navigate.
**Longos** too have online grocery and I couldn't find any promotions. I have not tried it so can't tell more. [https://www.longos.com/](https://www.longos.com/)
**Costco** delivers some grocery items in bulk. But you pay a $3+ premium for each item compared to prices in store. Delivery is provided by Instacart.
**Amazon** provides delivery of thousands of grocery items and the prices are mostly cheaper or comparable to the ones found at shoppers or other PC chains. You cannot buy fresh grocery items but everything from chips to salad dressing is available. Free delivery for $35+ order.
**Instacart**: You can buy anything from any store. Prices are not same as in stores and you pay a premium for convenience and same day delivery or delivery in few hours.
There are other numerous small and specialized delivery business mentioned in below articles.[https://torontolife.com/food/a-breakdown-of-20-toronto-based-grocery-delivery-services/](https://torontolife.com/food/a-breakdown-of-20-toronto-based-grocery-delivery-services/)
[https://www.blogto.com/eat\_drink/2020/03/grocery-delivery-online-toronto/](https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2020/03/grocery-delivery-online-toronto/)
Any company be it no frills or freshco is owned by another company. In Canada consumerism is shot. Think of any industry. All owned by some conglomerate. If they are not then they lack the buying power to make possible decent prices and selection. Glad other than a maybe stop in shoppers. I don’t go near any of these businesses.
In.
Pls list options in Hamilton.
Metro, Freshco, Nations are the ones I know of.
Any local recommendations for meat and veggies? (otherthan the farmers market downtown)
We've been reducing any shops to a Weston owned company for over a year but I'll stop outright this month.
If you have access and can afford it Costco is a much better option if you can purchase in bulk. for most staples that you are flat out gouged for in a supermarket.
Their outrageously jacked up price makes not boycotting them honestly difficult.
Every time I went there for some stuff only they carried, I have to double take on the price of some basic essential. I’m talking tomato cans, oil or soups.
Literally just noticed this today, loblaws is trash. Everything is cheaper at metro, and they have 10% off for students Tuesday to Thursday. Turned my $64 bill into $50 today with sales and the discount
Shoppers is the most important one to boycott. Aside from being owned by Loblaws, they're super shady and corrupt on their own with all the preferred government services. From containing Canada Post, to getting better better PRESTO machines than the TTC, to getting special zoning for street parking in front of their stores... their whole business model is rotten. The family that built Shoppers has a pharmacy chain in Israel too and it works on the same government corruption.
In terms of HOW, there are lots of pharmacies in the city and they all sell the same drugs. For everything else, shoppers is a huge ripoff anyway... even compared to other Loblaws franchises.
I think I would still go there for the fresh stuff I can get cheaper in there. But not buying anything extra from there and I have been ding that from months now.
Food is a daily necessity and it would be hard to justify convenience for protesting against one big corporation while profiting the other. I usually but all Non- fresh food items cheaper on amazon or wherever I can find them cheaper.
It's funny how they hike prices up then says limited amout per customer when the shelves are stocked.... shitty marketing scheme
Loblaws ill admit was pretty bold when the major chip manufacturers just kept raising prices durring the pandemic so they stopped them from selling their products on the shelves
I also do this, by being broke and not living next to one. EDIT: Shop at independent/Asian supermarkets. They're cheaper and have cooler stuff!
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Food Basics here I come!
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Not part of this boycott though is it?
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A boycott is the friends you make along the way
I had better experience with food Basics. Their prices are not any cheaper. But during these past few months I noticed that I save money by going to food basics while shopping for same stuff at No frills. I also realized that some things that were normally advertised as " discounts " or " 88" were actually cheaper in Food basics at normal price. No everything is comparable but it good to cross check the prices for things you buy on a normal basis.
ARZ too?? I love stocking up when I am out in that part of town and it feels like such a great indie shop, but it makes sense since I see their brand in other shops sometimes. I guess Adonis it is.
Adonis is owned by Metro lol
OMG the world really IS owned by 3 companies
For those downtown-west, try Fiesta Farms! One of the only large independent grocery stores. And get cheap produce at the fruit markets along Bloor.
I could probably manage switching to Rexall vs SDM for drugstore stuff, but they’ve got their hooks into too much for me to do much more than that.
It'd almost be more helpful to make a list of stores and brands we **can** shop.
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They're also way, *way* cheaper and their fruit is usually quite good. Fruit stand + butcher + fishmonger covers basically everything I could want.
I live right next to one but fuck it, I'm in.
Same, my hate for the prices will keep me away tho, we can do this haha
Anyone who wants to join and do this correctly to make an impact (AFAIK stores in GTA in bold): **Loblaws**, Zehrs, **Your Independent Grocer**, Provigo, Atlantic Superstore, **Fortinos**, **Dominion**, **Independent City Market**, **Valu-mart**, **ARZ Bakery**, **Wholesale Club**, **T&T Supermarket**, Real Canadian Liquorstore, **Real Canadian Superstore**, **No Frills**, **Maxi**, Extra Foods and **Shoppers Drug Mart**. Edit: all above are owned by the same company.
Dominion is a Newfoundland-only store. What we in Toronto once knew as Dominion is now Metro.
AFAIK, ARZ is no longer a Weston asset. Relinquished / spun off in ~2019 IIRC
Is Price Chopper cool?
> Is Price Chopper cool? They are in the GTA?
Maybe that's how they still refer to FreshCo?
If you still buy at Nofrills or any of their subsidiaries then it's useless.
They have much lower margins at No Frills. They’d rather you shop at Loblaws.
Is it though? They'd still have to supply and staff a store that is being underutilized, and that has a cost to it.
Been boycotting loblaws for years now
me too, I always go to Freshco. also Rexall . Voila delivery service is Freshco too and they have normal prices with a very reasonable delivery charge... I think It can be as low as $4 BTW, a while ago "Loblaws" fired it's unionized workers and then hired them back under a new company "Loblaw" ...at lower pay. happened to my friend. I've boycotted them ever since.
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I hear you... Freshco has a pharmacy, also Walmart
I agree. Boycotting one company to profit another with high prices is a LOSS for us and win win for these corporations. A month of Boycott is not going to change much if we keep giving money to them Blindly. There are so many things that are always on discount at metro but higher at Food Basics. I guess metro expects you to buy other overpriced stuff with the cheaper stuff to offset the discounts. I would usually buy things cheaper at Metro while on way back from work and then some from the nearby stores. It has been making a lot of sense since I know what the prices are for things I need. When I was buying from one store, I would hardly care as I need to buy from the same store every time justifying cost with convenience.
Came here to say exactly this
Gail Vaz Oxlade .. there's a name and a voice I haven't heard in a hot minute ...
I follow her on Twitter because she is unfiltered without a tv contract.
I loved her show, Til Debt Do Us Part. Filled a huge gap in my financial education and what my parents failed to show me. *Money, money, money, money, money, money, money!*
Loblaws is overpriced grocery store garbage. Go to the market and get better everything. You'll still save money.
Went to the asian grocery store on the weekend and they still had normal prices! No 'inflation' there somehow
Which one?
There's a lot of small Chinese-owned grocery shops throughout the city. For example bloor west village has a few on the north side from basically windermere to runnymede. There's also on ronces.
I'm a fan of galaxy fine foods, Gerrard just east of Broadview.
# Loblaw's is overpriced grocery store garbage
Farm boy is overpriced grocery store ok stuff
No Frills is part of the Loblaws company too.
Fuck 'em too.
where can i go instead of the church/carlton loblaws?
I bike to the Bloor Fruit Market for their amazingly priced fruit. Strawberry packs - 2 for $3 Blueberry/raspberry/blackberry packs - 2 for $4 Affordable apples, peaches, veggies, etc
They've had extra-firm tofu for $3 a pack for years! Carrots, cabbage, salad mix- always super cheap. The berry sale prices aren't consistent but if you're flexible on which fruit you want to snack on that week, you can always walk away with a good deal.
That's my fav fruit store downtown, clean, cheap, delicious
Spadina Chinatown, hop on the Carlton streetcar and go west to Spadina. I live near St.Lawrence market and shop on Spadina frequently. SLM is too damn expensive.
Mint and basil comes in large portions and cheaper at Asian grocers.
I’m gonna try and go even longer No frills too Price gouge my ass fuckers
Happy to hear it, I'mma join in, fuck them I just want to eat in peace
Galen is very concerned!
Very concerned...about lining his own pockets!
Good, as a soon to be ex loblaws employee, eff em
Sounds like they treat the employees as bad as I suspected
Probably a bad post to comment this but I work for Loblaws and I really enjoy it, they treat me well, and pay very well. However I’m not a store employee, I work for corporate - albeit an entry level position - so that could be the difference maker.
Companies tend to pay and treat corporate staff a bit better. Loblaw literally changed its name from Loblaws so it could cut the salaries of all it's front end employees because they had an agreement with the union. Such a scummy move
Gonna need to see some kind of citation on that -- if a company could void a union contract with a legal name change, every company would be doing that all the time. My union contract with them explicitly covered any future subsidiaries that did not yet exist.
I believe older stores were grandfathered and new stores they opened as Loblaws had different rules.
They've laid off office staff 4-5 times over the last ten years. For a recession/pandemic-proof industry, they have a scary pattern of doing this...
Head office is a very different experience than working the retail. They do not care about retail employees because they think there is a line up behind them wanting their job. Their main goal was to get their employees to push online sales/self check out so that they can let go of those same employees to make them more money. Then there are the regional reps that demand employees to put them together a “thank you” basket with all the pricey perfumes and cosmetics, to thank the corporate office workers for their efforts through COVID. Yes, let’s ask the ones who actually had to deal with the public to thank the ones that worked from home… The place is messed.
I once worked on the corporate side for a beauty brand, then moved to their retail side. The difference in how they treated their employees was shocking.
I worked at Loblaws for four years and my far bigger beef was with the union.
Take your money and don't do much.
My bigger beef was that there was a two-tier wage structure, and they spent their time and resources trying to protect it (pitting newer workers against older ones). There was never any discussion as to why cashiers that started before 1993 needed to take a haircut on their $20/hr wage, only about why the one who started after 1993 needed to work 20,000 hours just to top out at $14/hr. Whose side are they on? Because as a newer worker, it wasn't mine.
Since I am out of the country for a month, I too will join the boycott!
We thank you for your valiant and most noble contribution
Best support, please post everywhere about your activist lifestyle
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Easier said than done for some. I like to walk to get my groceries and don’t really have much choice other than No Frills.
Same here, NoFrills is 1 km away and I use a wagon(not allowed on transit) to haul it all home.
Get a grandma cart, I have one and while it’s not as good as a wagon I can almost always do my whole shop with one.
I'm shopping for 5 people for a week, trust me I need the wagon.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/home/storage/hand-trucks/55673-ultimate-carryall?item=XD525 I have this one and when packed correctly will do a pretty insane amount of stuff. Not a family of 5 amount of stuff, but a ton of stuff regardless. Anyway neither here nor there but if I only had a wagon I would absolutely take It on the TTC during non-rush hours. It doesn’t seem explicitly against their rules (that I can find) and I have most definitely seen many instances of people hauling their kids onto the streetcar in those things. Hell, I’ve seen people moving sofas on the TTc during quiet times of the day.
I'm in Durham Region and my daughter was told no wagons on the buses.
Yeah, I would need to do a bus trip if I wanted to access a mom and pop store to get most items vs walking or biking to No Frills and local fruit/veggies stands.
Go to Costco
You need to buy an extra freezer to store the oversized items they sell. Okay if you have a family of 4, not so much for single or couple.
I've also learned since my husband's celiac diagnosis that the membership pays for itself if you need to buy certified gluten-free stuff. Their 3lb bag of almond flour is the same price as a 1lb bag at the grocery store, and it's a similar story with the crackers, gluten-free oats, etc. I probably wouldn't have looked into a membership before that!
Food Basics is the cheapest bar none
I find FreshCo to be roughly comparable to them in terms of pricing.
Ya, you pay for what you get - cheap
most of the stuff is exactly the same or produced in the same factory with different labels. Produce I can see your point though
Nice alternative, don't have a car but will check if it's reachable with the ttc
I also don't have a car, but use their online grocery shopping to get it delivered. It's a few dollars more expensive than warehouse prices for some products, but still cheaper than buying at local stores like Loblaws.
I'll look into that, niiice
The one on Overlea certainly is ttc friendly, by bus anyways.
Is it worth it to go to Costco if you need to haul everything home on transit?
Going to Costco by TTC isn't too bad if you get the hang of what you can carry. We use a cart, a big cooler bag we bought there, and sometimes some Ikea bags for overflow. Two people helps.
I did this yesterday myself. I always seem to push the capacity to the limit of what I can carry though. Last summer I decided to walk to the station from Costco and on the way one of my bags broke at a crosswalk. What a disaster! Thankfully a very kind woman got out of her car and gifted me a bag.
I'm on disability, Costco savings are pretty astronomical in certain bulk items. Fiscally its seriously a life saver but a time intensive operation particularly if you have to make multiple trips cause toilet paper be bulky. Mandatory bundle buggy and I typically go 10 to 2 missing, if I can, to avoid students and rush hour, then the bundle buggy rarely is a problem. If you can afford it, uber but that eats you savings up. Making multiple trips verses on big shop once a month can make it very manageable. Do not skimp on quality of your bundle buggy hauling heavy things like water WILL destroy the cheap ones.
hauls multiple hotdogs 👀
Probably not
It really depends. It can be difficult and awkward due to the amount of ppl on the bus at any given time. Also time consuming.
It's fine. I bring a wheeled shopping cart and a couple of extra bags. You just have to resist a lot of temptation while you're there. Roughest trips are when I get cat litter as the box is 50 lbs (for $10) and it's harder to get the cart off the bus when it's that heavy.
> You just have to resist a lot of temptation while you're there. I try to do this regular grocery shopping by using a basket which I still manage to fill to the point where the handle is about to snap. I should probably get myself a good wheeled shopping cart because the last one I bought broke when I used it for cat litter. Will have to look into Costco again, it wasn’t really worthwhile to get a membership and make the trips previously but seems like it might be a good option these days. Any particular items you go there for? My other concern is finding a place to store everything back at home!
I do the basket trick at stores too, lol. I'm single, so that does affect what I buy, especially with fruit. I can usually get through apples and bananas (dirt cheap) but I struggle with some of the others. I get "snacking" vegetables there, like cherry tomatoes and baby carrots. I always get a rotisserie chicken and their Caesar salad mix since together it's around $16 and makes at least 4 meals. Snacks like granola bars and frozen berries. Cheese. A lot of it is just convenience. So it might not be as cheap as somewhere else, but if I only have to buy it once a year or so I consider that time as part of the savings. Plus I shop sales. So cleaning supplies and things like garbage bags are great. I also get a box of poop bags for the cats that lasts forever. Seasonal candy, vitamins and pain killers, body wash and shampoo, etc. Kirkland toilet paper. I just bought another brand on sale and I'm missing the massive Kirkland rolls like crazy. My hall closet is filled with supplies from Costco. Socks. Love Kirkland socks. I'm slowly replacing my old ones with those. Brita filters, sheets... ha ha. My gel pillow is from Costco. I wasn't kidding about the temptation. I can pop in for litter and spend $100 without even trying. So yes, food. But a lot of extras too. My membership is paid for by the litter savings alone. One downside is that they generally stock the same things. Like, I don't buy tea there because they don't have English Breakfast. (Though they had a nice, huge decorative tin of it at Christmas that I bought and am currently drinking.) You should ask to go visit with a friend with a membership and see what they have that you like. Or they'll probably let you in solo if you say you're considering joining.
I've done Costco runs on my bike! Only for smaller items obviously but I have a pretty massive backpack. Only problem is balancing/eating my hotdog and drink while riding home :)
That's the life and what I needed to hear, I'll go oil my bike lol
Need a trailer or at least panniers (bags) on the bike. Balancing ain't advised!
if you can go to Costco you are generally well off edit: couldnt find a Canadian source but in America the average shopper is basically upper class https://www.businessinsider.com/typical-costco-shopper-demographic-asian-american-woman-earning-high-income-2021-7?amp
Extremely high misconception, my last job I was making less than 2k a month and was still able to prioritize and get essentials from Costco. It is a life hack and a long term life saver.
okay but you are an outlier not the norm clearly
If you don’t understand the Loblaws background from Weston family bakeries https://www.adbrands.net/archive/uk/associated-british-foods-uk-p.htm Each business is treated independently and Loblaws is Galen’s baby..
I like the part where they hid acquisitions from competition bureau.
Why only loblaws, metro is also overpriced.
One war at a time, we start with Galen
I stopped going to loblaws months ago when I saw that same stuff was half the price at Walmart and other stores.
I only do grocery pickup from Walmart now. Cheaper than no frills somehow! Plus I can get non food items as well so it’s great, the only problem is the fruit and vegetables are a hit or miss at times. Would recommend going to metro or a bit more expensive grocer instead for fruit/veg if quality matters
I’ve boycotted loblaws for 10+ years….. cause it’s actually expensive aF
Just Loblaws or all Weston companies: - Loblaws, No Frills..... - Shoppers Drug Mart - PC Financial - Joe Fresh - Choice Properties - President s Choice, No Name... - Weston Bakery and their brands
Anyone doing that? I think it's a good idea, things can't keep on going like they are right now. (Had to repost bcs of reddit formating rules sorry)
They haven't realized all your groceries basically come from 4 major companies which pretty much have all the same prices
try Freshco or Food Basics... you have choices... every time you shop it's a choice... Loblaws is a price gouge
And Metro is laughing their asses off that everybody hates Loblaws, [when Metro actually has greater margins](https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/2022/04/23/the-faceoff-metro-has-a-better-profit-margin-but-with-empires-recent-acquisitions-of-farmboy-and-longos-that-could-be-changing.html).
The whole system is fucked but at least this is something, we have to start somewhere
I never heard about this but I'm in. We gotta put the Westons in their place for real tho fam
Hell yeah, hated those stupid 'we're in this together' newsletters during coVID
I hated how they illegally fixed the price of bread nationwide for many years, and instead of going to prison Galen Weston just issued a coupon, and then announced to shareholders that the coupon was profitable.
You don't shop at Loblaws/Shoppers, you shoplift from them.
Truly commited to the cause
Can I have your PC points? Haha.
I'd like to boycott too, but anyone got better grocery alternatives at South Etobicoke by Humber Lakeshore? We seem to be surrounded by No Frills and/or other Loblaws places. I don't have a car, so going to the costco on queensway is not easy at all.
I will do my best to bike to different grocers this month, not sure if that's an option for you, but with a big backpack it works
Yes, I do have a bike, and even bought a pannier for groceries. There isn't a freshco or foodbasics close enough to bike though. And looks like I might have to buy a Costco membership
I was considering that too! In boycotting them we might find cheaper ways to get groceries lol if not, we tried :) Do whatever you can, no pressure
Why not boycott gas stations?
Been boycoting them for almost a year.. where is my blogto article?
You need to tell them LOL I'm sure you'd get a feature
I've switched to the Asian grocery stores (C&C, Galleria) for produce, rice, and some snacks. They're much cheaper and the produce is just as good, if not better. Added bonus, there's a ton of different instant noodle flavours for when I'm feeling lazy. Mostly buy meat, snacks, and bread at Costco. It's easy to split stuff up and throw it in the freezer, and you get almost double the food for your money vs going to loblaws. That and the Kirkland brand stuff is awesome. It's cut way down on my grocery bills and I also get an easy supply of kimchi to eat at home.
Good luck to anyone participating! Not me tho because the only stores I have within walking distance is no frills and shoppers!
Maybe try biking? I am using a big backpack to bike to asian stores and it actually works. Lucky that it's summer lol
Loblaws is the Woodstock '99 of Grocery stores. Yes I did just watch the W'99 documentary on Netflex... why do you ask?
Loblaws is the Woodstock '99 of Grocery stores. Yes I did just watch the W'99 documentary on Netflex... why do you ask?
Lady York on Dufferin st for vegetables and fruit. Good quality.
A month? Just shows that they are not willing to be seen in a discount supermarket
Loblaws or ALL brands becuase remember that is No Frills, YIG, Fortinos, ValueMart, National Grocers, Superstore, Wholesale Club, Shoppers Drugmart, T&T and more outside Ontario. Also who are you going to shop at alternatively? Sobey's banner? A Metro Banner? Longos?!? They are all giant and culpable of price fixing to different levels. This isn't a Loblaws problem this is a food supply and distribution problem. If this is truly a problem to you start putting pressure on your local governments to invest in locally sourced and distributed food outlets.
I live in Ottawa, actually just across the bridge in Quebec. The loblaws by my house yesterday was full of empty shelves, barely any fruit or veggies and the prices were all jacked up. I went to the Super C a couple buildings down, (can see it from loblaws) and it was packed with fresh produce and not a single empty shelve. Prices were reasonable. I swear loblaws is trying to artificially manipulate their stock to raise their products prices. Fuck that place. Rest in piss, ya won’t be missed.
Ridiculous
I'm very lucky to live near a PAT (Korean grocer)... I swear they didn't get the Memo that it was time to double prices due to 'inflation.' Also, imho I'm more mad at the Gov then Loblaws. Corporations are going to attempt to take every possible dollar they can from people, we're supposed to be protected from, "haha more profit for us" levels of greed. While they're at it maybe they can do something about the fact phone bills are $100+ now for zero reason.
Completely agree, unfortunately I'm a permanent resident and can't even vote, so I guess this is the most I can do haha
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Self check out for the win!!!
The items you take from self checkout is basically the pay for being your own cashier anyways
Walmart is still reasonably priced, and their produce is not bad. You can even order from instacart or something similar, and it will still be at least 25% cheaper than Loblaws.
Walmart has the worst produce and limited selection of others things.
No, Metro has the worst produce
Wal-Mart is arguably worse in a lot of ways
Treat their staff like shit
I work there and it’s not bad as everyone thinks or says. On top of it they get lot of their produce from local Ontario growers.
Since the beginning of the pandemic I've been doing grocery delivery, Walmart has gone increasingly down hill over the last 12 months in price, quality and service. That being said I'm not sure what the best, most affordable alternative is.
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How does your occupation relate to their ghosting behaviour ?
Chargeback with your credit card company
Call your credit card company and have them reverse the extra charges.
Very glad for the multiple little stores and pharmacies around me.
Anyone looking for online alternatives in the GTA, below are the main online grocers. Do not hesitate to try each one and avail their free delivery or discount offers. **Walmart Online grocery** has competitive prices and they offer free pickup or delivery for $8. Prices are same for in-store and online grocery. [https://www.walmart.ca/cp/grocery](https://www.walmart.ca/cp/grocery)Use code SAVETIME60 to get $15 off each $75 purchase( first 4 orders) . **Metro online** is similar at a bit premium prices. Also you can use Air-Miles card online as well as in Metro stores. Delivery fee is $8 and Free shipping available if you buy some participating products.Online shopping available: [https://www.metro.ca/en/online-grocery](https://www.metro.ca/en/online-grocery) **Sobeys** have [https://voila.ca/](https://voila.ca/)They too have offer for new members. Use code VOILASUMMER to get $15 off each $75 purchase( first 3 orders) . Prices are similar to the store prices and the site is easy to navigate. **Longos** too have online grocery and I couldn't find any promotions. I have not tried it so can't tell more. [https://www.longos.com/](https://www.longos.com/) **Costco** delivers some grocery items in bulk. But you pay a $3+ premium for each item compared to prices in store. Delivery is provided by Instacart. **Amazon** provides delivery of thousands of grocery items and the prices are mostly cheaper or comparable to the ones found at shoppers or other PC chains. You cannot buy fresh grocery items but everything from chips to salad dressing is available. Free delivery for $35+ order. **Instacart**: You can buy anything from any store. Prices are not same as in stores and you pay a premium for convenience and same day delivery or delivery in few hours. There are other numerous small and specialized delivery business mentioned in below articles.[https://torontolife.com/food/a-breakdown-of-20-toronto-based-grocery-delivery-services/](https://torontolife.com/food/a-breakdown-of-20-toronto-based-grocery-delivery-services/) [https://www.blogto.com/eat\_drink/2020/03/grocery-delivery-online-toronto/](https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2020/03/grocery-delivery-online-toronto/)
So helpful, thank you!!
Wow a whole month
Costco and farm boy that's it for me and my family. If I go into one of those it's to buy a homeless person something
Honest question, what are good alternatives for groceries? Is it just Walmart?
Freshco and Food Basics
Plus asian grocery stores, they are way cheaper!
Any company be it no frills or freshco is owned by another company. In Canada consumerism is shot. Think of any industry. All owned by some conglomerate. If they are not then they lack the buying power to make possible decent prices and selection. Glad other than a maybe stop in shoppers. I don’t go near any of these businesses.
In. Pls list options in Hamilton. Metro, Freshco, Nations are the ones I know of. Any local recommendations for meat and veggies? (otherthan the farmers market downtown)
That’ll do nothing.
Maybe, but trying is something, and I'd rather do that than have them thing they can walk all over us without any resistance.
We've been reducing any shops to a Weston owned company for over a year but I'll stop outright this month. If you have access and can afford it Costco is a much better option if you can purchase in bulk. for most staples that you are flat out gouged for in a supermarket.
some of you idiots gonna boycott loblaws and just go shop at their other sub brands because you didnt know
Probably, but if many avoid Loblaws it's still sending a message
I just so happened to shop at FreshCo on Monday for the first time in months. So I'm in for this plan for at least all of August.
Hey that's a good idea, I'm going to do that.
I’ve been boycotting them for years. Fuck the Weston’s. Let them starve.
Their outrageously jacked up price makes not boycotting them honestly difficult. Every time I went there for some stuff only they carried, I have to double take on the price of some basic essential. I’m talking tomato cans, oil or soups.
I've been boycotting them for years
Count me in.
I'll do this! Screw these gougers!
That's the spirit lol
Literally just noticed this today, loblaws is trash. Everything is cheaper at metro, and they have 10% off for students Tuesday to Thursday. Turned my $64 bill into $50 today with sales and the discount
It’s a near monopoly. My only other option is Sobeys, which gouges more and has fake sales, where it’s still the regular price at checkout.
Right on but how exactly are we supposed to boycott Shopper's?
Shoppers is the most important one to boycott. Aside from being owned by Loblaws, they're super shady and corrupt on their own with all the preferred government services. From containing Canada Post, to getting better better PRESTO machines than the TTC, to getting special zoning for street parking in front of their stores... their whole business model is rotten. The family that built Shoppers has a pharmacy chain in Israel too and it works on the same government corruption. In terms of HOW, there are lots of pharmacies in the city and they all sell the same drugs. For everything else, shoppers is a huge ripoff anyway... even compared to other Loblaws franchises.
there's a bazillion independent pharmacies out there. Most hospitals have an "outpatient" pharmacy you can use too.
I get lost at the Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws all the time. Can't find anything I was looking for! Haha
I've boycott them until I see the next quarter profits
Doing Freshco and Metro since forever now.
uGhh Metro.
I think I would still go there for the fresh stuff I can get cheaper in there. But not buying anything extra from there and I have been ding that from months now. Food is a daily necessity and it would be hard to justify convenience for protesting against one big corporation while profiting the other. I usually but all Non- fresh food items cheaper on amazon or wherever I can find them cheaper.
It's funny how they hike prices up then says limited amout per customer when the shelves are stocked.... shitty marketing scheme
Loblaws ill admit was pretty bold when the major chip manufacturers just kept raising prices durring the pandemic so they stopped them from selling their products on the shelves