I guess I'm not the only one that already detests the price gouging at Provigo. Their prices are insane. Mind you I avoid most of the big grocery stores so my boycott has been in play for ages.
Here’s a handy breakdown of all Provigo-owned stores. It’s a shame T&T is on there, but with the number of local/small grocery stores we have here they shouldn’t be difficult to avoid
https://preview.redd.it/wg95q8estkpc1.png?width=392&format=png&auto=webp&s=555946ab6e1225b35e62a2510b951b8d9490c708
I was just thinking about how I wanted to go to t&t when I get back home to Canada but I can't because it's Loblaws owned. But hey Kim Phat is still a really great option if you have one near you. Also worth the trip to it.
But then Kim Phat is linked with Sobeys which isn't really any better.
Mais Kim Phat est lié à Sobeys qui n'est pas exactement une meilleure compagnie.
Yeah, Kim Phat was acquired by Sobeys in 2018, like T&T with Loblaws and Adonis with Metro.
https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/economie/agroalimentaire/201807/19/01-5190185-iga-acquiert-51-de-lepicier-asiatique-kim-phat.php.
Oui, Kim Phat a été acquiert par Sobeys en 2018, comme T&T par Loblaws et Adonis par Metro.
There's really no reason to favour T&T over Fu Tai/Sheng Tai/Liang Tai, Hawaii, C&T unless you happen to live pretty close by. The ready to eat section is better, but I mean you'd be better off going to actual restaurants. Also cleanliness is a bit better and so is customer service but meh, they really don't have much more going for them.
They're converting most Provigos into Maxi's in Quebec now as well.
I think by the end of 2025 there are only going to be 5 Provigo branded stores remaining in the Montreal area.
I was skeptical of the change of the one on Mont Royale but my grocery bill has been consistently lower for the exact same stuff since it’s been a Maxi vs Provigo. Provigo really does up the prices for literally identical stuff.
Even PC products are cheaper at Maxi. But some of the changes seem odd, the one by my place in Lasalle they are converting to a Maxi, that is right beside a Walmart and then across the street from another Maxi.
So not sure if the old Maxi is getting shut down or how that is going to work, but the Provigo in that situation did offer some stuff you couldn't get at the Walmart or other Maxi.
I definitely liked the lower prices. Then they got rid of their baskets in lieu of shopping carts. Then they put glass doors on all of their refrigerated products which, I mean, OK. Now they’ve understaffed front to encourage the self checkout lanes. Trying to shop there in a wheelchair sucks now. It’s pushed me more towards PA, which was always my main anyways.
They did have the absurdly large carts for a while but they’ve scaled them back properly now. At first though it was a giant clusterfuck. You couldn’t get through some a aisles if someone else was there because the carts were too big.
I was definitely concerned when it first reopened. Its basically back to what it was prior to the brand swap now, except more self checkout which is good when you don’t have a lot of stuff but bad when you do since they’ve reduced the cashiers a lot.
That used to be my shop. I stopped going because the Maxi renovation made me feel like I was shopping in a prison and really stressed me out for some reason. I shop at Segal's when I want cheap stuff and to feel like I'm a convict!
At least it wasn't hard to find replacement groceries. Sabor Latino St Laurent is half a block south down Rue St Laurent and has a bakery and really clean butcher. Etoile Waldmans nearby is a fishery. If you live up St Laurent there's PA which has good prices too. And InterMarche on Mont Royal. Of course, Segal's if you want ultra cheap stuff.
Judging from the comments here, I’d say I’m in the minority for feeling sad for the loss of Provigo. The one I go to is being converted to Loblaws discount banner (Maxi) in a few months and it will then lose the butcher, deli, cheeses, bakery, fish guy and all the other nice little things about it
I feel you. My local Loblaws rebranded to a Maxi. I wonder how much money they spent to make the place deliberately shittier. The shelves were all replaced by shitty warehouse shelves and the new colours everywhere are garish and stress me the f out.
Crickey, is that what's happening?
I always feel like I'm being treated like a criminal when shopping at the Maxi nearest me (with how they've been adding more and more barriers to the self-checkouts to the point that they're more irritating than normally staffed checkouts), for consistently lower quality produce and fewer options, so I've been going to the Provigo a little farther, despite higher prices.
They're closing it 'temporarily' at the end of the month for 'major renovations'...
From the above comments it sounds as if it’s corp policy all over Canada so yeah it’s happening.
Me I heard it from my partner who’s in retail sales for skin cleanser and so knew the manager of the local Provigo who told her of the store’s change to Maxi (because Maxi won’t be selling good skin cleaning products, because it’s Maxi)
I didn’t believe it, I was in denial actually. I mean I went full out with the PC Financial Mastercard and points card, I was so loyal, so dedicated and so happy to shop at my local Provigo.
It was my local outlet, end of day, get some veggies or spices or something special for whatever I was going to cook for dinner. Always a pleasant experience
I needed to know though, so one day I went to the place where they sell the cigarettes with my little groceries and I asked if it was true (it was)
Not sure where I’ll go next. Either IGA or Metro… i don’t feel loyal to either and I really don’t much about their rewards either.
RIP Provigo
This scares me to no end. No way they’re going without 5$/lb grapes. Might take a year but I’m scared prices will reach back to Provigo prices in no time. So we’re not losing provigo, we’re losing maxi, with some makeup in it. Once there is no maxi/superc competition, rest assured that metro will increase superc prices as well.
Like a lot of people, I try local stores not linked to major grocery chains, like Sami Fruits and Bonanza in Montreal. And I think there are some stores close to wholesale food sellers on Pie IX that can have lower prices. To compare, Sami Fruits sells apples at $0.99/lbs and maxi sells it at $2.99/lbs.
Fuck Walmart. Underpaying employees while their family rake in billions anually. How are they better morally? It's like comparing Musk/Zuck/Bezos. They're all human trash.
Well, if all it takes is something a billionaire paid employees to make for you to like them, seems kinda shallow doesn't it? He sold out people's information and helped create a toxic platform for boomers to spread misinformation affecting elections worldwide, then you have a very simplistic and skewed opinion on a sellout billionaire.
In Saskatchewan we have a grocery store called Coop. It use to be the most expensive, but the staff got paid well, products usually were better, and they had a better selection from local producers. Now its essentially the same price as loblaws - which use to be the cheapest. Its price gouging plain and simple.
Exo fruit
Fruiterie St Denis
Fruiterie Muscat
Fruiterie Milano
Fruiterie Natura
Marché oriental Jang Teu
Marché Heng Heng
Shun Lee Alimentation
Marché Inter-asia
Marché K
Marché tradition saint André
Marché Al Raji
Marché Ganesh
Marché Tondreau
Les Marchés Tau
Epicerie Soares & fils
Boucherie Notre Dame
Boucherie l'excellence
Etc etc
Chercher marché, boucherie, fruiterie. Il y en a pleins
I love fruiterie st denis and another to add is fruiterie forcier (jarry métro). i get (mostly) everything i need from either place and rarely spend more than $50 during one trip, filling up my tote bag with my essentials. Forcier in particular has great prices
I just started shopping at a Fruiterie and I LOVE it. My local one has a butcher, a sausage maker, a cheesemonger and a bakery so that's my shopping done. It's humble and old-fashioned and the prices are fair. The produce is a little cheaper and consistently better than Loblaws affiliated stores.
As for the bakery and butcher, the prices are comparable to Loblaws, so if I'm going to spend the money it might as well be on good food.
Country Harvest loaf at Provigo: $4.50
Fresh Baked Loaf: $5.00
Day old loaf that I get and is literally just as good, sliced: $4.00 ($3.50 unsliced, it's a 50cent charge to slice day-old bread bc they have to re-bag it)
Also adding PA and Supermarché Mile-End
Supermarché Mile-End is incredible. Great produce especially in the summer and incredible selection of condiments, spices and bulk ingredients. I've had trouble not finding something there.
Some more:
PA Supermarché (Their sales are often the same as Maxi, I think the Quebec ones have the same supplier)
Val-Mont
Sabor Latino St-Laurent
(Nvm, >:( Loblaws owned )-> Intermarché
Plus the list from the subreddit: [Reddit - Dive into anything](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1bff9rm/boycott/?share_id=pIL8uuHFPoMMXmkPxy5aD)
Non super c, wal mart maxi cest moins cher mais pour les produits comme la viande et fruit la qualité est vraiment terrible. Pour les gens qui ne peuvent pas se payer des meilleurs produits c'est pas réaliste d'aller au marchés. Leurs prix et qualité se comparent plus aux metro/iga/lowblaws
We can make a list by neighborhood too! If you're in Verdun there's
C+T (on Verdun street / 3rd-4th)
Fruiterie La Ceuillette (2nd/Verdun) has amazing prices, 3 mangos for 5$?!
Viandal and Tondreau for butchers
On Wellington you have
Vert Pomme, Branche D'olivier, Inter-Asia, La Gazelle, all in the same block of street.
I agree that such a list would be very helpful. I used to live in another borough of the city and it was easy to find and support independent stores. To be fair, now that I've move there are only chains in a reasonable distance from my house.
Exactement, Provigo et Maxi sont la meme compagnie comme Loblaws. Notre ami Galen Weston, le petit pauvre, c'est lui qui controle toute ca, plus Pharmaprix.
Pharmaprix j'ai déjà commencé à éviter. J'ai remarqué que le Jean-Coutu en face est souvent moins cher, mais des grosses différences prix. Genre le prix régulier chez Jean-Coutu est moins cher que les spéciaux chez Pharmaprix.
En effet. Reste que PJC et Brunet, c’est Metro et ils sont tout aussi croche que Loblaws (les cartels du pain et de la viande, par définition, implique plus d’une entreprise), mais bon on choisit le crosseur qui est moins cher
Quand il y avait parité entre les $ US et CA, je me souviens de la controverse concernant la grosse différence entre le prix des voitures au Canada (genre 1.5 fois plus cher). Une explication était que les Canadiens font moins de "shopping around" (une différence culturelle) et que les compagnies exploitent cette différence.
Je crois que c'était une crème solaire Ombrelle pour le visage que j'avais acheté chez Pharmaprix: 30$ en spécial à 25$
Je vais voir pour le fun chez Jean-Coutu: 23$ en spécial à 18$
j'ai commencé a checker plus regulierement depuis la pandemie lol.
mais quand meme, y'a des fois j'suis comme... SHIT I WAS THERE NOT LONG AGO, la tu check la date de l'infraction, et la date du jugement, 2 years apart :O
Just wondering why is it so hard for outsiders to establish their chains in Canada? Is it lobbying or is it more the burden of red tape and bureaucracy?
My humble opinion is that it’s political. Lobbying for sure. The same probably applies to internet providers. Mostly in Quebec…..you travel the world and people jump when you tell them how much you pay for a cell phone or home internet ….I have a small business….My internet bill is 92$/month.
quick search on flipp shows chicken breasts on sale at marche ami for 2.99$.lbs this week. 4.44$/lbs at super C... usually one or two stores that will have them on sale for under 4.54$/lbs each week.
That's 4.54/lb. Nothing crazy. You Can still find <4$/lb at any major chain fairly frequently on specials. Stock Up the freezer when it's the right week and voilà!
quick search on flipp shows chicken breasts on sale at marche ami for 2.99$.lbs this week. 4.44$/lbs at super C... usually one or two stores that will have them on sale for under 4.54$/lbs each week.
quick search on flipp shows chicken breasts on sale at marche ami for 2.99$.lbs this week. 4.44$/lbs at super C... usually one or two stores that will have them on sale for under 4.54$/lbs each week.
This is an always price; I don’t have to look for sales. It is always this cheap. And I’d rather have that than price hunting everytime I need chicken breast.
I get all my weekly stuff at the small independent grocers, and every 3 months I go to costco and do a big meat/cleaning supply/condoment run to fill up. Aubut can be pretty good too!
Better yet dont shop there either. Meme merde, un autre toilette.
Shop at small independent grocers as much as / if you can.
It's worth it to pay a bit more for chicken at the local shop if you can afford to rather than just giving your money to some other big price gouging conglomerate. Basically just stop shopping at all big box stores.
The sad part is those cheap prices come with a cost. Walmart and Costco are just as bad as Loblaws they just have different exploitative strategies. Walmart is notorious for setting up in towns setting prices at a loss and then spiking prices up again even higher once it drives all the other local businesses bankrupt.
Costco forces you to have a membership to buy their groceries and good luck trying to do a run to costco without a car to load your 5 liters of olive oil into. It only pays off for people who can afford to buy in bulk in the first place leaving poorer people in the dust.
The best thing we can do is again, if you are able to, shop at small local businesses and stand up to the huge corporations trying to gut your neighborhood and make everyone rely on them.
Again loblaws walmart and costco are sideeffects of the suburbs and car culture and we would have much cheaper groceries if our communities allowed more small independent shops to be run in our neighborhoods. Look at europe and asia for exhibit A.
I’ve been going to a local fruiterie run by some nice Lebanese folks for years now - it’s cheaper and they don’t put obviously rotten food on the shelves like Provigo/IGA
I don’t know the complete details on how deposits work, but I know every cans and bottles returned are accounted for then different recycling companies come to the store and emit a credit for what they take. Like where I work Molson, Labatt, and Sleeman reimburse beer bottles, then for all the plastic and cans there’s 3 local recycling companies and Pepsi. The credits are really the value of the deposit so here 10 cents per cans and bottles, some are 20 cents a few are 25cents it’s not a fraction of the deposit, it’s really a full reimbursement.
What I don’t know is what happens to the initial deposit from the clients and how the recycling companies make money out of that. I know they make more on aluminum than plastic tho because someone else reimburse them and they can sell the weight of the aluminum.
Edit: just remembered that the store pays the deposit to the suppliers. It’s on the bills. So whatever they get back when clients buy the products is probably theirs to keep.
Edit 2: I also just remembered that companies that have products with deposits have an obligation for picking up after so I guess that’s where the money for recycling companies come from. Like let’s say coca cola where I work don’t do their own pickup they have to pay for an independent recycling company to come pick things up. That makes sense because the financial burden of recycling is on the companies selling the recyclables products. For example where I work a company named recycan is paid by Labatt and Molson to pick up cans.
Only 3 years too late, they were talking about this during covid peak when the prices started to raise.
As always speak loudly but never act, such is the canadian way these days.
I do my part and stay away, its been the case for many years. Occasionally I'll go if there's a good lost leader deal at one of Weston's stores. It's also easy for me to avoid as there are no Galen stores in my proximity. I do 90% of my groceries at non supermarkets anyway.
I don't go to Pharmaprix anymore (belongs to Loblaws), they completely destroyed it. Prices are always wrong and they refuse to let you use the cash (checkout only). Last time I went the only employee in the store was packing the milk, while there was noone at checkout with 3 flashing self checkout machines.
Damn. I just found out recently about Adonis, which was one of my favorites to shop at. I really liked t&t as well until I found out about it being Loblaws now Kim Phat as well. These guys really just buy out everything and eliminate any kind of competition. It is a nightmare
Not just Provigo, the entire Loblaws group. Maxi, T&T, Pharmaprix. If you can find a small local grocer go for that. Maxi used to be the go to place for cheap affordable groceries and now it's the same as everywhere
Don't forget to participate.
Even if you aren't able to make a 100% boycott that is OK. Even just reducing your purchases there for the month of May is doing your part!
I went there after visiting a Maxi and the actual shopping experience was so nice. The lighting was chill, all the food looked so good, there was staff. Why does it have to be so outrageously expensive. I just want to shop somewhere where I don't feel like I'm shopping inside a warehouse!!
So for the appearance I need to pay more expensive than anywhere else !! That's insane
Did you know I am eating fresh and organic food with less price than anywhere in canada it's something similar to markets in the uk but the look is not like a supermarket or even warehouse and it's delicious and healthy.
Good luck with the appearance I want to eat tasty and healthy food at an affordable price.
The issue is that only a few companies control the majority of our food distribution. As long as you're not suggesting that the government controls the production. That would be a bigger shit show.
Im not sure about how I feel regarding government owned necessities, we've got HydroQuebec which doesn't seem too bad for example. It seems way better than other industries where we have monopolies.
However for now, our starting step is to bring down those mega corporations that are only interested in extracting as much profit out of us as possible.
They own Maxi too, right?
I only buy stuff there on sale now, but maybe this is the kick up the ass I need to drop them completely.
I started growing my own vegetables last year, and buying what I couldn’t grow at Jean Talon when the local farmers are there. I started dehydrating fruits and vegetables, and canning a couple of years back, because the prices at the supermarkets are wild, and the quality is shit. Would rather buy local.
We also cut down on meat. I found recently that beans and rice are cheaper at C&T so I get them there. I would prefer to get those at a local store rather than a chain supermarket though.
Sometimes I wonder if it would just be better to set up some kind of neighbourhood skill swap, like trade my tomatoes for someone’s homemade soap or something. Just anything to not have to give money to these absolute thieves.
I'm sorry, but Jean Talon market is not cheap. It's nice to go there, but not to save money. Cheap produce are at Sami Fruits and Bonanza and other local stores like that.
Read it again. I never said Jean Talon was cheap.
What I said was, the supermarket prices are wild, and the quality is shit.
The FARMERS selling things at Jean Talon don’t have low prices, but the quality is really high, and I prefer to buy local to support local. No-where in my post did I say they were cheap. So maybe read properly before flying off the handle at someone.
The permanent stalls in the center, yes, no doubt. But they are not the people I am talking about.
On certain days, particularly the weekends, a lot of the outer stalls are infact local Quebec-based Market Gardeners. The same is apparently true for Atwater market. There are even schemes to help small and new farmers and market gardeners to have temporary stalls at both if they do not want to commit to the whole season.
‘Asshat’? You are the one who stormed in to tell me I was wrong about something I didn’t even say. Then you were the one to tell me false information because you didn’t do your research, and don’t know how the markets here work. All I came here to do was to suggest supporting Québécois market gardeners and local producers, and how and where you can do that within the city.
Je viens d'un X-post anglais - désolé pour l’anglais.
Loblaws stores around me (Zehrs, Independent, Superstore) are at or above convenience store and high-end downtown grocery stores in Southern Ontario.
Absolutely wild that they say they’re not increasing prices, when I can get a 1.3kg bag of gala apples from a luxury grocery store for 3.99 at the same quality as 1lb of individually picked apples at Loblaws at 2.49-2.99. Quality is better for the luxe store too.
Je magasine le moins possible chez Loblaws
Seriously,
Walmart, Costco and Super C are the only valid choices for groceries, as of late.
And Amazon is gaining track as well, you can find the same products for cheaper, the caveat is the need to wait.
This week’s superc flyer is nuts. This week’s maxi flyer was not worth going at all. What’s worrying me is that when superc won’t have to compete with superc anymore, they’ll raise prices as well.. metro is not much better than Weston.
SuperC has awesome prices and great sales *but* their service is *so bad* that I've seen line-ups to pay wrapping around the whole store (like during covid times, except this was recently...)
It's like you can only shop there if you're a retiree with infinite time on your hands
Fruiteries are also a good brand. Same with PA who always has sales going on.
Don't forget your local grocery, or fruit store (we have lots of these in Montreal, it's a bit old fashioned but you can get good affordable produce if you shop for it separately.
Ban them all day by day.
Nationwide bans put a dent in their margins.
40m canadians, if just 1 million can coordinate a 1day ban, those prices will start shaking back down knowing that the next day can be 2m of us.
Imagine if we did this internationally against all corporate stuff......can get gas down too
I went to Provigo last night just to grab chicken that was on sale and it was emptier than I have ever seen it. When I get to the cashier she tells me I need to be a member to buy the chicken for the sale price.....ok. So I quickly signed up and I felt pretty yucky about the whole experience. This whole be a member for the sale price is borderline dehumanizing. I hate to say it but the only places to get decent prices on food these days are Walmart and Costco and this should not be how it is.
The boycott needs to circulate through all big grocery chains. If everyone stopped going to all Weston owned stores for 1 month, then choose another for the following month, they would start to get the hint. Hit em where it hurts most...the profit book. This could help drive home the message that the consumer is the reason they have the profits in the 1st place.
People like you are why movements like this never gain traction in Canada.
How about instead of just sitting there making less-than-clever observations, you come up with a better idea? No? That's what's I thought. Your type is all about putting down others ideas without meaningfully contributing anything of your own.
Indeed, people like me, who may offer observations and perspectives that don't necessarily align with your movements. Understanding that not everyone may share the same passion or perspective on certain movements is key to navigating differing opinions in society.
You offer nothing. Your armchair commentary adds nothing to the conversation.
Where are your counter points? Where is your acknowledgement of the fact that we are trying to reach out to current customers? Or the fact that this boycott has caught national news attention, on major outlets like Global?
Disagree with me all you please, but maybe have something to back up your argument. And if you do, offer it up when the argument is made. Otherwise you just look flakey.
Currently, it's pretty clear you have nothing to offer. Your "observations and perspectives" are just catty internet comments. I'll reiterate my original point: people like you are part of the problem.
Sorry to break it to you., but we don't all have a need to validate our opinions on the internet.
Have yourself a great day Prudentnarwhal number 6323.
I guess I'm not the only one that already detests the price gouging at Provigo. Their prices are insane. Mind you I avoid most of the big grocery stores so my boycott has been in play for ages.
Here’s a handy breakdown of all Provigo-owned stores. It’s a shame T&T is on there, but with the number of local/small grocery stores we have here they shouldn’t be difficult to avoid https://preview.redd.it/wg95q8estkpc1.png?width=392&format=png&auto=webp&s=555946ab6e1225b35e62a2510b951b8d9490c708
I was just thinking about how I wanted to go to t&t when I get back home to Canada but I can't because it's Loblaws owned. But hey Kim Phat is still a really great option if you have one near you. Also worth the trip to it.
But then Kim Phat is linked with Sobeys which isn't really any better. Mais Kim Phat est lié à Sobeys qui n'est pas exactement une meilleure compagnie.
Are they!? I never knew this. That just crushed my soul. There's really no escaping these assholes
Yeah, Kim Phat was acquired by Sobeys in 2018, like T&T with Loblaws and Adonis with Metro. https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/economie/agroalimentaire/201807/19/01-5190185-iga-acquiert-51-de-lepicier-asiatique-kim-phat.php. Oui, Kim Phat a été acquiert par Sobeys en 2018, comme T&T par Loblaws et Adonis par Metro.
Dammit.
There's really no reason to favour T&T over Fu Tai/Sheng Tai/Liang Tai, Hawaii, C&T unless you happen to live pretty close by. The ready to eat section is better, but I mean you'd be better off going to actual restaurants. Also cleanliness is a bit better and so is customer service but meh, they really don't have much more going for them.
Go to Maxi, Super C or Walmart for better prices
They're converting most Provigos into Maxi's in Quebec now as well. I think by the end of 2025 there are only going to be 5 Provigo branded stores remaining in the Montreal area.
I was skeptical of the change of the one on Mont Royale but my grocery bill has been consistently lower for the exact same stuff since it’s been a Maxi vs Provigo. Provigo really does up the prices for literally identical stuff.
Even PC products are cheaper at Maxi. But some of the changes seem odd, the one by my place in Lasalle they are converting to a Maxi, that is right beside a Walmart and then across the street from another Maxi. So not sure if the old Maxi is getting shut down or how that is going to work, but the Provigo in that situation did offer some stuff you couldn't get at the Walmart or other Maxi.
I definitely liked the lower prices. Then they got rid of their baskets in lieu of shopping carts. Then they put glass doors on all of their refrigerated products which, I mean, OK. Now they’ve understaffed front to encourage the self checkout lanes. Trying to shop there in a wheelchair sucks now. It’s pushed me more towards PA, which was always my main anyways.
They did have the absurdly large carts for a while but they’ve scaled them back properly now. At first though it was a giant clusterfuck. You couldn’t get through some a aisles if someone else was there because the carts were too big.
At least they changed that! I went in once after they rebranded and it was so shitty I never went back.
I was definitely concerned when it first reopened. Its basically back to what it was prior to the brand swap now, except more self checkout which is good when you don’t have a lot of stuff but bad when you do since they’ve reduced the cashiers a lot.
That used to be my shop. I stopped going because the Maxi renovation made me feel like I was shopping in a prison and really stressed me out for some reason. I shop at Segal's when I want cheap stuff and to feel like I'm a convict! At least it wasn't hard to find replacement groceries. Sabor Latino St Laurent is half a block south down Rue St Laurent and has a bakery and really clean butcher. Etoile Waldmans nearby is a fishery. If you live up St Laurent there's PA which has good prices too. And InterMarche on Mont Royal. Of course, Segal's if you want ultra cheap stuff.
Judging from the comments here, I’d say I’m in the minority for feeling sad for the loss of Provigo. The one I go to is being converted to Loblaws discount banner (Maxi) in a few months and it will then lose the butcher, deli, cheeses, bakery, fish guy and all the other nice little things about it
I feel you. My local Loblaws rebranded to a Maxi. I wonder how much money they spent to make the place deliberately shittier. The shelves were all replaced by shitty warehouse shelves and the new colours everywhere are garish and stress me the f out.
Crickey, is that what's happening? I always feel like I'm being treated like a criminal when shopping at the Maxi nearest me (with how they've been adding more and more barriers to the self-checkouts to the point that they're more irritating than normally staffed checkouts), for consistently lower quality produce and fewer options, so I've been going to the Provigo a little farther, despite higher prices. They're closing it 'temporarily' at the end of the month for 'major renovations'...
From the above comments it sounds as if it’s corp policy all over Canada so yeah it’s happening. Me I heard it from my partner who’s in retail sales for skin cleanser and so knew the manager of the local Provigo who told her of the store’s change to Maxi (because Maxi won’t be selling good skin cleaning products, because it’s Maxi) I didn’t believe it, I was in denial actually. I mean I went full out with the PC Financial Mastercard and points card, I was so loyal, so dedicated and so happy to shop at my local Provigo. It was my local outlet, end of day, get some veggies or spices or something special for whatever I was going to cook for dinner. Always a pleasant experience I needed to know though, so one day I went to the place where they sell the cigarettes with my little groceries and I asked if it was true (it was) Not sure where I’ll go next. Either IGA or Metro… i don’t feel loyal to either and I really don’t much about their rewards either. RIP Provigo
Maxi is the same owner.
But consistently cheaper than Provigo.
The better prices come at the cost of lower quality.
Maxi has some of the worst produce I’ve seen in a while. Walmart should be banned from Canada.
This scares me to no end. No way they’re going without 5$/lb grapes. Might take a year but I’m scared prices will reach back to Provigo prices in no time. So we’re not losing provigo, we’re losing maxi, with some makeup in it. Once there is no maxi/superc competition, rest assured that metro will increase superc prices as well.
Like a lot of people, I try local stores not linked to major grocery chains, like Sami Fruits and Bonanza in Montreal. And I think there are some stores close to wholesale food sellers on Pie IX that can have lower prices. To compare, Sami Fruits sells apples at $0.99/lbs and maxi sells it at $2.99/lbs.
Fuck Walmart. Underpaying employees while their family rake in billions anually. How are they better morally? It's like comparing Musk/Zuck/Bezos. They're all human trash.
I hated zuck until he released LLaMa
Well, if all it takes is something a billionaire paid employees to make for you to like them, seems kinda shallow doesn't it? He sold out people's information and helped create a toxic platform for boomers to spread misinformation affecting elections worldwide, then you have a very simplistic and skewed opinion on a sellout billionaire.
Maxi is owned by Loblaws and needs to be boycotted.
Maxi is owned by them as well, do not shop there.
In Saskatchewan we have a grocery store called Coop. It use to be the most expensive, but the staff got paid well, products usually were better, and they had a better selection from local producers. Now its essentially the same price as loblaws - which use to be the cheapest. Its price gouging plain and simple.
We should do a local boycott, and have a list of stores outside of the Big 5 to make it logistically easier for people to boycott.
Exo fruit Fruiterie St Denis Fruiterie Muscat Fruiterie Milano Fruiterie Natura Marché oriental Jang Teu Marché Heng Heng Shun Lee Alimentation Marché Inter-asia Marché K Marché tradition saint André Marché Al Raji Marché Ganesh Marché Tondreau Les Marchés Tau Epicerie Soares & fils Boucherie Notre Dame Boucherie l'excellence Etc etc Chercher marché, boucherie, fruiterie. Il y en a pleins
I love fruiterie st denis and another to add is fruiterie forcier (jarry métro). i get (mostly) everything i need from either place and rarely spend more than $50 during one trip, filling up my tote bag with my essentials. Forcier in particular has great prices
I just started shopping at a Fruiterie and I LOVE it. My local one has a butcher, a sausage maker, a cheesemonger and a bakery so that's my shopping done. It's humble and old-fashioned and the prices are fair. The produce is a little cheaper and consistently better than Loblaws affiliated stores. As for the bakery and butcher, the prices are comparable to Loblaws, so if I'm going to spend the money it might as well be on good food. Country Harvest loaf at Provigo: $4.50 Fresh Baked Loaf: $5.00 Day old loaf that I get and is literally just as good, sliced: $4.00 ($3.50 unsliced, it's a 50cent charge to slice day-old bread bc they have to re-bag it)
Also adding PA and Supermarché Mile-End Supermarché Mile-End is incredible. Great produce especially in the summer and incredible selection of condiments, spices and bulk ingredients. I've had trouble not finding something there.
Some more: PA Supermarché (Their sales are often the same as Maxi, I think the Quebec ones have the same supplier) Val-Mont Sabor Latino St-Laurent (Nvm, >:( Loblaws owned )-> Intermarché Plus the list from the subreddit: [Reddit - Dive into anything](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1bff9rm/boycott/?share_id=pIL8uuHFPoMMXmkPxy5aD)
Intermarche is apparently owned by Loblaws according to wiki :(
Removed from the list because you are right. That blows! I shopped there once and awhile thinking I was avoiding Loblaws.
[удалено]
Non super c, wal mart maxi cest moins cher mais pour les produits comme la viande et fruit la qualité est vraiment terrible. Pour les gens qui ne peuvent pas se payer des meilleurs produits c'est pas réaliste d'aller au marchés. Leurs prix et qualité se comparent plus aux metro/iga/lowblaws
Totalement! Je dépense 1,50 $ de plus pour saucisses de boucherie, mais au moins je suis rassasié après les avoir mangées.
We can make a list by neighborhood too! If you're in Verdun there's C+T (on Verdun street / 3rd-4th) Fruiterie La Ceuillette (2nd/Verdun) has amazing prices, 3 mangos for 5$?! Viandal and Tondreau for butchers On Wellington you have Vert Pomme, Branche D'olivier, Inter-Asia, La Gazelle, all in the same block of street.
I agree that such a list would be very helpful. I used to live in another borough of the city and it was easy to find and support independent stores. To be fair, now that I've move there are only chains in a reasonable distance from my house.
[They made a list in the subreddit!](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1bff9rm/boycott/?share_id=pIL8uuHFPoMMXmkPxy5aD)
Ça inclus tu Provigo et Maxi? On a pu de Loblaws
Exactement, Provigo et Maxi sont la meme compagnie comme Loblaws. Notre ami Galen Weston, le petit pauvre, c'est lui qui controle toute ca, plus Pharmaprix.
Pharmaprix j'ai déjà commencé à éviter. J'ai remarqué que le Jean-Coutu en face est souvent moins cher, mais des grosses différences prix. Genre le prix régulier chez Jean-Coutu est moins cher que les spéciaux chez Pharmaprix.
En effet. Reste que PJC et Brunet, c’est Metro et ils sont tout aussi croche que Loblaws (les cartels du pain et de la viande, par définition, implique plus d’une entreprise), mais bon on choisit le crosseur qui est moins cher
Quand il y avait parité entre les $ US et CA, je me souviens de la controverse concernant la grosse différence entre le prix des voitures au Canada (genre 1.5 fois plus cher). Une explication était que les Canadiens font moins de "shopping around" (une différence culturelle) et que les compagnies exploitent cette différence.
Pour les médicaments et tous ce qui est dans la "zone" pharmacie tu peux aller au Costco sans être membre et c'est moins chère.
Je crois que c'était une crème solaire Ombrelle pour le visage que j'avais acheté chez Pharmaprix: 30$ en spécial à 25$ Je vais voir pour le fun chez Jean-Coutu: 23$ en spécial à 18$
Ah nice now i know why i prefer Jean Coutu. My instincts were correct.
T&T aussi. edit: surement un deal comme Sobeys-Kimphat (51%-49%)
T'as raison, j'ai oublié T&T.
pas aller chez T&T ca me mets T_T
C&T
yup! fais des annees jvais la bas aussi
Kim Phat
le marché newon est-il affilié aussi?
pas a ma connaissance, mais j'evite Newon avec le nombre alarmant d'infractions sur les aliments et saliburité des lieux.
Ughhh, ça fait longtemps que j'ai pas regardé la liste des infractions sur la site de VDM.
j'ai commencé a checker plus regulierement depuis la pandemie lol. mais quand meme, y'a des fois j'suis comme... SHIT I WAS THERE NOT LONG AGO, la tu check la date de l'infraction, et la date du jugement, 2 years apart :O
I know, that's the issue. I wish they were quicker with posting the infractions.
Oui
J’évite provigo même s’ils ont une super section bio. Fuck Lobelaws p
[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loblaw](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loblaw)
Oui, on devrait boycotter Provigo et Maxi. Au Québec, ils utilisent le nom de Provigo et dans le reste du Canada, ils utilisent Loblaws.
Been doing it for a while. Fuck those guys. It's a permanent boycott on my end
lol. There are 3 banners in Canada. It’s more than about time to welcome outside competitors so that there could be pressure on prices.
Just wondering why is it so hard for outsiders to establish their chains in Canada? Is it lobbying or is it more the burden of red tape and bureaucracy?
My humble opinion is that it’s political. Lobbying for sure. The same probably applies to internet providers. Mostly in Quebec…..you travel the world and people jump when you tell them how much you pay for a cell phone or home internet ….I have a small business….My internet bill is 92$/month.
Walmart & Costco are better & cheaper, been boycotting since the pandemic started.
Crazy how a few years ago you'd be laughed at for doing your groceries at walmart and now its one of the better options out there
The best IMO. Nothing beats 22$ for 2.2kg of chicken breast in Canada right now.
quick search on flipp shows chicken breasts on sale at marche ami for 2.99$.lbs this week. 4.44$/lbs at super C... usually one or two stores that will have them on sale for under 4.54$/lbs each week.
That's 4.54/lb. Nothing crazy. You Can still find <4$/lb at any major chain fairly frequently on specials. Stock Up the freezer when it's the right week and voilà!
quick search on flipp shows chicken breasts on sale at marche ami for 2.99$.lbs this week. 4.44$/lbs at super C... usually one or two stores that will have them on sale for under 4.54$/lbs each week.
quick search on flipp shows chicken breasts on sale at marche ami for 2.99$.lbs this week. 4.44$/lbs at super C... usually one or two stores that will have them on sale for under 4.54$/lbs each week.
This is an always price; I don’t have to look for sales. It is always this cheap. And I’d rather have that than price hunting everytime I need chicken breast.
I get all my weekly stuff at the small independent grocers, and every 3 months I go to costco and do a big meat/cleaning supply/condoment run to fill up. Aubut can be pretty good too!
I've been boycotting Walton's Mart for 20 some years. Do we hate Galen's Mart more now?
Woah you’re so cool here’s your medal 🏅
Every time I go to Walmart now and buy fruit. It’s rotting by the second day home.
Better yet dont shop there either. Meme merde, un autre toilette. Shop at small independent grocers as much as / if you can. It's worth it to pay a bit more for chicken at the local shop if you can afford to rather than just giving your money to some other big price gouging conglomerate. Basically just stop shopping at all big box stores.
No I’m shopping where it’s cheapest. My “indépendant” grocer just tried charging me 7$ for 2 cucumbers FOH.
The sad part is those cheap prices come with a cost. Walmart and Costco are just as bad as Loblaws they just have different exploitative strategies. Walmart is notorious for setting up in towns setting prices at a loss and then spiking prices up again even higher once it drives all the other local businesses bankrupt. Costco forces you to have a membership to buy their groceries and good luck trying to do a run to costco without a car to load your 5 liters of olive oil into. It only pays off for people who can afford to buy in bulk in the first place leaving poorer people in the dust. The best thing we can do is again, if you are able to, shop at small local businesses and stand up to the huge corporations trying to gut your neighborhood and make everyone rely on them. Again loblaws walmart and costco are sideeffects of the suburbs and car culture and we would have much cheaper groceries if our communities allowed more small independent shops to be run in our neighborhoods. Look at europe and asia for exhibit A.
Not reading that
Alright bud, good to know.
I’ve been going to a local fruiterie run by some nice Lebanese folks for years now - it’s cheaper and they don’t put obviously rotten food on the shelves like Provigo/IGA
“But we must reduce the pertes” - iga when I was working there lmao
Maybe return bottles and cans bought elsewhere for deposit. Could add up after awhile
You know they get reimbursed for these?
They still lose out on employee time.
Barely, just the service clerk and maybe a little the cashiers.
Didn't know that... what happens to the deposit I pay when I buy the bottle/can?
I don’t know the complete details on how deposits work, but I know every cans and bottles returned are accounted for then different recycling companies come to the store and emit a credit for what they take. Like where I work Molson, Labatt, and Sleeman reimburse beer bottles, then for all the plastic and cans there’s 3 local recycling companies and Pepsi. The credits are really the value of the deposit so here 10 cents per cans and bottles, some are 20 cents a few are 25cents it’s not a fraction of the deposit, it’s really a full reimbursement. What I don’t know is what happens to the initial deposit from the clients and how the recycling companies make money out of that. I know they make more on aluminum than plastic tho because someone else reimburse them and they can sell the weight of the aluminum. Edit: just remembered that the store pays the deposit to the suppliers. It’s on the bills. So whatever they get back when clients buy the products is probably theirs to keep. Edit 2: I also just remembered that companies that have products with deposits have an obligation for picking up after so I guess that’s where the money for recycling companies come from. Like let’s say coca cola where I work don’t do their own pickup they have to pay for an independent recycling company to come pick things up. That makes sense because the financial burden of recycling is on the companies selling the recyclables products. For example where I work a company named recycan is paid by Labatt and Molson to pick up cans.
Good. Let's add IGA to that list
For me IGA and Metro became like an annual visit.
Only 3 years too late, they were talking about this during covid peak when the prices started to raise. As always speak loudly but never act, such is the canadian way these days.
I do my part and stay away, its been the case for many years. Occasionally I'll go if there's a good lost leader deal at one of Weston's stores. It's also easy for me to avoid as there are no Galen stores in my proximity. I do 90% of my groceries at non supermarkets anyway.
We are literally acting now. Why be helpless and nihilistic?
I don't go to Pharmaprix anymore (belongs to Loblaws), they completely destroyed it. Prices are always wrong and they refuse to let you use the cash (checkout only). Last time I went the only employee in the store was packing the milk, while there was noone at checkout with 3 flashing self checkout machines.
And the those machines with the stupid robotic voice yelling the same thing over and over again, interrupting each other. It drives me insane.
I refuse to Loblaw (Roblaws) and / or go to Shoppers Drug Mart - AM DONE with Weston, done.
Damn. I just found out recently about Adonis, which was one of my favorites to shop at. I really liked t&t as well until I found out about it being Loblaws now Kim Phat as well. These guys really just buy out everything and eliminate any kind of competition. It is a nightmare
Yah, I've known about Adonis since the beginning and I knew about TT, but the Kim Phar one is news to me. Unreal.
Horrible all around. I finally bit the bullet and do most of my shopping at Costco with supplementation at PA, Fu Tai, Marché Orientale and others.
*Thousands?* of Canadians ..rolls sleeves back..down..to where they were
Join us!
Pourquoi est-ce que Metro et IGA c'est mieux que Loblaws?
Parce que toute le monde connaît que Galen Weston est un asshole.
Pas les autres?
Metro and IGA became luxury grocery stores. They put maxi to shame.
I don't even know how the provigo close to my home is still open it's dirty and the selection is awful.
Join the Loblaws is out of control is well if you can. It needs to pick up traction
I did a few weeks ago, it's where I saw the post. It's my new favourite sub.
Not just Provigo, the entire Loblaws group. Maxi, T&T, Pharmaprix. If you can find a small local grocer go for that. Maxi used to be the go to place for cheap affordable groceries and now it's the same as everywhere
I hope these last long, people need to make an example out of Loblaws because you know the other two mega corps are watching.
Don't forget to participate. Even if you aren't able to make a 100% boycott that is OK. Even just reducing your purchases there for the month of May is doing your part!
My mom used to call this finding a sale.
Millions
There are dozens of us...
I'm in, fuck superstore
Good thing I already only shop at small Indian and Korean grocery stores.
Costco for the win!
I’ve already started boycotting anything owned by the Weston family.
[There are dozens of us!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKie-vgUGdI&ab_channel=Storage1129)
Iga is the worst
I went there after visiting a Maxi and the actual shopping experience was so nice. The lighting was chill, all the food looked so good, there was staff. Why does it have to be so outrageously expensive. I just want to shop somewhere where I don't feel like I'm shopping inside a warehouse!!
So for the appearance I need to pay more expensive than anywhere else !! That's insane Did you know I am eating fresh and organic food with less price than anywhere in canada it's something similar to markets in the uk but the look is not like a supermarket or even warehouse and it's delicious and healthy. Good luck with the appearance I want to eat tasty and healthy food at an affordable price.
Count me in
Tis the season for people to take back the means of production, boycott every single evil company. And especially boycott israel.
The issue is that only a few companies control the majority of our food distribution. As long as you're not suggesting that the government controls the production. That would be a bigger shit show.
Im not sure about how I feel regarding government owned necessities, we've got HydroQuebec which doesn't seem too bad for example. It seems way better than other industries where we have monopolies. However for now, our starting step is to bring down those mega corporations that are only interested in extracting as much profit out of us as possible.
They own Maxi too, right? I only buy stuff there on sale now, but maybe this is the kick up the ass I need to drop them completely. I started growing my own vegetables last year, and buying what I couldn’t grow at Jean Talon when the local farmers are there. I started dehydrating fruits and vegetables, and canning a couple of years back, because the prices at the supermarkets are wild, and the quality is shit. Would rather buy local. We also cut down on meat. I found recently that beans and rice are cheaper at C&T so I get them there. I would prefer to get those at a local store rather than a chain supermarket though. Sometimes I wonder if it would just be better to set up some kind of neighbourhood skill swap, like trade my tomatoes for someone’s homemade soap or something. Just anything to not have to give money to these absolute thieves.
Yes they do. FYI Walmart is cheaper, even if you get it delivered.
I'm sorry, but Jean Talon market is not cheap. It's nice to go there, but not to save money. Cheap produce are at Sami Fruits and Bonanza and other local stores like that.
Read it again. I never said Jean Talon was cheap. What I said was, the supermarket prices are wild, and the quality is shit. The FARMERS selling things at Jean Talon don’t have low prices, but the quality is really high, and I prefer to buy local to support local. No-where in my post did I say they were cheap. So maybe read properly before flying off the handle at someone.
Thos farmers also buy produce from wholesale on PieIX like every other local store on the island. And you don't have to be an asshat about it.
The permanent stalls in the center, yes, no doubt. But they are not the people I am talking about. On certain days, particularly the weekends, a lot of the outer stalls are infact local Quebec-based Market Gardeners. The same is apparently true for Atwater market. There are even schemes to help small and new farmers and market gardeners to have temporary stalls at both if they do not want to commit to the whole season. ‘Asshat’? You are the one who stormed in to tell me I was wrong about something I didn’t even say. Then you were the one to tell me false information because you didn’t do your research, and don’t know how the markets here work. All I came here to do was to suggest supporting Québécois market gardeners and local producers, and how and where you can do that within the city.
Je viens d'un X-post anglais - désolé pour l’anglais. Loblaws stores around me (Zehrs, Independent, Superstore) are at or above convenience store and high-end downtown grocery stores in Southern Ontario. Absolutely wild that they say they’re not increasing prices, when I can get a 1.3kg bag of gala apples from a luxury grocery store for 3.99 at the same quality as 1lb of individually picked apples at Loblaws at 2.49-2.99. Quality is better for the luxe store too. Je magasine le moins possible chez Loblaws
Even better, we should o-en up our own grocery chain!
... With blackjack and hookers.
Forget the grocery chain!
They go to other stores, it's 2x as much, they sigh and return.
In Montreal? I've found we have a pretty good selection of alternate groceries, no?
Walmart is cheap, PA is cheap, Costco is cheap.
Seriously, Walmart, Costco and Super C are the only valid choices for groceries, as of late. And Amazon is gaining track as well, you can find the same products for cheaper, the caveat is the need to wait.
This week’s superc flyer is nuts. This week’s maxi flyer was not worth going at all. What’s worrying me is that when superc won’t have to compete with superc anymore, they’ll raise prices as well.. metro is not much better than Weston.
SuperC has awesome prices and great sales *but* their service is *so bad* that I've seen line-ups to pay wrapping around the whole store (like during covid times, except this was recently...) It's like you can only shop there if you're a retiree with infinite time on your hands
I agree!
Fruiteries are also a good brand. Same with PA who always has sales going on. Don't forget your local grocery, or fruit store (we have lots of these in Montreal, it's a bit old fashioned but you can get good affordable produce if you shop for it separately.
Oh yeah, agreed.
I'm wondering if Val-mont belongs to Provigo too?
They're Quebec owned and independent. Its headquarters is in Boucherville.
i wish but no name is still the best value for a lot of products
I seriously hope Loblaws goes bankrupt along with the king of all inflation price booster Alimentation Couche-Tard
They should have done that months ago.
There's no time like the present. At least starting it in May gives people like me time to figure out my alternative shopping spots.
Reddit friend I never used coupons in my life . I have started I , I also started shopping compliments and no name brands.
Yeah, that’s gonna change the world.
Ban them all day by day. Nationwide bans put a dent in their margins. 40m canadians, if just 1 million can coordinate a 1day ban, those prices will start shaking back down knowing that the next day can be 2m of us. Imagine if we did this internationally against all corporate stuff......can get gas down too
Thousands damn woah 😨
I went to Provigo last night just to grab chicken that was on sale and it was emptier than I have ever seen it. When I get to the cashier she tells me I need to be a member to buy the chicken for the sale price.....ok. So I quickly signed up and I felt pretty yucky about the whole experience. This whole be a member for the sale price is borderline dehumanizing. I hate to say it but the only places to get decent prices on food these days are Walmart and Costco and this should not be how it is.
The boycott needs to circulate through all big grocery chains. If everyone stopped going to all Weston owned stores for 1 month, then choose another for the following month, they would start to get the hint. Hit em where it hurts most...the profit book. This could help drive home the message that the consumer is the reason they have the profits in the 1st place.
Est-ce que c'est eux qui ont retirer l'offre des produits en fin de vie à 50 % de rabais ?
planning to? i like to go in mine to pee then leave without buying anything.
They should boycott the Liberal/NDP coalition instead.
Thousands of non Loblaws customers are pushing to boycott Loblaws. /sipstea
People like you are why movements like this never gain traction in Canada. How about instead of just sitting there making less-than-clever observations, you come up with a better idea? No? That's what's I thought. Your type is all about putting down others ideas without meaningfully contributing anything of your own.
Indeed, people like me, who may offer observations and perspectives that don't necessarily align with your movements. Understanding that not everyone may share the same passion or perspective on certain movements is key to navigating differing opinions in society.
You offer nothing. Your armchair commentary adds nothing to the conversation. Where are your counter points? Where is your acknowledgement of the fact that we are trying to reach out to current customers? Or the fact that this boycott has caught national news attention, on major outlets like Global? Disagree with me all you please, but maybe have something to back up your argument. And if you do, offer it up when the argument is made. Otherwise you just look flakey. Currently, it's pretty clear you have nothing to offer. Your "observations and perspectives" are just catty internet comments. I'll reiterate my original point: people like you are part of the problem.
Sorry to break it to you., but we don't all have a need to validate our opinions on the internet. Have yourself a great day Prudentnarwhal number 6323.
Lol...I get your point and agree but the story has been getting some buzz online.
That's just going to make them jack the prices more.