Grocery store CEOs are about to get grilled | About That

[@carriewalker2929]

As a recent former Sobeys employee, not only are regular people being juiced for their mega profits they never put any of that money into staffing either. We worked like dogs the last couple of years. Short staffed all the time, constantly ridden for not getting enough done. Most employees made $15 an hour for a very difficult, extremely demanding job. Good staff never stayed. You should honestly do a story about how poorly staff at these places are treated. They couldn’t care one bit of they work their staff to breakdown for these profits.

[@darlinspaces]

Sorry🙏

[@giovanna722]

Wow. Good idea.

[@darlinspaces]

@@giovanna722 TY. At least Amazon came in handy. I miss eating fresh vegetables for sure.

[@mhawang8204]

Thank you for your sacrifice during the last few years. Horrible customers and selfish corporate management are not great to work with. Hope you’re doing better. We’re all living through a tough time.

[@oilers999]

Carrie! Which Sobeys in Canada were you previously working at?

[@beverlymcsheffery8811]

LOVE this program. Andrew Chang does a great job and we really miss him on the National!

[@Kurtos25]

​@@martymoose8304 lol he did more research than u

[@CoroaEntertainment]

'Andrew Chang does a great job' Uh, no he doesn't. See my post above.

[@Jatchua]

Agreed! Andrew has done a fantastic job for years -- these recent journalistic digs have been even better.

[@ihategooglesomuch]

no, he tries too hard.

[@CikisHelyzet]

I didn’t see that at all. What were you watching??

[@patli445]

Prices are not only jacked up, but the amounts and sizes of products have shrunk; what the hell???!!! They think we won’t notice!!!! 😡

[@SchlichteToven]

To be fair, we generally don't. And no one wants to seem like the person squabbling over pennies so most people just ignore it if they do notice.

[@funkbro2]

@@SchlichteToven most people notice… but we don’t have a choice

[@bluesbrother2383]

They don't care, profits are made and yachts and villas are bought

[@BrendonDelorme]

Your cover for Loblaws, saying their profits comes from Shoppers and not on food is misleading. Loblaws owns many food brands. They're raising prices using their own food brands, and then telling Canadians they're not gouging us. They're gouging us and using their retail as a cover to claim they're not making much. I think opening their book would tell us a lot more than this inquiry.

[@susanb4816]

And shoppers sells food

[@shauncameron8390]

And Loblaws own many supermarket chains

[@jeremybenoit759]

Ya ok then because carbon tax has absolutely no affect on the cost of growing and transporting food.

[@MrBingemartin]

They're posing as their own competition to justify price increases.

[@MrBingemartin]

@@jeremybenoit759 Shhh. The state broadcasts propaganda doesn't want your relevant facts.

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

It goes beyond all the food prices hitting all time high marks, but the added cynical downsizing of products - case in point, that 904g tub of Becel margarine you bought back in March was about $5.00, its now today about $9.00 and the tub shrunk in size to 850g, yup that's 54g, and that hasn't been added to the rising cost we as consumers pay. And its not the only Item or product that shrunk in size while their prices rose. A number of sliced breads also shrunk from 800g per-pandemic to 750g shortly after, then dropped again three month to 600g. Family sizes tubs of yogurt shrunk in a sneaky way - the tub didn't get smaller, only the amount of yogurt that went into the tub, from 750g down to 600g. And Campbell soups too, and major cereals and their boxes also shrunk in size too. I'd like to know if the supermarket chains requested this shrinking of product size or was it the manufactures?

[@vmitchinson]

In addition to shrinkage, tinned product is being replaced with water.

[@knowwhey7559]

I'm guessing you didn't even make it 5 minutes into the video, where they talk about the exact same thing?

[@CarbonatedLithium]

Shrinkflation. KFC cuts their pieces in half now, except for the wings and legs, and calls it 'value' while raising the price. I wonder if I can cut my $5 bill in half and call it $10?

[@ninemoonplanet]

😆 somehow I don't think so. $5 bills aren't the same colour.

[@CarbonatedLithium]

@@ninemoonplanet two half five dollar bills is 2x 5 by KFC logic !

[@cindybrown9898]

the problem is....we have no choices thanks to them pushing out all the local grocers and its a monopoly

[@shauncameron8390]

Largely between Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro.

[@Samurai-ke5ie]

You have a choice, buy local

[@meko3089]

Control the food , control the people

[@casual35]

@@Samurai-ke5ie What does buy local mean? The grocery store across the street from me is a one off and their prices are higher and always have been. The problem is greed and the government needs to cap pricing and profits.

[@Samurai-ke5ie]

@@casual35 buy from stores which aren’t owned by corporates

[@victorrivera1606]

Let’s not forget that those companies are the big friends of the Canadian political leaders. They shouldn’t allow monopoly in Canada.

[@elainefoley2699]

😮

[@4799balaji]

I have no idea just 3 companies own almost all of the retailers. The exact same pattern in mobile services. Just 2 or 3 companies own everything. I don't really understand how does the government let these things happen. Its laughable to think that there's no some kind of collusion among these monopolistic companies. I wonder if Canada has any anti trust laws like in the US. How is the market competition preserved?

[@jptrainor]

My understanding is that there has been an increase in margins due to reduced competition, but that isn't a factor in the last two years. It's been a factor over the last decade or two.

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

Well said, but of course these same companies are allowed to continue because they have done as the government requested and diversified on one hand purchasing drug marts and pharmacies, and then o the other they continued to gobble up all the competing food stores until there was no more to buy up. Its sad , and appalling but as long as the government turns away from this, they are hoping it will miraculously resolve it self somehow.

[@bmw803]

It's called CRONYISM. Also you can name it a cartel or Oligharchy. Who allows all this? The same clowns that are calling this inquiry. Nothing will happen out of this.

[@vmitchinson]

We have laws that regulate competition but they are NOT being enforced. It is long past time to break these oligarchs up. They must be distroyed before they distroy CANADA.

[@supertouring1]

In the government's defence, they've been trying to encourage competition, but there hasn't been much interest domestically. Foreign companies are allowed, but they can't be majority owner. Maybe it's time the gov't remove the foreign ownership limit. But whenever the gov't makes changes to the rules, the existing Rogers/Bell/Telus (ROBELLUS) always threaten to layoff thousands of employees as their response to increased competition beyond the current players. That said, Shaw's entrance into the mobile market has shaken up things somewhat so that's been a good thing.

[@rimacoates6532]

These over inflated food costs affect more than your average consumer. If we don't have enough $ for groceries, guaranteed we won't be eating out or going to the movies/sports /concert events as much or at all! Our consumer buying power will do the talking.

[@julielevesque2668]

I don't go out anymore...Netflix and chill or free things like skating, biking...no more restos, no more takeout....groceries and that is it. Necessities only and there's no way I can afford to put money away for retirement since my salary is not even $20 an hour but yet minimum wage in Quebec is going up to $15.25 in May. 20 years experience in admin jobs plus a college diploma and that's what salary I get.

[@CarbonatedLithium]

That's why your 'scene' card works at the grocery store now. It's not like you can afford to go the movies anymore.

[@aman888]

That would be the point of rate hikes then. So consumers can cool their spending for a while and let prices come down. This is why we're in this mess. Because of record low rates and people living beyond their means. Paying too much for houses, multiple cars, starbucks every day.

[@r.1599]

For nearly a year, my local No Frills' "fresh" produce has been old. The prices are going up but the loose potatoes are green, the fruit comes covered with spots of decomposition, the ginger moldy, the greens slimy... this is what the store purchases and puts on the shelves. Stuff looks perfectly fine at the Fortinos, so it's not like the vendors Loblaw buys from don't have actually fresh produce.

[@shauncameron8390]

No Frills is owned by Loblaws.

[@r.1599]

@@shauncameron8390 Yes, it is. So is Fortinos. Which is why I question such a huge disparity (much bigger than usual) between the quality of "fresh" produce being bought for No Frills vs Fortinos. The stuff at my local No Frills is at the stage at which grocery stores should toss it out. Green potatoes are toxic. I shudder to think that some desperate person bought them and got sick from all that solanine.

[@Tori_TLCR]

In my area I see things come in fresh but they simply sit there longer because they're too expensive and spoil on the shelf. This food inflation is causing food waste while people go hungry.

[@vmitchinson]

​@@Tori_TLCR it is f..king criminal!

[@r.1599]

@@Tori_TLCR Eventually climate change will make it so hard to grow produce that even the expensive produce currently on the shelves, won't be there.

[@patti6178]

"let's all calm down"? really?? we're struggling with the necessities of life, we're not getting any help and we're being asked to "calm down" lol wtf

[@alienpix]

It's modern day slavery. This isn't an extreme or reactionary statement, it's actually worse than the time of kingdoms and serfs.

[@findmeifyoucan]

This is what you get for voting Liberals.

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

@@alienpix "it's actually worse than the time of kingdoms and serfs" wow - you really believe that? Yes its bad, is it as bad as all that - I think not.

[@alienpix]

@@clarhettcoalfield3616 multiple sources cite taxes for serfs being less than what middle income families pay. In addition to medical industries still testing on people (ie. Birth control and new versions/models) and the cost of living vs income has not balanced. There are less freedoms and more responsibilities.

[@alienpix]

@@findmeifyoucan my ability to vote was suppressed when my landlord (editor at the globe and mail) had allowed the registeration of the building as a convent, and then evicted me. Didn't vote at all recently, despite multiple attempts, and had I had the access to information I would never have voted for JT. The whole system is corrupt though, it's hot potato with ideologies to keep us offcenter with whiplash.

[@patti6178]

Can't quite do anything about it? They don't have access to Loblaws' books. How about proposing legislation to change that?

[@lizliz4186]

They'd never get the votes if that was proposed. Conservatives and liberals would vote no because they support big business.

[@Monkehrawrrr]

@@lizliz4186 NDP Lets gooooo

[@CoroaEntertainment]

@@Monkehrawrrr Bahahahaha.

[@mathias8627]

@@Monkehrawrrr unfortunately the NDP also serves exclusively the oligarchs. They talk a big game for the working class but every time they've been given power they've proven to be no different than any other party. Parties should be outlawed and all politicians should be paid the national average income amount and forbidden to take any money outside that salary or dealing in any way with corporations/lobbyists. They should be audited quarter-annually to ensure compliance and face harsh prison time if caught.

[@Monkehrawrrr]

@@mathias8627 I agree with you but you also have to understand that with us having 3 parties rather then 2 like in the US is a huge advantage, we need to vote in the NDP and watch how quickly things change when they start scrambling to stay in power. Politicians want 1 thing and its to be in power and they will do anything to get it, once you shake that up with a 3rd party a beautiful thing happens.

[@silentstarr5]

Yes. Political theatre. A Government that allows monopolies talking with the CEOs of the food monopoly. It will be good for optics and talking points but I think in the end will accomplish very little. The same could be said of other monopolies in this country. Shareholders and buy backs are what it is all about sadly. .

[@steflynn7772]

Shrinkflation started BEFORE Covid, I noticed it with yogurt. Tubes had shrunk from 750 to 650. I have old yogurt tubes I use for storage. I even said they are gauging us because prices didn’t drop, to my family and told several peers to watch for other items to start doing the same. This was BEFORE Covid. It had started. This is all planned years ago.

[@CikisHelyzet]

Sure, it’s been a thing. But not on this scale and without reasons other than to squeeze ppl.

[@rgen28]

once you have over 500 million in wealth, there should be an extra wealth tax.

[@MrBingemartin]

Taxation is theft.

[@number9vintage928]

It's one thing that groceries cost about $800 more annually and an entirely different thing when rent increases cost $12,000 or more on top. Who can deal with that?

[@izzydeadyet7336]

Ya they mention it but it's not taken seriously at all! No one will be able to maintain these rental rates, I've been behind in rent non stop the last 3 years .. I knew I couldn't afford the place, a roachy 2 bedroom, but I was homless and my kids had been staying with grandparents for the first time ever! My old apartment was already $950 which was alot for me, then my building got renovicted and everything had gone up to $1500 for 2 bedroom, now they're over $2000 if I get evicted again im homless Indeffinitly because I dont have $5000 for first and last! We cant even eat half the time

[@drewsykes8231]

I smell another class action lawsuit

[@megabaneen8057]

Government should actually tax on new raised profits. Instead of allowing companies like Loblaws to raise prices on goods for the consumers. Grocery companies can actually hide mark ups trough a variety of ways and then pass along to consumer and just say its inflation driving up the costs. Shady business (sneaky fees).

[@lizliz4186]

They only party that might actually do that is the NDP. Vote

[@nancy-vz8nb]

Totally agree w you, their prices go up 40% and more

[@bmw803]

Are you that ignorant? They'll raise prices even more because the price of "government" went up. I don't defend those corporate crooks, but any increase to them, gets passed to you. Explain how will this help anyone. What we need is an open market. Not a cartel that bribes politicians to keep the doors closed to new entrants.

[@johnos3853]

If they increase tax on grocery stores wouldn’t the grocery stores just raise prices even higher

[@jdbrando9469]

Prices go up and packages portion sizes get smaller.

[@nkhan4]

I think it's high time Canada starts a Co-Op style food and essentials stores where it is publicly funded like it is Switzerland, one of the reasons they have such low inflation costs for food. Sure gouge lipsticsk and make up, but food and essentials for living should not be used to drive profits. And if a company wants to do this, they need full transparency on essentials. I hope they ask them to show their grocery store numbers.

[@Monkehrawrrr]

Cooperativize grocery stores and many more industries!

[@bmw803]

You honestly think this is gonna go anywhere? This is show and optics. Who do you think politicians get their "donations" from? This is CRONYISM and it should be illegal. As long as you have corrupt politicians accepting bribes and payoffs, this will never go away.

[@UseURHead]

We do have coop..in Sask.

[@jesusm8081]

We have coop in SK and prices are absolutely the same.

[@nkhan4]

@@jesusm8081 oh no!! my idea is DOA. How are other countries able to manage it so well? There must be something fishy going on there too?

[@TelosBudo]

Canada's grocers profits are 3x higher than their U.S. counterparts, with similar inflation.

[@shauncameron8390]

But Canadian grocers charge 3x what their US counterparts charge.

[@rolandm9750]

@@shauncameron8390 Actually, you should see some of the prices in US grocery stores these days... One random example is how a bag of Ruffles/Doritos/Lays costs like $5-6 USD at Walmart. And, unlike here were you see "3 for $10" and what have you (still more pricey than they used to be), never see those kind of things over there. Maybe at Target but they're charging a little more than Walmart for most things to begin with. It's bad on both sides of the border. I also remember not too many yrs ago used to be less than $2 USD for a gallon of milk, now it's $5 :| Lotta stuff is actually a lot more expensive after conversion. I'm sure some stuff is still cheaper but a lot of stuff...isn't anymore.

[@bmw803]

Obviously. Politicians are returning favors for campaign money.

[@francem831]

Went to Buffalo about a month ago? 6 bagels at Wegmans, was $7.50!! A large bag of popcorn was $6.49, 4 sticks of butter was $3.99 and a case of 12 cans of soda at Target was $7.99 all in USD..

[@vmitchinson]

​@@francem831 CAD is 73 cents per USD.

[@wallyy33]

How do petroleum companies get away with the same thing? And not get called to Ottawa. I am being facicious here.

[@marlonlo9661]

Great coverage. Should do more of these. Speak against power, greed and corruption!

[@joshfrench5858]

Prices were high pre pandemic. I’m not going to hold my breath that anything is going to change now.

[@woxnerw]

I can remember back in the '70's when I could buy a week's worth of groceries for $15.00.. Today ... I went to the store and laid out over $100.00 in 2023, dollars and my grocery list is not all checked off.. This Want'ta be Prime minister is telling me that he's going to make up the difference by sending me a "Make up Cheque" to "COVER" the difference by Taxing Me for the Difference? Tell Me ... what school did he go to ... to learn that kind of arithmetic?

[@1leah1]

I wish someone would cover the "2 for" pricing. As in " 2 for 4.99 or 1 for 3.49".

[@kevo300]

Its not even 2 for anymore its 3 for which is insane for small families and single people, who wants 3 boxes of cereal?

[@flowergirlabc123]

​@@kevo300 and alot of people may not have the room to store all these extra items, or the extra money, or have to walk and cannot carry all these items home!

[@CikisHelyzet]

It’s called Multibuy and it’s basically ransom. Single persons do no not need to buy 4 of anything yet I’m seeing it everywhere and bypassing many things for that reason. It can be regulated. Multibuy should reward you for buying more, not preclude you from buying anything at all.

[@1leah1]

@@CikisHelyzet you're right that it shouldn't preclude one from buying anything at all. But rewarding people for buying more is kind of the same thing as charging more for one item. This "2 for" has to stop.

[@susanb4816]

We should have independent stores no chains

[@purdybill]

You'd see higher prices as independent stores cannot buy enough from a supplier to get bulk pricing.

[@htkh]

​@@purdybill not true. The cheapest grocery I can get in town is from an independently owned Asian grocery store in Chinatown. You don't need to buy a million units of one item for it to be bulk pricing. Furthermore, having 3 giant chains monopolizing on grocery actually hinder suppliers the ability to negotiate prices, because companies like Loblaws can threaten to pull the items from their shelves, and since they operate a near monopoly, not being able to have items at these stores meaning no customers would be able to buy the items. So in some cases, these chains can negotiate for the price they pay to be as very low, meanwhile still passing on the price increase (and some more) to consumers because we have no way of knowing how much of the price increase actually came from the suppliers.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@htkh That Asian grocery store is not competition to the big 3. Just like PA and Adonis here in Montreal are competition to the big chains.

[@mikeb5664]

@@htkh If I buy 1000 items from you, you'll give me a better price than if i buy 100. That's a fact.

[@DWreck958]

​​@@shauncameron8390 Adonis is owned by Metro Inc... 🙃🤭 Nice try tho

[@agoogleuseranonymous2658]

In this country there are swindlers everywhere. Definitely they're not absent at the grocery store.

[@ronron6652]

And about Canada's monopoly laws? Summoning the CEOs is not going to help, it just deflects the blame away from the Trudeau government.

[@fuzzylogic7502]

Loblaws definitely doesn't hide their pricing increases and fluctuations. Just watch the price of chicken through a month.....it will go from as low as $6.00 to $18.00 overnight; a week or two later it will drop again for a short time. Not to mention the price increases on almost everything else....they continue to rise as well. Anywhere from $.50 to $1.50 rise on average per product of choice that week. I am regretfully changing back to WalMart as their prices are a lot more stable.

[@jwright6059]

We are absolutely getting gouged. They can absolutely afford to pay people more money and absolutely can afford to lower prices. They are still gonna be rich if they dock enough and pay employees more. I'm 23 and live with my parents but living away from home it's exhausting trying to get decent hours let alone enough pay rent or to even sustain yourself, let alone eat. I'm terrified. I encourage everyone to save and work hard. But you need on average 2-3 jobs to live comfortably not happily. Because honestly I spent thousands on nothing and completely regretted it. I could have used that for rent or other things or put it into my retirement fund. Or my investment fund. It's scary. I'm terrified at 23 I still haven't finished college haven't lived on my own much, I blame it on myself of course 100%, but sustainability isn't easy. It's exhausting trying to maintain a healthy and happy life, no matter how hard you work on yourself. But I'm getting sidetracked .Prices keep going up but yet my wages stay at a.terrible 15$. I deserve at least 18.50$ to try and cope with the immense inflation my generation is being slammed with.

[@darlinspaces]

You feel your degree was useless? I think the housing is a big part of the young persons problems but unless our votes are disqualified, I feel all we need to do is get rid of Trudeau this is the silver lining. You aren’t alone. I am owed for EI since September. Govt lies too much. Filed an appeal. Money don’t bring you peace of mind like the facts do. Just don’t become a globalist.

[@user-iq4ko7kk1d]

Sadly It's not just your generation, but we should be greatful to Trudeau who has given us all the option of checking ourselves out, literally if we find we just aren't up for the struggle.

[@darlinspaces]

@@user-iq4ko7kk1d You have free will. Trudeau is just another person...he is not in power forever

[@arnoldromppai5395]

Food prices are nothing. As a pork farmer and a cow calf from farm to table. In 2020 I paid $273 a ton for 50% cracked corn an 50% ground barly.. in 2021 that same tom went to $437 in 2022 that same ton went to $557 today that same ton is $733. I was forced not to keep any of my feeder piglets due to feed cost. I stopped neat chicken an turkeys in 2021 due to huge feed costs I have my sows an boar but I will most likly sell all 8 week old piglet to locals for them to raise for 12 month. I may not keep the femal calves this spring for breaders due to grain costs. Now. Grain is in just about everything you buy. But I under stand much more filler is being added over an above what's always been put in. to cut back on grain.

[@Sprack]

We are screwed. Great article. The answer BLAH BLAH BLAH

[@yellowbird5411]

If you look at the products in front of him, you see that most of them are processed foods. It costs to process foods, and there is more shipping, storing, packaging, and ingredients go up in price for the manufacturer. There is no consumer control over water content, cheap ingredients, sugar, salt, etc. A can of potato soup at Walmart is $1.72 right now, online. There is about 1/3 of a potato in the can. I can buy 5lbs of potatoes from Walmart for $3.97. That's probably about 12 whole potatoes. How much potato soup could I make with that? So, just be aware that to keep prices low and nutrition high, stay with fresh, whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible. Otherwise you are paying for the can, labeling, electricity to process it, etc. Make your own snacks, soups, and burgers/sandwiches at home.

[@tohrurikku]

But the cold and pain medications were not available on the shelves to buy. Those areas have been mostly bare for a few years now. I still remember that not long ago these grocers were caught gouging their customers on bread sales. It is not a big leap to realize that they are doing the same thing in other areas too.

[@scottstempmail9045]

"I feel like I'm spending fifty dollars for a handful of items." You are. We are.

[@izzydeadyet7336]

At shoppers drug mart I saw the small travel sized shampoo for $8 and the same for the travel conditioner! So $16 for travel size shampoo and conditioner!! Talk about shrinkflation! My kids used to have doll sized food products and I used to joke that's what our food would turn into and its happening. Ridiculous

[@YoBoyMarcus]

One word for you: Dollarama

[@izzydeadyet7336]

@@YoBoyMarcus dollarama prices are way up too, they have things over $5 .. I remember when their motto was, 'nothing over a dollar '

[@ihategooglesomuch]

anyone who buys such ridiculous products deserves to be gouged.

[@flowergirlabc123]

Shoppers Drug Mart is notorious for having extremely high prices. You need to shop sales now. Don't buy travel sized anything. Buy small travel bottles at dollar stores and fill it up!

[@izzydeadyet7336]

@@flowergirlabc123 I would never buy them I just couldnt belive the price walking by, it was like full price for a tiny doll sized version, ridiculous!

[@alienpix]

There's a conflict of interest with the legal industry as it's built from colonialism, which is built on investment. These companies invest in the government and the government invests in these companies. There needs to be outside evaluation to avoid conflicts of interest.

[@jeffreyquinn3820]

Which is why we have banking fees that are orders of magnitude than they are in most other developed countries. In Germany & some other EU, for example, employees of the big retail corporations have a legally mandated seat on the board so that they have equal information to the employer at contract negotiation times, so there is a higher level of trust in financial statements. The workers aren't going to agree to financial statements that falsely show that the company can't give them raises. In Canada, the boards are made up primarily of members of the same 18 families that have been on the board of everything since Canada became a country.

[@user-iq4ko7kk1d]

Can someone please name a time when food prices came down? My company says they cant increase wages because the inflation is only temporary. So i keep making less and less as I've never seen prices come down.

[@christianduval9067]

Forgot to mention the cost of transportation....diesel at $2,00 per litre....and everything travel with diesel

[@shauncameron8390]

You have only Carbon Tax to thank for that.

[@ninemoonplanet]

Ms. Patel should look at "stencil branding" among the foods in stores. Those products are made with much lower per item cost to the grocery chains. (think after market) so obviously the profits are higher. JBS, Cargill and two others are the only major corporations producing in processing meat products. They based in Brazil and the US. See if those financial statements are available. Cargill, JBS I believe both have meat processing plants in Canada, therefore the financial statements may be available here. Now, I have moved almost completely away from the major food suppliers, including Walmart. I personally saw prices supposedly "frozen" had been raised substantially just before the "freeze" and remained at the higher price. That's when I understood the corporations were playing games with pricing, volume per unit, etc. My tiny garden will be packed with vegetables I personally eat frequently, but anything else I will buy from local growers or shops.

[@erupendragon7376]

Check you definition of inflation. Monopolistic exploitation is not inflation.

[@samanthapochiro]

Beauty items are getting bad too with shrinkflation. A dry shampoo I've been using for years (Hask) shrunk over half the size!

[@evadeanu1]

Oh! Nobody is going to get grilled. They will continue to pay themselves just as much from our hard work.

[@johnrichards8846]

That's product placement when he flattened the laptop.

[@MsSassyMT]

I definitely have noticed that my fresh vegetables are going bad so much quicker. Now, if I'm not going to eat it the same day I purchase it, I opt for frozen.

[@onBview]

How come Loblaw is renovating during this difficult times?

[@lizliz4186]

I often wonder the same. So is Metro and Sobeys. It's not such a hard time after all. I think politicians see that as more jobs and more tax money so I don't think they're going to ask.

[@teresadopeysmum3268]

That's how they get tax write-offs. Renovate unnecessarily using excess profits and get tax breaks for doing so.

[@francem831]

Thanks for the break downs.. very informative.. good reporting. 👍🏻

[@Half_Man_Half_Bearpig]

If we started seeing shortages in the stores and rising prices in response to balance supply and demand, I'd buy the narrative that price increases were necessary. That was not the case, at least in the 3-5 stores I usually shop at. Prices have steadily increased with no indication that market conditions were rapidly changing.

[@Mdyck69]

Heres a thing. I shop at the local co-op. If they make too much money they give it back. All these folks that line up at discount gas stations to buy the cheaper fuel which usually doesn't have all the same protective additives or is just older stock fuel than brand name fuel stations have to save 5 cents a liter. I got 4 cents a liter back last year and don't even have to pump my own gas. Co-ops are the way to go

[@TheMsSimone]

I went to the grocery store a couple of days ago and noticed that a bag of chips on average was $5😳 we all know that half of the bag is air anyway. Food prices are rising, and will continue to do so. It’s unfortunate, and I hope many of us get pay increases to be able to keep up.

[@CikisHelyzet]

Right? Who thinks $7 is okay for a single potato and a bag of air?? I especially like how I’m supposed to get excited that Doritos are on sale 2/$9 ... what planet is this? I’d like to go home now. 😏

[@davidjym]

Some people thanked inflation for helping them lose weight 😢

[@shauncameron8390]

@@davidjym Looks like the Trudeau diet is working as intended.

[@davidjym]

@@shauncameron8390 less stress on the health care system if everyone maintains a 'healthy' weight.

[@A_Canadian_In_Poland]

A forced breakup of the big 3 retailers into about 20 different companies by brand name might seem heavy-handed, but the USA and the EU do this all the time...

[@musahala]

Used to get cooking oil 3L for 4.99 that too on the remote island of cape Breton towards the beginning of 2022. Now is more than double the price

[@FaizaAhmedOfficial]

Great Job CBC! Thanks for identifying it.

[@rebeccahillsares8253]

Fact 💯

[@stuartgannon1629]

I find this piece and the conversation around food prices misleading as it is so very far from complete. Firstly, ignore Costco and WalMart, 2 of the 4 largest groceries out of the conversation of food retail in Canada paints an incomplete picture. Secondly these are retailers, not food manufacturers (I make the distinction between Loblaw and Weston). Where is the conversation around food manufacturers and what is driving commodity prices, the cost of manufacturing, and supply chain prices up. These are fundamental to understanding the entire picture. Grocery chains have historically done a good job of mitigating price increases from manufacturers. Look at the dispute between Loblaw and PepsiCo last year when PepsiCo stopped shipping to all Loblaws because they refused to take a price increase. I had great hopes for these longer slots, that they would be more informative but we are still getting misleading narratives

[@CokkiNetal]

Excellent report. Well done.

[@4Joey]

Absolutely love this "About That" series!

[@coolw2k]

thanks for good work

[@jeetshah6554]

Where can I watch it live?

[@TheMooMasterZee]

Yay for KZbin blocking URLs. A search for "Parlvu AGRI Meeting No. 52" should bring you to a direct livestream.

[@agoogleuseranonymous2658]

Everything is going up. We're paying MORE for LESS. Even on the dating market a 4/10 on Tinder is going to expect a 9/10(a Chad) these days. Same with houses. A dumpster full of roaches made in the 50s is worth millions today. Back then when the house was brand new, it was worth less than $100k. The thing for sure that doesn't increase as fast is our incomes.

[@Amir-jn5mo]

Great coverage. Thank you for doing clean honest journalist work. Loved your piece regarding TTC safety too.

[@MrPotsy81]

Worked in a grocery store. They rotate product especially bread, etc. The freshest product is in the back. Always take from the back!!

[@agoogleuseranonymous2658]

Exactly you see this too on the shelves. Milk that expires like the next day or so.

[@joyluke10]

I was actually scolded by the store manager because I was looking for coffee cream that had a longer expiry date because the price was so high... i just ignored him as I was paying for it not him...

[@Topazman12]

My lady met many people that opened a home based business. They bought needed vegetables straight from the Warehouse or farm. And they distributed to local buyers. This is a type of buyers club.

[@darlinspaces]

Where at?🤓

[@remyraquel4284]

My husband ( 77) and I am ( 72 ) our average grocery bill is around $250 per Week, I also try to buy over ripe fruits just to have healthy items in our diets similar with veggies ( not so fresh & get easily rotten). For Protein: we buy Beef bones, Pork bones and Salmon heads to have just the flavour but no meat so, it’s just enjoy the Broths. Yes, the Grocery Bills is really eating our modest Pensions

[@joanneentwistle7653]

I saw jugs of oil in Metro last week for $21.99.

[@davidjym]

Great deal

[@loosepal]

Great now we need the real-estate companies to be answerable !!

[@YoBoyMarcus]

Canadians have been bilked for decades. Even though food prices are ridiculously high right now, they've been high for decades. I look at the price of food in the U.K. and it's so much cheaper. Their prices have gone up as well in the last couple of years but it's still affordable. Just one example: A can of baked beans is 27p in the UK, which is about 45 cents Canadian. A similar can of beans in Canada is 1.47 if you get it at Walmart. More than THREE TIMES the price... If the British people were subjected to Canadian prices they would take to the streets to riot. Same thing in Italy, I couldn't believe the low prices on groceries when I went. It was amazing and really made me realize how badly Canadians are being taken advantage of.

[@chefszm]

that can of campbells chicken soup is $2.49 at walmart, just goes to show how sad the situation is whe American chains do more than our local ones to keep prices low

[@JHW44]

Ours were $0.97 a can the last few times I went

[@darlinspaces]

But it’s not better food in states, trust me

[@JHW44]

@@darlinspaces yea pretty sure your food inflation in the USA is higher than ours.. lol not sure where that was coming from

[@darlinspaces]

@@JHW44 Just feel sorry for them...they still have a lot to catch up with understanding of data

[@JHW44]

At Walmart maybe soup is still $0.97 I’m not sure since the flyer has changed. Hope you are able to stock up a little bit

[@GomChingu]

loved this video, Andrew Chang the host presented the information in an intelligent and analytical point of view.

[@imisstoronto3121]

How about instant coffee? I remember the large jars my parents used to buy; not sure how many ounces it held but it was substantial. Now the coffee jars are miniscule and the price is ridiculous!!

[@abou-hind]

Thank you. Very interesting

[@Peekaboo-Kitty]

The CEO's will get grilled and then what? Nothing will change. They will continue on with business as usual. Supermarkets have the audacity to complain about "Shoplifting" when they have been robbing Customers for decades!

[@lindsay3995]

So basically, “we were really bilking you all last year, but have had to ease up a bit this year-give us empathy.”

[@vmitchinson]

Break these chains up. For instance prohibited retailers owning wholesalers, force the producers to be independent of all processers and so on until every component is independent of all other parts of the food chain. Also each component is aloud to own more then 2O% of the market. I remember back in the 50 and 60 breweries were not aloud to own retail bars and the beer had to be brewed in the province where it was sold.

[@cjohns3948]

Would love to see Katie Porter handle this! We need our own Katie Porter....

[@MrWaterbugdesign]

Prices will continue to increase for as long as people are willing to pay. People blame stores and companies but buyers set prices. Say for example almost everyone stopped buying eggs in a store. The manager would see the eggs sitting there day after day and as they get close to "sell by date" the manager will mark down those eggs. Buyers set the price. It is the job and duty of company owners/managers to get the highest possible price for their products. It is the job and duty of every worker to get the highest possible pay from employers. This is our system. I've never heard a worker tell an employer "Oh no, that's too big a raise." People want higher pay and lower prices. That's been true ever since the first human said "Hey dude, wanna trade?"

[@davidjym]

So you're asking people not to eat??😮😮😮

[@LuvableAF]

Lettuce is 6.00. And I love salad!

[@spinwardbound]

Thanks

[@tinaupnorth]

This has been a life long issue in the Territories. Now that it's affecting the provinces, maybe something can actually be done for all parts of Canada. The north's prices are even higher still. Imagine!

[@shauncameron8390]

That's due to transport costs.

[@sarahjane9526]

We have been seeing the same here in Australia. Vegetable oil this week in Coles was $30 for the large bottle

[@davidjym]

Helping people to use less and helping the planet 😅

[@michaelstreilein9788]

Why isn't anyone asking the question - They're more profitable than ever in other areas, so the whole of their business is still more profitable. The owners are becoming richer. Their employees aren't making more money. Why isn't Lowblows using rising profits in other areas to keep overall costs for Canadians down? Simple. The corporation doesn't feel it's their responsibility to help Canadians in dire times.

[@30kenton]

I love your show.any luck having a tv show..or a calling program

[@gwendolynbennett5594]

It's getting harder and harder to eat healthier. Everything is so expensive. I don't know how people are able to feed families. I am retired and only have myself to provide for, but have to be mindful of how much I spend.

[@MissTiff84]

I genuinely don't know how anyone who has a job and not a career, can survive. We are in SW Ontario and our rent literally doubled in the last few years. How can anyone afford rent, food, hydro, insurance, car payments, gas, clothes etc. Let alone having extra money to try and even enjoy life. It explains why mental health is be affected the way it is. We are being shoved into a corner with no way out. My moms on a pension and she can barely afford her bills. With inflation she has to make choices. I have worked for both RCSS and Walmart and have to say they don't put that money back into their employees. Where is this money going.

[@barryhaley7430]

Except he’s saying “it’s free”! It’s not Canadian taxpayers are paying for it!

[@danielmad]

You need to compare reports not just between the three, but bring in a controller based element, like a Walmart annual report, just to show how those three are influencing the market in Canada.

[@lorenzomabalos9851]

It would be nice to grow our own food, if we had the available space and longer growing season, but eh...

[@averybakedewok]

OMG a CBC youtube video w comments turned on!??? When did I win the lottery and have free speech in this country? Also very interesting and informative segment, prices are insane and I feel gouged and unable to provide the same food as the past due to price increases. Its sad 😔

[@JHW44]

When the price freeze ended at loblaws no name bagels were $1.50. One week after the price freeze ended they were $2.25 and a week later $3.50.. bagels up $2 in 2 weeks? I would hate to see the prices next time I go...

[@davidjym]

Payback time

[@JHW44]

@@davidjym yay 😁 they are on sale this week though at least lol

[@davidjym]

@@JHW44 stock them up!!!!! 😆😆😆😆

[@JHW44]

@@davidjym lol as many as I can fit in the freezer.. I still have some from when they were $1.50 lol 😂

[@janejones9004]

Loblaws is the most expensive grocery store in Ontario! Coming from BC, I was shocked. I thought Metro was bad, but you can get some things on sale there. Still I don't do my main shopping there.

[@DareToBeDeviant]

Prices in stores having shot up roughly 80-200%. Every news person or economist so far: "Inflation is up 5%". A bite of cake used to cost me 75¢ a few years ago and now is $1.59. I'm not an expert in math but something doesn't add up here.

[@darlinspaces]

I live in a 2 bedroom home and am now setting up my indoor tent to growing vegetables. It’s not that I can’t feed myself it’s we don’t really feel the food I quality. There are other friends I have saying they think the Ohio train leak is now in the ground here.

[@Scrat335]

Another thing is product availability. In Russia fresh strawberries are rare as hens teeth in January. Not to be had usually. Summer? Their all over the place.

[@Lillyofthevalley222]

The chicken and pork thing! Right! I’ve been buying a 1.5kg pork roast for under $10!!!!

[@peachmelba1000]

It's very difficult to feel any pity when 500 million in a quarter is disappointing to a company. My money only gets spent on essentials these days, and food is the most important one. I don't even own a car. Idk how people manage that, even at a great wage.

[@literallylaura8421]

Support food security services in your area, protect farmers and seeds, overgrowth the system with your part in making sure no one on this planet earth goes hungry. The love for food is in us all.

[@teresadopeysmum3268]

Who believes that Loblaws ONLY makes $4 on every $100 grocery bill?? That's a ridiculous statement.

[@davidjym]

And we should feel bad for Loblaws?????

[@AllTerrainGuy]

This is misinformation, the government said inflation only went up 6.39% 😂

[@davidjym]

Still a lot

[@mikeg9341]

Well im pretty sure they can see which department made the money. And compare the price from the previous year to the present.