A Guide to Buying Groceries in Ontario, Canada

With the abundance of stores, markets and farms available, buying groceries in Ontario isn’t just a chore; it’s a delightful experience eagerly anticipated by many each day or each week.

The province’s grocery shopping scene offers a diverse array of options. It ranges from sprawling supermarket chains to charming local markets and farms. This variety caters to the tastes and needs of its wide-ranging population.

This article aims to delve into the different types of grocery stores found throughout Ontario. It will highlight where and how various groups, from Canadian immigrants and newcomers to long-time residents and casual visitors, can meet their daily and weekly shopping needs.

The backbone of grocery shopping in Ontario, large supermarkets and grocery chains, offer a wide variety of food products, household items, and more, often under one roof.

These chains are providing a comprehensive shopping experience with added amenities such as pharmacies, bakeries, and delis. They focus on convenience and variety, offering a range of brands from budget to premium, organic to freshly prepared, including their own store brands, which often present cost-saving opportunities.

Loblaws: Known for its vast selection, Loblaws caters to Ontario’s diverse population with international foods, organic and conventional products, and added services like bakeries and pharmacies. Prices may be higher than discount stores, but Loblaws compensates with quality and a loyalty program, PC Optimum.

Zehrs: A Loblaw Companies affiliate, Zehrs provides quality groceries and household goods, recognized for its customer service and slightly higher price for quality. It also supports the PC Optimum rewards program.

Metro: Offers a wide selection of fresh meat and prepared foods, known for its well-organized stores and weekly specials. The Metro & Moi rewards program aids in saving money.

Sobeys: Offers a broad range of products and ready-to-eat meals, competing in quality and price with Loblaws, and features the AIR MILES rewards program.

For shoppers focused on budget without sacrificing quality, Ontario’s discount grocery stores and wholesalers are popular choices. These stores place less emphasis on store design and customer services and more on savings.

FreshCo: Sobeys’ discount brand, appealing to budget-conscious and multicultural shoppers with lower prices on a variety of items.

Food Basics: Metro Inc.’s discount store, known for its commitment to low prices and a wide product variety, including international foods.

No Frills: Offers savings by focusing less on aesthetics and more on product prices, with a selection that includes fresh produce and meats, under the same ownership as Loblaws.

Giant Tiger: A discount store that also sells groceries, and offers competitive pricing on food items along with clothing and household goods. Their grocery selection includes both brand name and generic options at low prices.

Costco: Costco is a membership-based warehouse club known for selling products in bulk at lower prices. It’s ideal for families or groups looking to stock up on groceries, electronics, clothing, and more. While the upfront cost of a membership may seem high ($60 to $120, in 2024), the savings on bulk items can be significant. Costco is also noted for its quality produce, meats, and other fresh items, including its brand, Kirkland.

Walmart Supercentre: Provides a wide range of groceries and general merchandise at competitive prices, appealing to budget-conscious shoppers with its extensive store network.

Outside the traditional grocery store model, there are several alternative avenues to explore for buying groceries, especially if you’re looking for fresh, local, affordable, or unique food items. These options can provide not only cost savings but also access to higher quality and more diverse food selections.

Here’s a look at some of these alternatives:

Farmers’ Markets: Farmers’ markets, such as St. Lawrence Market in Toronto or Covent Garden Market in London, are excellent for sourcing fresh, local produce directly from farmers. They often offer organic and sustainably grown fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products.

Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA): Joining a CSA program allows you to purchase a share from a local farm and, in return, receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. This direct-from-farm model ensures fresh, high-quality produce and often includes the opportunity to try new foods.

Online Retailers and Delivery Services: Online grocery shopping has become increasingly popular, offering the convenience of home delivery. Some online platforms specialize in organic, sustainable, or specialty foods that might be hard to find in standard grocery stores. Examples include subscription-based services for meat, seafood, or meal kits that focus on healthy, easy-to-prepare meals.

Ethnic and Specialty Food Stores: Ethnic food stores, such as T&T Supermarket, cater to specific cultural cuisines and are great places to find unique ingredients that are often priced more affordably than at mainstream supermarkets. Specialty food stores focus on niche markets such as organic, gluten-free, or vegan diets, offering a wide variety of items suited to these preferences.

Health Food Stores: Health food stores specialize in organic, natural, and health-focused products, including fresh produce, supplements, and eco-friendly cleaning and personal care items. While sometimes more expensive, they offer high-quality options for those with specific dietary needs.

Bulk Food Stores: Stores specializing in bulk goods can offer significant savings, especially for dry goods like grains, nuts, seeds, and spices.

For example, shopping at Bulk Barn in bulk reduces packaging waste and allows you to purchase exactly the amount you need, which can save money in the long run.

Co-ops: Food cooperatives (co-ops) are member-owned and operated stores that often focus on organic, local, and sustainably produced goods. Members typically pay a fee to join but receive benefits like discounts and a say in the products stocked. Non-members can usually shop as well but at slightly higher prices.

Local Farms and Roadside Stands: Directly purchasing from local farms or roadside stands is another way to get fresh produce. Some farms offer pick-your-own options for fruits and vegetables, providing a fun activity and the chance to buy in bulk at lower prices. Roadside stands are particularly popular in the Niagara region, offering a charming and direct way to purchase fresh produce. Meanwhile, blueberry, strawberry, and orchard farms are scattered throughout Ontario, providing a wealth of options for those seeking locally grown fruits directly from the source.

Barter and Food Swap Events: In some communities, barter or food swap events allow individuals to trade homemade, grown, or foraged foods with others. These events can be a great way to diversify your food supply, try new things, and connect with like-minded neighbors.

Signing up for store loyalty programs is a straightforward way to access immediate and long-term savings. These programs are typically free to join and offer a range of benefits, including:

Points Accumulation: Shoppers earn points for every dollar spent, which can then be redeemed for discounts on future purchases. For example, the PC Optimum program allows you to accumulate points at Loblaws, No Frills, and other participating stores, which can significantly reduce your grocery bill over time. Offered by Sobeys, Metro, and some other retailers, AIR MILES rewards shoppers with miles that can be redeemed for groceries, merchandise, or even travel.

Exclusive Discounts: Members often receive exclusive offers and discounts not available to non-members, including special pricing on popular items and access to members-only sales.

Personalized Offers: Many programs send personalized deals based on your shopping history, helping you save money on products you buy regularly.

Weekly flyers are an excellent tool for planning your grocery shopping to maximize savings. They highlight the week’s deals and promotions, allowing you to:

Plan Meals Around Sales: Adjust your meal planning to incorporate items that are on sale, thereby reducing the overall cost of your grocery list.

Stock Up on Essentials: When staples or non-perishable items are on sale, it’s an opportune time to buy in bulk and stock your pantry, saving money in the long term.

Comparison Shop: Reviewing flyers from multiple stores can help you decide where to shop each week based on who has the best deals on items you need.

Purchasing items in bulk, particularly non-perishables like grains, legumes, and canned goods, can lead to significant savings:

Lower Unit Costs: Bulk items often have a lower cost per unit, making them cheaper than purchasing smaller quantities.

Reduces Packaging Waste: Buying in bulk usually involves less packaging, which is better for the environment and sometimes reduces costs.

Warehouse Clubs: Membership-based stores like Costco specialize in bulk sales, offering considerable discounts on both food and non-food items. The savings on bulk purchases can offset the annual membership fee.

Buying fruits and vegetables in season can not only save you money but also enhance the flavor and nutritional value of your meals:

Peak Flavor and Nutrition: Seasonal produce is harvested at the peak of its freshness, offering better taste and nutritional content.

Lower Prices: When fruits and vegetables are in season, the abundance of the produce typically lowers its cost.

Support Local Farmers: Purchasing seasonal items often means you’re buying locally sourced produce, which supports local farmers and reduces transportation costs and emissions.

Navigating the grocery store aisles can be a daunting task, especially with the myriad of labels, certifications, and quality standards food products boast. Understanding these labels is crucial for making informed decisions about the food you consume, ensuring not only the healthiness and safety of your choices but also aligning them with your ethical and environmental values.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to decoding food labels and understanding quality standards in Canada.

Canada Organic Logo: Products bearing this logo meet strict guidelines set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). They must contain at least 95% organic ingredients, and the production process must adhere to organic farming standards, which include the use of natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods.

Non-GMO Label: The Non-GMO Project Verified seal indicates that a product has been produced according to consensus-based best practices for GMO (genetically modified organism) avoidance, including testing of risk ingredients. This label is particularly important for consumers wishing to avoid genetically engineered foods.

Fair Trade: This certification signifies that the product has been sourced in ways that promote better trading conditions and sustainable farming. It ensures that farmers and workers receive fair compensation, community development, and environmental sustainability.

Free-Range: Typically applied to poultry, this label indicates that the birds have had some degree of outdoor access, as opposed to being confined in an enclosure all the time.

Grass-Fed: This term usually refers to the diet of cows or sheep and means that the animals have been fed primarily on grass, which can lead to higher levels of certain beneficial nutrients in their meat and milk.

MSC Certified: Seafood with the MSC label has been sustainably fished, according to standards for sustainable fishing that include minimizing environmental impact and ensuring fish populations remain healthy.

Foodland Ontario: In Ontario, the Foodland Ontario logo indicates the food is grown or made in the province. This supports local farmers and reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance food transportation.

Utilizing apps and websites to compare prices at different stores ensures you’re always getting the best deal:

Price Comparison Tools: Apps like Flipp aggregate weekly flyers and make it easy to compare prices across multiple stores from your phone or computer.

Barcode Scanners: Some apps allow you to scan an item’s barcode and compare its price at nearby stores, ensuring you pay the lowest price available.

Online Price Tracking: Websites and browser extensions can track prices of items over time, alerting you when products drop to their lowest price, helping you decide the best time to buy.

If you’ve recently relocated to this country, learning how to navigate grocery shopping in Ontario is essential for a comfortable transition into your new Canadian life. By exploring the wide range of options available, from large supermarket chains to charming local markets, and learning money-saving tips, newcomers can affordably access a wide variety of high-quality foods.

The diversity of the region is reflected in its grocery stores, providing a variety of choices for everyone, thereby making shopping groceries in Ontario an enjoyable aspect of acclimating to your new surroundings.