Torontonians considering alternatives to the big grocery chains
Food prices at traditional grocery chains continue to weigh heavy on Canadians, but there are more affordable alternatives.
As consumers continue to grapple with high food inflation, shoppers are undertaking a month-long boycott of Loblaw in hopes of pressuring the grocery giant to lower its prices.
The boycott is far-reaching, encompassing all stores owned by Loblaw, such as Shoppers, Real Canadian Superstore and even No Frills.
It comes at a time when people are turning to food banks to make ends meet, and demand for help is expected to increase.
So if you’re on the lookout for cheaper options, here are some shops to consider.
This non-profit in the Junction sells imperfect produce — just pay what you can
As part of its mission to tackle food waste and food insecurity, Feed it Forward offers grocery items that would otherwise be thrown out — often because it could be misshapen or bruised — for affordable prices.
There aren’t any price tags, though, because everything in the market is pay-what-you-can.
The food comes from restaurants, cafes and bakeries, farms, food producers and grocery stores. It includes vegetables, fresh fruit, soups and stews, canned foods, pre-made meals, breads and pastries, sandwiches, cereals, coffee beans and condiments.
It’s at 2770 Dundas St. West, Unit A in Toronto.
Sign up for a weekly delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables
Odd Bunch is a grocery delivery service that, like Feed it Forward, aims to divert perfectly good food from going to landfill for aesthetic reasons, and sells it at a more affordable rate.
The company offers a subscription to purchase boxes weekly, which could be small, medium or large, offering a mix of fruits and vegetables, as well as boxes that offer only fruits or only vegetables. A small mixed box, which comes with 10 items, for example, costs $20. The website says the boxes are “up to 40 per cent cheaper than the grocery store.”
It says it sources its food from farms, greenhouses and distributors in Southwest Ontario, including JP Gladstone Farms in Blenheim and Martin’s Family Fruit Farm in Waterloo.
Pick up non-perishable foods and snacks at Dollarama
Dollarama may not offer fresh produce, but it’s worth a trip before going to the grocery store if you want to find cheaper options for drinks, spices, snacks and even some vitamins.
There are also canned food options, like tuna and legumes, that you might normally search for at the grocery store.
Find affordable fruits and vegetables in St. James Town
The Wellesley Fruit Market, just next to the local Food Basics, offers fresh fruit and vegetables at prices that are hard to come by at any chain grocery store. Visitors say the space is small, but the visit is worth it.
You can find it at 224 Wellesley St. East in Toronto.
Save on meat and more at this Chinatown shop
Kai Wei Supermarket is a sprawling shop at the heart of Chinatown that offers competitive prices on goods such as meat, seafood, fruits and vegetables.
It’s at 253 Spadina Ave. in Toronto.
Check out this viral discount grocery store with several locations
The Grocery Outlet garnered attention from hundreds of thousands of people last year when a TikTokker shared some of the deals she found at the store, saying at the time that prices started at 50 cents, with almost nothing selling for more than $10.
Visitors have since suggested that people check the expiry on any products they want to buy, as they may be nearing their best-before date.
According to the company’s website, the grocer carries products at 30 per cent to 70 per cent the price of traditional retailers.
It says the store is able to sell products at a lower cost because it works with Canadian and American distributors dealing with over-production, or who are not selling products for aesthetic reasons, or who have made an error with packaging.
The grocer has 12 locations in southern Ontario, including in Toronto, Whitby, Newmarket, Oshawa and Ajax.
This article was first reported by The Star
