Food prices to rise again
It is soon going to cost Sault Ste. Marie grocery shoppers more. The Canadian Press is reporting that higher prices are expected to hit grocery stores across Canada soon as a blackout on increases over the holiday season comes to an end.
Last fall, Loblaw — which operates multiple banners including No Frills — said it would freeze prices on all its in-house No Name products until Jan. 31. Meanwhile Metro said it would hold prices of most private-label and national brand products steady until Feb. 5.
The lifting of the price freezes comes amid growing consumer outrage over soaring grocery prices in Canada and increasing scrutiny of grocers’ strong profits.
But grocery chains have argued their food margins have remained flat and they are simply passing along higher supplier prices.
Loblaw spokeswoman Catherine Thomas told the Canadian Press that food inflation has continued and the cost of stocking store shelves keeps going up month after month.
She added that the company will continue to hold many prices flat and switching to ‘No Name’ will still save the average family thousands of dollars this year.