Grocery prices in Canada: Comedian’s Tesco vs. Loblaws video goes viral as Canadian vent over cost of living

The cost of groceries in Canada has come under scrutiny following a video posted by Ottawa comedian Kyle Brownrigg in October 2023. In the video, which garnered close to 30,000 likes on Instagram, Brownrigg compared prices for various food items at London’s Tesco supermarket with those at Canada’s Loblaws, highlighting significant disparities. For instance, items such as yogurt and bacon were markedly cheaper at Tesco, with prices like $3.28 and $3.37 respectively, compared to Loblaws’ $5.99 and $10.

Brownrigg’s total grocery expenditure for the week in London was approximately CAD $17. This continued in a broader context, as he also pointed out that rent and medication prices are lower in the U.K. than in Canada, reflecting a growing concern among Canadians about the high cost of living.

The reaction on social media has been divided, with some users defending Brownrigg’s findings while others critiqued the examples he chose. The discontent surrounding grocery prices is not new, particularly towards Loblaws, with previous campaigns through social media platforms calling for boycotts due to rising prices and perceived corporate profit-seeking. Surveys indicated that a notable percentage of Canadians supported these boycotts.

Food inflation has consistently surpassed overall inflation in Canada, with Statistics Canada reporting a 3.4% increase in food prices in October compared to a year earlier. With projections suggesting Canadian families will spend significantly more on groceries in the coming years, addressing these issues of affordability remains crucial.