supermarket

Thursday April 13, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday April 13, 2023

Grocery Shopping: The New Jewelry Store Experience

September 29, 2022

Move over, Tiffany’s! The hottest place to shop for precious commodities is now your local supermarket. With prices soaring to new heights, Canadians are flocking to grocery chains with the same excitement and anticipation as shopping for gold, diamonds, and expensive gems in a jewelry store.

According to a recent survey by Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, a staggering 30 percent of Canadians believe that grocery chain price gouging is the main culprit behind skyrocketing food prices. It seems that the CEOs of the country’s biggest supermarket chains, Loblaw, Empire, and Metro, have failed to convince the public of their transparency and honesty, with only 25 percent of Canadians trusting their data-sharing efforts. Consumer trust, which is critical for the food industry, has taken a nosedive in recent months, as Canadians grapple with the highest grocery inflation in 40 years, while the profits of these grocery giants hit all-time highs.

But fear not, dear shoppers, for the CEOs of these supermarket chains have reassured us that food inflation is lower in Canada compared to other G7 countries, and that their profit margins are razor-thin. It’s not like they’re raking in massive profits while Canadians struggle to put food on the table, right?

Opinion: What Canadians want in the food sector  

March 8, 2023

In fact, there are many factors at play here, according to the survey. Nearly 30 percent of Canadians also blame monetary and fiscal policies for driving up food prices. How fascinating! Who knew that the world of grocery shopping could be so complex and multi-faceted, akin to the intricate world of precious gems?

And let’s not forget about the lack of competition in the marketplace, which many respondents highlighted as a major driving force behind unreasonable food costs. With only five leading retailers, including the top three grocers, commanding over 75 percent of the market, it’s no wonder Canadians are feeling the pinch. Who needs choices and options anyway? It’s much more exciting to go to the grocery store and pay whatever exorbitant price is slapped on that carton of eggs or loaf of bread.

For small independent grocers, the situation is even bleaker. Rising rent, inflation, and the overwhelming dominance of supermarket chains make it nearly impossible for them to keep up. They are left with no choice but to buy supplies from their competitors, the very same grocery chains that are driving them out of business. Talk about a David versus Goliath situation!

News: One in three Canadians believe grocery store price gouging is the main reason for food price increases: survey  

December 10, 2021

But fear not, dear shoppers, for a Canadian grocery code of conduct is expected to be finalized soon, promising to address the power imbalance caused by consolidation among grocery retailers and promote “fair and ethical dealing” across the supply chain. It remains to be seen whether this code of conduct will truly restore trust within the industry, but hey, a little glimmer of hope is better than nothing, right?

So, the next time you head to the supermarket, be prepared for an exhilarating shopping experience, akin to searching for rare gems in a high-end jewelry store. Who needs affordable and transparent grocery shopping anyway? Happy shopping, and may the odds be ever in your favor! After all, who doesn’t love a little adventure and mystery when it comes to putting food on the table? (AI)

 

Wednesday March 8, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 8, 2023

Consumers, experts weigh in on supermarket CEO showdown in Ottawa

February 2, 2023

The heads of Canada’s major grocery chains will be tasked with answering questions at the House of Commons this week about the rising cost of food.

While the people paying high prices are hoping for accountability, one industry expert in the Maritimes said that might not be what they get.

Loblaws president Galen Weston, along with the CEOs of Metro and Empire Company Limited — which owns Sobeys — are set to testify before the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food Wednesday.

While Sylvain Charlebois of the Dalhousie University agri-foods lab was skeptical about this, he said grocery giants have to at least show their faces.

“I think it’s going to be political theatre,” Charlebois said. “Out of respect [to Canadians], I think CEOs needed to explain themselves.”

A seniors advocate in Sydney is among the shoppers looking for answers.

Bernie Larusic says at least 30 per cent of the older population he represents has been hit hard by high grocery prices.

Thursday December 6, 2018

“I don’t know if ‘ripped off’ is the right term, but I can tell you they can’t afford the way things are going,” he said.

On Monday, officials from the Dairy Processors Association of Canada, along with Food and Beverage Canada and Maple Leaf Foods, were expected to be grilled by members of Parliament.

“Certainly, the one thing that I would want to see the committee doing is to understand how to make the Canadian market more competitive to help consumers over the long run,” Charlebois said. “Right now… things are pretty cozy for grocers.”

Back at his home in Sydney, Larusic said seniors organizations in Nova Scotia will bring similar complaints to government.

“I think people should do the same thing,” he said. “They should call their MPs and MLAs indicating that things are tough here. What can you do to help us?” (CTV) 

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro …

 

Monday February 7, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday February 7, 2017

Kellie Leitch’s immigration policy could damage Conservative Party: Peter MacKay

Peter MacKay, one of the people who helped create the modern Conservative Party, says positions on immigration from one leadership candidate may damage the party’s brand.

MacKay was asked what he thought about Kellie Leitch’s policy to screen immigrants for what she terms “Canadian values.”

 The question of what are Canadian values is far from clear, MacKay said.

September 7, 2016

“When you drill down into that type of discussion the first question that comes to mind is, who makes that decision? And what is that bar going to be? And how possibly could somebody coming from a country that has no understanding of what it means to be a Canadian meet that criteria?”

The former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party helped unite the party with the Canadian Alliance to become the Conservative Party. He decided not to run for the leadership last September and has rarely weighed in on the race since announcing that decision.

He says he’s concerned for the long-term health of the party.

“As somebody who has invested a lot of time and effort into building this party and putting us in contention and somebody who cares deeply for the country, you need competitive parties. You need, in my estimation, a Conservative party that is vying for government,” he explained.

“I do worry about certain positions that have been staked out. Having been through a leadership contest, I know that the rhetoric sometimes gets heated, but it does pose the risk of causing brand damage for the Conservative Party,” MacKay added. (CBC News)