Canadian consumers have dramatically changed their grocery-buying patterns in the past year as food prices and housing inflation have squeezed their budgets. Demand and product changes in the food supply chain will affect farm commodities. Grocery store sales are down in Canada, even with product value inflation, which means less demand for farm products. Why […] Read more
Tag Archives consumers
Consumer food-buying behaviour changing rapidly
Inflation-strapped buyers turn to more discounts, cut their food-buying budgets
Canadian food inflation to slow through 2024, report says
More certainty has brought an uptick in grocer promotions, but consumers are struggling
Canadian food prices are expected to rise between 2.5 and 4.5 per cent in 2024, according to a new report.
“It is probable that Canadians will continue to experience the strain of food inflation compounded by increasing costs of housing, energy and various other expenditures,” according to Canada’s Food Price Report 2024.
Editorial: Concern over grocery prices no joke
The issue of soaring grocery prices was the subject of a hilarious skit on the Canadian comedy television show This Hour has 22 Minutes earlier this month. In the skit, a woman is seen going up to a cash register at a grocery store with a basketful of ingredients for a charcuterie board, which she […] Read more
Honesty key in building public trust through food marketing
Consumers increasingly value transparency over perfection
Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian consumers have a high level of mistrust when it comes to food labels and marketing. That was a key takeaway in a recent report from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, which showed that 62 per cent of Canadians have concerns about misleading food labels and marketing. Instead of viewing this […] Read more
Canadians trust farmers despite high food costs — for now
How farmers have maintained, and could risk, public trust
Rising food prices have been drawing the ire of the Canadian public, but the bulk of that frustration and anger is not directed at farmers. Not yet, at least. Food retailers are viewed unfavourably, but farmers remain one of the most trusted demographics in the food system. That trust is at risk. Why it matters: […] Read more
EU organic output out of step with consumption
European farmers say they are encouraged to produce organically amid waning consumer interest
Organic consumption is falling in Europe even as governments mandate more production using that farming system. The European Commission is not paying attention to what people want, said Lode Ceyssens, president of the Belgian Farmers Union in Flanders. Why it matters: The EU’s Farm to Fork strategy emphasizes sustainable agriculture production, and organic production is […] Read more
Opinion: If we can’t afford groceries, why are sugary drinks booming?
Glacier FarmMedia – I go to Tim Hortons about three times a week, mostly for coffee and an egg sandwich and sometimes an Old Fashioned plain doughnut. I’m not alone in this habit. About 5.3 million Canadians visit a Tim’s every day, using stats from the Tim Hortons website. I prefer coffee, but a sizable […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle retreat as energy rally dents beef demand outlook
Lean hog futures mostly also lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures fell on Friday as traders banked profits and squared positions ahead of the weekend as geopolitical turmoil riled energy markets and stoked concerns about beef demand. Crude oil rallied more than five per cent on Friday on the escalating Middle East conflict as the Israeli military […] Read more
Major grocery chains agree to help stabilize prices, feds say
Any moves must not undercut farmgate prices, government warns
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s five major grocery chains have agreed to help the government in its bid to stabilize soaring prices, a senior minister said on Monday, following talks to address an issue that is hurting the ruling Liberals. Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne made the announcement after two hours of what he said were […] Read more
Food sales grew but margins tightened in 2022, FCC says
Modest further growth expected this year
Food and beverages sales increased in Canada last year, even as margins hit an historic low and consumers chose Canadian less. According to the latest FCC Food and Beverage Report, released Tuesday, sales increased 11 per cent to $156 billion in 2022. These gains came largely from higher export values and strength in the grain […] Read more
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