Why Pay Double at Loblaws?

You are correct...

Loblaws is often double the price of the SAME PRODUCTS at No Frills. And Loblaws staff is as rude and without any customer service skills as No Frills clerks. I shop at Costco and Food Basics (cheap very version of Dominion - and I mean cheap LOL). Why waste money!

We've pretty much always bought our groceries at No Frills (or Food Basics, whatever wasn't Loblaws) and only shopped at the Loblaws on the corner for emergencies or exclusive products we like. One Chunky Soup is $2 at Loblaws ... 1 at No Frills.

That's pretty much it. You get everything you can on your list at No Frills, and then go to Loblaws for the rest/gourmet things. Of course, if you're gonna go to Loblaws for that kinda thing you might as well go to Whole Foods.

I don't understand why people would even shop at no frills where things are a lot cheaper at T & T and Galleria

Jack - T&T is great. But for those of us who don't live north of the 401, it's a bit of a trek for the weekly grocery shop. For me, it functions more like a specialty store that I'd go to once a month.

exactly, people shop and pay for the experience at Loblaws and No frills.. that's part of the packaging.. just like paying a lot more at Holt than
winners for the same pair of underwear.. sometimes, we need people to pay for a premium for things so we can have jobs.

I haven't noticed a major price difference at T&T ... but we mostly go there for products from Hong Kong and Japan, etc. anyway that you can't really find in a lot of other places.

If we don't go to No Frills for produce, we go to Chinatown.

If you like beef, you have to check out Galleria in thornhill, a Korean Supermarket..

I shopped at no frills and price choppers- both of which were hella out of my way - and found bugs in my food.

I'm sure they use the same warehouses and everything, but I'm sorry, I'll pay the extra couple of bucks for the lack of infestation.

Then again, I'm sure statistics would favour me if I could get there more often - is there a no-frills type deal near the Harbourfront?

price choppers and food basics are cheap but you often find more stale food and suspect fruits and veggies...

Having recently moved back to the city, I am, at current, a connoisseur of groceries, and not much else.
I would never, ever shop at Dominion, their prices are the steepest in town, and it just gets steeper in more expensive neighbourhoods (why is it necessary to individually wrap all produce in plastic? Why?) - Price chopper on the other hand, I'm all for.
The Price Chopper in Richmond Hill is wonderful, they have all the fun things a Asian grocer would (like a wide variety of dim sum, lots of bok choy, and meat cut Korean-barbeque-style) spliced in between all the white people basics. It's like a two for one deal.
I'm actually ok with Loblaws. They have some fun things (purple carrots!), and occasionally some good deals, and nice, clean, reasonably priced produce, in a wider variety than you could find at a No-Frills (lack of variety is probably my only complaint with No-Frills). They are also noticeably cheaper than Zehrs. If you've ever shopped outside of the GTA, you'll know that Zehrs holds a strange monopoly over groceries elsewhere in Ontario. They suck. Think the prices of Dominion, in a No-Frills atmosphere.
If you ever traverse far enough to pass by a Giant Tiger, do go in. Although they function best as a local convenience store. If they brought them to Toronto, I would lose my mind. Ninety-nine cent chocolate lava cakes! Instant dinner party!
I love Longos. They aren't cheap, but they have such yummy, unique things. Totally worth the mark up.
Any Italian or Asian grocery store, is a good grocery store.
I am almost as passionate about this, as I am about malls.

I live near a No Frills, a Price Chopper *and* a Loblaws. I almost never go to the first two. Why?

Loblaws has a distinct lack of smelly people, little boys peeing in corners, wilted and crappy vegatables or bad selections of products. They also have a fish and meat counter, and a good bakery.

Yes it costs more, but it's worth it to me to avoid the riffraff and unpleasantness.

Loblaws is good when their frozen uncooked lobster tail is on sale(it was a few weeks ago)... I also like the PC specialty salad dressing, my favorite is Grilled Sesame Salad Dressing, small tiny bottle but very yummy... The only Dominion that's worth going in my area is the one at Yonge and finch, right inside a Tridel Condo, it's 24 hrs, and they have nice roast rosemary chicken there, yum.

jack and some others seem to be missing the point - or perhaps just don't care. the story here is that loblaws company limited gets the rapini (or beans or whatever the food product is) from the same supplier and at the same cost for both stores. yet it charges shoppers at loblaws up to twice the price. loblaws company limited is blatantly ripping loblaws shoppers off, and likely justifying it based on the difference in the brand promise/positioning for the two chains.

I GOTTA chime in on this. Loblaws is priced about the same as Dominion. But it FAR EXCEEDS DOMINION in terms of quality of produce, freshness, selection, and service! Unfortunately, the closest grocery store to me is Dominion and I complain loudly each time I shop there to whomever is around to listen. They hate me and I hate them.

Tim, you pay a premium when you don't want smelly people around you when you shop. You pay a premium when you get fancy packaging.. for instance cold cuts are packaged in zip lock bag(resealable) at Loblaws cold cut counter..fruit and produce there are a lot more fresh. For example, compare grapes sold at TT vs. Loblaws, those at Loblaws are usually bigger and cleaner than those at TT.

(disclaimer: I work for one of the big three grocery companies)

The strategy behind the grocery chains all having premium and value 'banners' is that the big grocers want to get everyone's grocery dollar, no matter what their budget is. People shop in upscale stores partly because of the selection but also because of the atmosphere and the people they see themselves shopping with. You don't see the Baby Formula cans behind lock and key with the cigarettes at a Loblaws, but you do at a No Frills or Price Chopper. People who shop at value stores do so to stretch their dollar as far as it can go, because many of them can't spare much more. The grocers know they would have no chance getting people like that into a store that gives them a half decent profit margin, so they cut the price - they make take a loss on most sales at the value stores but they make it back at the premium stores. Everyone gets their food in the end. Think of it this way - if you shop at Dominion, Loblaws or Sobeys, you are essentially helping people save money at No Frills, Food Basics or Price Chopper.

think of it as a "tax" you pay, so the government can provide social welfare and support to maintain stability, law and order..

Loblaws is just unreal. I live near the one at Bathurst and St.Clair and i have seen items shoot up in price from week to the next with no reason. Take Brovil. This costs $1.99 everywhere else but at Loblaws it was $2.59. Today it was $2.99. I'm not even going to talk about how salad costs 1,99 a head during the summer or $7.00 my hot house tomatos cost last time. I'm not going to go back there because I end up spending $120 on groceries at time which dont even last two weeks, where as when I go to No Frills, I get more then 3 weeks worth of food at a time.

I havent gone because I dont have a car, otherwise I would not set my foot in the place again. People are extremely rud eat that store, with old forest hills ladies and soccer moms sideswiping you the isles with no regard for anybody else in the store.

If it did not take me 3 hours to make my usual round trip to kensington and no frills at dufferin mall, I'd forget the store altogether.

I am an employee at the main distribution center for Loblaws. I for one can tell you that outside of some lesser rapini, broccoli, lettuce, grapes and some oranges, all the products at no frills are identical to the stuff we ship to Zehrs, Loblaws, and Fortinos.I originally worked for Fortinos before we were swallowed up by our parent company and since then the quality of how produce is received and shipped has gone in the toilet. The supply chain problems are hurting Loblaws extremely. This time last year or a little longer ago Loblaws stock was valued at 73 bucks a share. In less than 2 years they have had immense loss in value , down to 53 bucks a share with analysts predicting a bottoming out in the 40's before it rebounds. The problem you guys are seeing as consumers is related to the management decisions made buy the John Lederers of the company who took a goldmine created by Richard Currie and Dave Nicholls, and have run it into the ground.

People with snobby attitudes about No Frills can check it -- I've always shopped there, worked there for a year in high school and have never had a problem with bugs, "smelly" people, or peeing children.

If you want to pay a 50 per cent mark-up to feel bougie, that's your hang up.

Well, for starters, I can't believe someone described No Frills shoppers (ie. people with less money) as "riffraff."

Anyway, whether you value saving money vs nicer shopping environment is a personal choice. I much prefer to shop at No Frills, because the money you save really does add up.

However, I'd like to remind people that we live in Toronto - an incredible city for grocery shopping! There's Kensington, Chinatown, St. Lawrence Market, and tons of other neighborhoods that are loaded with fruit and veggie markets (like Bloor West), not to mention many other 'ethnic' markets such as those found in Little Korea and Little Italy. For those who live up north, there's places like T&T, as earlier pointed out, and if you travel into Mississauga, you'll find great clusters of cultural food shops. Sure, proximity and transporation are always issues, but if you're willing to travel a little bit, these places can, at the very least, provide an excellent supplement to your usual No Frills/Loblaws staple.

I personally love the fact that I can save tons of money, and find almost any ingredient that a recipe calls for, because of the awesome shopping possibilities in this city.

If you want more grocery shopping tips, check out my blog post at www.camilledeputter.com.

Because not everyone shops based on price?

Many people also do not want to drive all over the city to save 1.00 on a head of lettuce. Many older people I have come across prefer to stick to the same grocery store. Even though the products are identical, I cannot imagine a senior fighting it out with families at No Frills and asking for a plastic bag. The money and big profits remain with the Baby Boomers and seniors and Loblaws knows that.

However, I do agree Loblaws is facing some challenges. It seems most of the traffic is leaning towards No Frills or Whole Foods. Being in the middle can lead to being nowhere.

But to answer why people would pay double at Loblaws vs. No Frills...

Not everyone shops based on price.

Has anyone stopped to think about the amount of research that goes into what store should go where? Loblaw Companies actually ownes many differnt platforms/Banners accross Canada and stratigically chooses what store to put in what neighbourhood, based on developement and what else is in the area. If you want the prices of No Frills and the experience of Loablaws try shopping at the newest of the banners "Real Candadian Superstore", mostly located in destination centers thoughout Ontario, Atlantic and Western Canada. They are all shipped from the same warehouses and like any company that undgoes change, you will see the affects in stock price, i.e. Sobeys computer crash a few years ago. People should be free to shop where they can find what they need without judgement of social status or otherwise. Some choose Loblaws because it is close and some choose No Frills because of price. I choose the location by how much I can accomplish in one stop. I have 4 children and as a family we are very busy, therefore the most important factor that I consider in choosing where to shop is time. Why go to No Frills if I only have to turn around and go to Loblaws and Superstore for the rest of my groceries. With the price of gas, are you really saving anything by going to multiple locations? Remember that No Frills are franchise stores and can be different from one store to the next depending on the ower. I'm sure that Loblaws would love to here about the rude staff you have come across, so that corrective measures can be taken, some of these people in all stores are students with ther first job and they may need to be told to smile!

I for one, don't shop at Loblaws because there is none near me. That said I have stumbled into the odd No Frills or Food Basics if I am driving by and need something basic. Otherwise most of my shopping is done at Asian stores (I am Asian)and ocassionally Pusateri's and Dominion because I am flanked with them. Why do I go to an Asian market that is much further? One because prices are lower than even Food Basics and because my diet is mainly Asian. That said I also love Pusateri's due to their selction of things you just can't find elsewhere. Plus $200 for a turkey that you don't have to make at Christmas is fine by me. They are the only ones I've found who sell aspiration which is a family favourite. The only difference is I don't consider people in No Frills to be riffraff and I absolutely abhore people who unwittingly raise themselves above the crowd.

Loblaws owns no frills
Dominion owns Food Basics

Its simple economics, playing with the consumer suplus. look it up

I absolutely adore "The Real Canadian Superstore" with LOBLAW being on the cutting edge of retail in health n' beauty, fresh foods, fresh produce, financial products, home and lifestyle products, including clothes "JOE"
who wouldn't want to shop at LOBLAW operated stores.

Calgary, Alberta

Does anyone here know of any other company that can
bring out great {PC} products on a regular basis that aCtually taste grreat and has great value?

I think not.. dominion? heck no..
that would be Loblaws!

hmm, well people certainly have alot of time on your hands to be talking about Loblaws at 11 o'clock at night..
ha ha

You really have to pay attention with Loblaws especially with their photolab section. Watch out when you order online. Loblaws ends up double charging. Their employee even admitted to me that there's a glitch in their online system because it doesn't flag to the stores if the order has already been paid. So essentially, Loblaws makes you pay when you order online and then make you pay when you pick it up. Buyer beware for sure!

There seems to be a lot of complaining going on without much desire for change. If you receive bad service, tell a supervisor; there are steps department managers are given to resolve the issue, so that whatever has put your particular employee in a bad mood can be addressed. Bitching about it on an online forum or leaving the store cannot yield any results, and will not correct the issue for any other customer.

And yes, it is all the same stuff at No Frills and Loblaws, as LCL has three main branches, two of which are most common: Hard Discount (No Frills - same products, lower price, less variety) and Great Foods (Loblaws, Zehr's, Fortino's - Variety and superior product at a higher price point.) If Loblaws isn't your cup of tea, don't shop there. It's really as simple as that. If you want more variety and higher quality product, it's your one stop shop; if all you're looking for is a good price and don't care as much about selection or quality, No Frills is the place to be.

Research it before you complain about it.