“Others were more reluctant to share information with the Bureau,” it stated. It said it consulted with a variety of grocers, both in Canada and internationally, many of which “were happy to speak with us, and we appreciate their candour and assistance.” Unlike when conducting law enforcement investigations, the bureau could not compel the release of information for its study, instead relying on information that was publicly available or provided voluntarily. The bureau said governments should consider whether the requirement is appropriate for all grocers, or just large chains due to the potential burden on smaller independents.ĭuring its study, the bureau said the level of co-operation it received from Canada’s grocery giants “varied significantly and was not fulsome.” In many instances, it said it was unable to obtain complete and precise financial data, despite repeated requests. Many grocery stores already display unit pricing, but Quebec is the only province or territory that requires it by law. Noting the difficulty consumers face when trying to compare prices on similar items between different stores, the bureau said the requirement would give shoppers more complete information about their options: “It serves as a quick and easy way to know if a consumer is getting the best deal - without resorting to a calculator or mental math.” For instance, for two differently sized containers of apple juice, a store would have to disclose the total price, along with the price per 100 millilitres, to provide an apples-to-apples comparison. That would force grocers to display the price of a product based on a standard package size, alongside the total price. Harmonized unit pricing requirements as a potential solutionĪmong the four main recommendations contained in the report, the Competition Bureau called on provincial and territorial governments to consider introducing accessible and harmonized unit pricing requirements. Here are five key take-aways from the report.
The bureau said most Canadians buy groceries in stores owned by giants Loblaw, Sobeys, and Metro, with rising prices signalling a need for more competition in the sector.
Making an effort to detail its findings in “plain language,” the Competition Bureau highlighted the need to communicate clearly on the issue to promote transparency. Canada’s competition watchdog released its much awaited study into the country’s retail grocery market on Tuesday, painting a picture of a highly concentrated industry dominated by few players.
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