Mobilizing Consumer Protection and Empowerment at the Grocery Store

Consumers Council of Canada has launched a special initiative to strengthen representation of the consumer interest in the marketplace for groceries.

The Council is responding to the elevated level of concern being expressed nationally about:

food price inflation,
marketplace practices and misconduct, and
how you can best be supported to make the choices important to you or your family about what goes in your grocery basket.

As always, the Council is working towards an improved marketplace for consumers in Canada – one that is efficient, equitable, safe and effective.

A top Council priority is to learn what you – a consumer in Canada – sees as good conduct in the grocery marketplace.

The views and priorities of Canadian consumers will help the Council set priorities for this initiative.

The Council will investigate and share knowledge, views and ideas for action concerning topics like:

Shrinkflation
Skimpflation (also referred to as ‘dequaliflation’)
Food fraud
Unit pricing practices
Future opportunities for protection and empowerment of grocery shoppers

The Council is consulting a wide range of stakeholders. It is studying consumer views and concerns, industry practices and options for marketplace improvements.

The Council is inviting Canadian residents to join its Public Interest Network and to participate in this initiative. Click here to participate.

Residents of Canada interested in participating and following the Council’s work should also:

Bookmark and read the Council’s news blog (or subscribe to it using RSS
‘Favourite’ the Council’s free Apple News channel: Consumers Council of Canada News

Consumer-interest, civil-society organizations should:

Request terms of reference to participate in an online, interactive advisory panel. Joining in will bring your voice to a national information sharing effort and conversation among Canadian and international consumer groups. Contact us.

Consumer protection and empowerment professionals and their employers in government and industry interested in the progress of this special initiative should:

Bookmark and read the Council’s news blog (or subscribe to it using RSS)
‘Favourite’ the Council’s free Apple News channel: Consumers Council of Canada News
Subscribe to the Council’s e-periodical, Think Consumers, for in-depth reporting
Subscribe to Public Interest Network questionnaire reports
Seek standing to contribute knowledge to a consumer group panel formed as part of this initiative. Contact us.

Recent Developments

Listeria Outbreaks Show Multiple CFIA Roles

Four recent listeria-related product recalls highlight the multiple ways the government agency responsible for food safety can address problems. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued recalls on plant-based milk products (in July), frozen pancakes and...

The Grocery Shopping App Dilemma

The smartphone apps consumers likely use most to help them grocery shop utilize consumer data in a manner contrary to most consumers’ preferences. Every time a consumer uses their app, from a grocer retailer, a loyalty program or a third-party such as Flipp, those...

Grocery Prices Since the Dawn of COVID-19

Canadian grocery prices have stabilized after four years of tumult. Food inflation has moved lower towards historical norms, but prices are higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics Canada tracks monthly average retail prices of 110 grocery store...