'I'm coming here every day': Edmonton shoppers lukewarm on Loblaw boycott
A campaign that started online has many Canadian shoppers promising to boycott Loblaw companies in May.
Consumers say they're frustrated over the high cost of groceries, and Loblaw, which owns Superstore, Loblaws, No Frills, and Shoppers Drug Mart, has a big stake in the Canadian market.
In the first quarter of 2024, Loblaw saw a profit of $459 million, an increase of nearly 10 per cent compared to the same time last year.
At least one retail expert says a boycott of a retailer is harder to pull off than that of a company.
"If you're going to boycott Coca Cola or some big brand, you can easily just pick up a different brand off the shelf," John Pracejus of the University of Alberta School of Business told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday.
"But changing your shopping patterns is a little bit tougher. People tend to shop at the grocer that's closest to their home."
Pracejus says while Loblaw is a well known Canadian name, the company isn't the only one impacted by rising grocery costs.
"It's not just a Canadian problem, food costs are going up around the world. So I think maybe some of the boycotters who have been only shopping at Loblaws might find it interesting to learn that the prices at all Canadian retailers have gone up, especially in the food category."
Ultimately, he's not sure the boycott will take off.
"If enough people join it, if it kind of catches fire. If it gets viral on social media and everybody's talking about it, then it's possible. I don't believe that's going to be the case."
"People are creatures of habit, if they're used to stopping at a certain store on their way home from work, they're going to really have to have a strong reason to participate in a boycott."
Shoppers at a west Edmonton Superstore weren't optimistic about the boycott making a difference.
"I live across the street, I'm coming here every day," a shopper named Carlito told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday. "It's convenient because gas is going up too."
"I shop at Superstore because they tend to have cheaper prices than other places," a consumer named Jennifer said. "No, I won't be boycotting because I still need to feed my family."
In a statement, Loblaw said in part:
"As a business, we are acutely aware of the fact that we have to win our customers' business each and every day. The last few years have been tough for Canadians, and we continue to do what we can to combat inflation at our stores."
"We’re going to keep working hard to deliver on our commitment to value and to rebuild the trust grocers have enjoyed for more than 100 years."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nav Sangha
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
World No. 1 golfer charged with police officer assault before PGA Championship second round
World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and charged with the assault of a police officer in what he called a 'chaotic situation' before being released in time to start his second round at the PGA Championship on Friday.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
B.C. optometrist warns against trending eye colour change procedure
A medical procedure that can permanently change a person's eye colour may be trending on social media, but a B.C. optometrist is warning about the significant risks associated.
An airplane passenger was spotted in an overhead bin. This was the reaction
Airplane overhead compartments. Home to luggage of all shapes and sizes, the odd coat or two, several duty-free bags, a fair bit of dust and… passengers?