The price freeze at major grocery stores ends Thursday. Quebecers can expect the amounts on their grocery bills to rise while certain products are sold at higher prices.
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This price freeze policy was in effect from November 1st in major grocery stores in Quebec until February 1st.
Grocery stores have been participating in this movement during the holiday season for several years. “Due to traffic, this period is not suitable for price increases or negotiations,” emphasizes the president of the Quebec Food Retailers Association, Pierre-Alexandre Blouin, in an interview with Mario Dumont.
Metro boss Éric La Flèche confirmed the planned increase in food prices during Metro's annual general meeting on Tuesday. However, he suggests that this increase may be less pronounced than in the last two years.
Given the changing consumer behavior, the president of the Quebec Food Retailers Association assures that grocery chains will try to keep their prices as low as possible. “We can’t live in our little glass bubble and say our market won’t be impacted. Consumers are price sensitive, that is one of the most important factors,” he notes.
However, some products will be more “problematic” and will experience price increases.