Ontario-based Loblaws, owner of the Pharmaprix and Maxi chains, is posting prices in its pharmacies that are twice as high for the same foods offered in its discount stores.
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The journal visited a Pharmaprix and a Maxi to compare the prices of around twenty products. The observation is clear: They were all cheaper in the supermarket, including the Loblaws house brands Sans Nom and President’s Choice.
Our Pharmaprix bill was $112 before taxes. For the same products at Maxi it was $82.80, a difference of almost $30 (35%). For each point we are talking about an average difference of 42% between the two companies. In our selection, at least four items have a difference of $2 or more before taxes.
If you need peanut butter, Froot Loops cereal, or Croque Nature cereal, your best bet is to make a trip to a grocery store, even if it requires an extra trip. You could make significant savings.
On the Loblaws side, we are aware of this significant price difference.
“Depending on the format and business model, there are price differences from one banner to another,” says Loblaws spokeswoman Johanne Héroux. Maxi is a discount banner focused on low prices, while Pharmaprix remains primarily a pharmacy.
“The range of food products offered there is secondary and is intended to provide convenience for customers who come to the pharmacy for a prescription or pharmacist advice. The calling of the two brands is very different.”
No surprise
For his part, Sylvain Charlebois did not fall from his chair when he read the statistics compiled by Le Journal.
“Maxi is a discount banner, so your numbers don’t surprise me,” emphasizes the director of the Laboratory of Analytical Sciences at Dalhousie University. I even expected a higher percentage.
“It’s not about the volume, but about the location and the atmosphere. A question of context.”
What’s more surprising is the price difference for No Name and President’s Choice brand products. Typically the prices are competitive with other well-known brands, but this is not the case in our analysis.
For example, Sans Nom’s peanut butter was more expensive than the supermarket, even though it was on sale when we visited. We’re talking about a notable difference of $1.20. We also noticed price differences for chocolate chip cookies or whole wheat pasta.
The biggest price differences between Pharmaprix and Maxi
Kraft peanut butter
Pharma Price: $10.99
Maximum: $6.99
Spread: $4 (57%)
Froot Loops cereal
Pharma Price: $7.99
Maxi: $4.99 (on sale)
Spread: $3 (60%)
Croque Nature cereals
Pharma price: $7.79
Maximum: $3.99
Spread: $3.80 (95%)
Reduced salt beef broth
Pharma price: $3.39
Maxi: $1.69 (on sale)
Spread: $1.70 (101%)
Fiber 1 Brownies
Pharma Price: $4.99
Maxi: $2.99 (on sale)
Spread: $2 (67%)
