The anger directed toward grocers is real By Sylvain Charlebois and Samantha Taylor As food prices rise, many are quick to blame grocers for profiteering and taking advantage of consumers. The notion of “greedflation” has emerged as one of the most talked about issues in the last month. Food inflation in Canada is at a…
Consumers in many cities now have only one grocer
Canada’s Competition Bureau has decided to investigate the Canadian food industry, specifically our grocery sector. Better late than never, I suppose. For years, many called for such an investigation while recognizing that the Bureau has little authority or power over anything. Even its new director admitted to the problem of powerlessness. For instance, the Bureau…
Ottawa does not fully understand the consequences of its policy
By Nathalie Elgrably-Levy and Valentin Petkantchin The federal government’s new luxury goods tax, which took effect on September 1, targets luxury cars, private jets and yachts. Without originality, it is part of the traditional logic of taxation which aims to “make the rich pay.” However, we often forget the economic, indirect and longer-term effects, which…
A U.S. program to increase competition in meat-packing won’t work
United States President Joe Biden recently introduced a billion-dollar program to lower food inflation by increasing competition in meat-packing. It’s likely ill-fated. A few weeks ago, a damning report out of Washington suggested the top U.S. meat-packing plants have increased profit margins by 300 per cent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report,…
The Competition Bureau’s investigation into bread pricing is likely intended to tell Canadian grocers to stop squeezing food processors
Is a bread cartel alive and well in Canada? The Competition Bureau is investigating major grocery chains in search of evidence of retail bread price fixing. Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, Walmart and other companies have acknowledged the probe. Why is bread is being targeted by the bureau? Demonstrating beyond a reasonable doubt that grocers are colluding…