Lifestyle and Leisure
Supermarket shopping in Canada
From apples, to bread and coffee... Nick Clark talks to our crack Canadian grocery team to reveal the ABC of shopping
We can take it for granted that there are some things that are better in Canada than in the UK. The air is clearer, the views more spectacular, and the mountains are better for skiing. But does this supremacy extend to what we eat as well as what we can see?
To get to the bottom of shopping in Canada, I spoke to Sara Green, a Canadian immigration consultant from Calgary, Caroline Harrison, a British emigrant, also from the Calgary area, and June Spindloe, a Brit who runs a Bed and Breakfast in Halifax, Nova Scotia. All have lived in Canada long enough to become thoroughly familiar with the ins-and-outs of Canadian superstores, but retain close links to the UK which allow them to make meaningful comparisons.
Supermarkets in Canada reflect the country's federal nature. There are some stores, such as Sobeys or Safeways, which retain their name across the country. Others are more regional. Atlantic Superstore, for example, is centred around Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, while the Real Canadian Super Store is based in Western Canada. Both companies, though, are owned by the nationwide parent company Loblaws. How do the big superstores stand in terms of reputation? According to Sara, "Safeway is a little more expensive at everyday prices. Real Canadian Super Store is big-box style shopping which is a bit cheaper on staples, and Sobeys is middle of the road with good produce and deli." Caroline agrees with Sara: "The produce at Real Canadian Super Store isn't always that great, but it is usually a fair bit cheaper, so if you're going to eat it straight away then that's alright (I once saved CDN$1.75 on a single cauliflower!) It's definitely a no-frills shopping store."
As well as differing in terms of price and reputation, the leading superstores also offer different ranges of food products. Both Atlantic Superstore and Sobeys, for example, have their 'own-brand' products which are usually cheaper than leading brand names. June recommends 'President's Choice,' Atlantic Superstore's own-brand as having a particularly strong reputation for both taste and quality. In terms of more specialist food, the Real Canadian Super Store has a large ethnic food section with a big private label selection. Real Canadian Super Store also has good bulk-buy options for oriental Chinese-style food and a wide range of fresh Chinese style vegetables. Caroline advises Brits missing their Tikka Masala to investigate Sobeys, "which has a wide range of stock curry items."
If you fancy a beer with your Tikka Masala, or a glass of wine with your bargain cauliflower, Canadian superstores can offer good bargains. Again, the big discount stores such as Real Canadian Super Store are cheap, the drawback being that they don't have a huge range. In addition, to Caroline's frustration, the beer is not chilled, "so while you might pick up a bargain you will have to wait five hours for it to cool down."
When it comes to shopping habits, Canadians, like most Brits, tend to get in the car and do a major shop every week or two. Sara does a large shop on dry goods every two weeks, and does a bi-weekly shop on perishable items. Caroline has a similar routine, although she tries to do the bulk of her dry/tinned/basic essentials shopping on the first Tuesday of every month as they have 15 per cent off everything in the local stores on this day. June makes the point that one key difference between the UK and Canada is that the UK tends to have more smaller, local stores. This means that Brits are able to shop more frequently or go on foot rather than in the car. Despite it being harder to walk to your local shop, Sara, Caroline and June all agree that Canadians eat healthily and well. According to Caroline, "there's a really good selection of fresh veggies at the bigger superstores and most people seem worried about additives." June agrees: "In Canada we have the world's most detailed labelling, with our foods having to show fat content, calorie count and an ingredient list." This has made it much easier for June to shop for her husband, a recently diagnosed diabetic.
So, where do our expats believe it is better to shop – back in the UK or in Canada? There are certainly things about British grocery shopping that they miss. For June it would be the variety of stores and specifics such as shredless marmalade, marmite and PG Tips. Top of Caroline's miss-list is splurging out on treats in Marks and Spencer. Following close behind are proper shopping bags ("the ones here are flimsy and fairly useless after one use"), Heinz baked beans, Branston pickle, British chocolate and good, strong cheese at affordable prices.
However, the pluses about Canadian shopping help to outweigh any negatives. Caroline sums it up when she lauds, "the lack of crowds or line ups at the check-out and the fact that the cashiers all take the time to ask you how you are and actually mean it! It's very unhurried and pleasant and no-one glares at you if you accidentally park your trolley in their way. It's also great the way you can park with absolute ease right outside the store! And stores such as Sobeys send cart guys out with you to take the strain of having to carry two carrier bags!"
Ultimately, Sara, Caroline and June all stressed the way that good customer service and the sense of space and easy-going atmosphere in superstores makes shopping in Canada a pleasurable experience.
Register for your FREE emigration starter pack
Subscribe to Emigrate Canada. Read more ...