Both Metro and Provigo have had some products cost the same price for a few months. However, the price stop period is coming to an end and we should see increases again soon.
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“It’s too early to confirm anything at this point,” Provigo (Loblaw) spokeswoman Johanne Héroux said of the possibility that the price freeze on certain products in chain stores will continue.
Loblaw announced in October that it would freeze the price of 1,500 No Name brand groceries through Jan. 31. The chain has nearly 80 Provigo stores and more than 110 maxi stores in Quebec.
Metro pointed out that between the beginning of November and the beginning of February, price increase requests from suppliers were systematically rejected, every year.
“More for operational and efficiency reasons, because it’s a very busy time for our teams,” explains Marie-Claude Bacon, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at Metro.
With February fast approaching, Metro’s price freeze is about to end.
“Yes, there should be price increases in February,” the vice president admits.
Negotiations will take place with suppliers to secure cost increases for the chain, which has nearly 300 Metro and Super C stores in Quebec.
The company will continue to absorb “as much as possible” some of the increases linked, among other things, to “delivery and labor problems” at its suppliers.
Many products
If “no product category is targeted or spared,” future increases will be concentrated in the heart of the grocery store, where most private label products are found.
According to Metro, it is struggling with far greater demands for price increases than in the past.
In order to ensure their supply, they cannot afford to systematically refuse them all year round.
“There comes a time when we must accept the increases when they are warranted,” Ms. Bacon offers.