(Halifax) Nearly two-thirds of Canadians say they have changed their main grocery store in the past year to get better deals.
A new survey conducted by the Agri-Food Analytical Sciences Laboratory at Dalhousie University in Halifax, in partnership with Caddle, reveals that nearly 30% of respondents choose their grocery stores exclusively based on in-store discounts and promotions.
Once in store, the survey indicates that nearly 60% of Canadians systematically search for discounted food products, with a preference for discounts on items close to their expiration date or on clearance.
The survey “underlines the importance for retailers to strategically prioritize discount initiatives in order to remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic market,” said the director of the Agri-Food Analytical Sciences Laboratory, Sylvain Charlebois, in writing.
According to the survey, conducted via the Caddle platform, flyers remain the most common way for consumers to discover discounts. Mobile applications and in-store signs follow.
Discounts play a significant role in in-store selection and product purchases, with percentage discounts and loyalty rewards proving particularly attractive. Therefore, grocery stores have every interest in favoring these types of promotions.
Extract from the report accompanying the survey
Loblaw-owned stores are the top destination for discounted groceries, according to the survey, followed by Walmart and Costco.
The report also indicates that fresh produce is the most purchased discounted item, followed by meat products, packaged and canned goods, baked goods and dairy products.
Even though food rescue apps like Flashfood or Too Good To Go are growing in popularity, nearly 58% of consumers have never tried them.
However, among consumers who tried these apps, 95.1% said they would recommend them to others. The main reason some consumers turn to these apps is the opportunity to save money.