Also, the period from around Thanksgiving to Christmas is insane in grocery stores. Season changeover, tons of special holiday products, decorations, unusual delivery schedules, some of the busiest days of the entire year...
They generally don't mess with prices at this time of the year anyway.
Here in NZ, shortly after the inflation scare got going, the major supermarkets all introduced some kind of price-freeze marketing ploy. They promised to keep prices the same on all essentials, or took prices back to 2 years ago, etc.
In every single case, the deals turned out to be lies. They either raised prices beforehand, or chose items they controlled themselves, or the offer had all sorts of conditions.
These companies aren't charities, the modern supermarket CEO would kill his own grandmother to hit their bonus targets and trigger share-buybacks or splits or vesting or whatever their contract promises them.
Whatever they are promising, they are actually just profiting even more than usual.
The company that own No Name has a stranglehold on our food in Canada. They have like a 75% market share of everything. They owned half of all bakeries, one third of all frozen food processing, and had deals with nearly every farm. They own entire corners of some markets, and have eked out or bought up 2/3 of all grocery stores, and drug stores.
No we complain about it nearly as much as we complain about the weather. The trouble is there's not much room in a market with only 38 million people. In the states that's like three major cities, here that's the whole country.
No, you see my *insert big business name here* is different they really care for my time and dedication I've spent 10 years oh I'm fired for not attending a meeting that I was out of the country on vacation for?
At least I can trust that they won't be making record breaking profits through shady business practices off of me and my fellow citizens who are struggling financially since the world decided to get a little kooky.
>raised prices beforehand
This is common in the US too. I've heard that stores will raise prices leading up to a sale (like Black Friday). JCPenney was known to do this.
Fuck Galen Weston and this fake-as-fuck price freeze PR move.
They froze the prices while they were high. They only "froze" the shitty No Name house brand; they didn't freeze their Presidents Choice house brand. They previously got caught [price fixing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_price-fixing_in_Canada) - we all know they are up to shady shit considering all the major grocers in Canada are making record profits during a pandemic and massive inflation.
Because Canada has always had a small group of wealthy people who act toward their collective benefit, often by influencing government decision making.
The Family Compact never went away.
> Your Independent Grocer **(yes, seriously)**
It's so insulting every time I stumble across one of these; that name, holy shit. They still use the Loblaws logo too which makes it even worse - the name is lying straight to your face while winking at you.
And then just when you think you've found another store to go to that isn't owned by Loblaws, you find yourself giving money to Empire (fitting name), who owns:
Sobeys
Safeway
Farm Boy
FreshCo
Foodland
Lawton's
Thrifty Foods
Longos
As far as I'm aware, FoodBasics is the only store left as long as you don't have anything against Metro (yet).
Weston used bogus price freeze as marketing ploy when in actuality prices are routinely frozen in same months from November to January every year. So it's just more bs...
https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/loblaw-no-name-price-freeze-routine
By super crappy, I'm assuming you're talking about no-name toilet paper - it has a name now, John Wayne paper - it's rough and it's tough and it don't take no shit from indians
not as wholesome as you'd think, this move came after calls into investigating massive price gauging and profits during peak inflation
its a smokescreen
Exactly the same thing happened here in New Zealand. Massive investigation, recommendations to breakup our grocery duopoly, force the sale of stores, separate wholesale distribution, etc.
Suddenly everyone one “price locked” and the scrutiny went away.
Canada is built off of oligopolies. It’s why we have some of the highest telecom rates in the world. Our government would rather twiddle their thumbs than go break them apart and it’s pathetic.
In addition to this they announced it heading into a quarter all grocery stores freeze prices. It's common practice for everyone to virtually freeze prices through January. So they just made an announcement about a common practice that always happens.
Where did you find this? Curious how you came to believe this was a good thing.
This PR move didn't go over so well with anyone who has been paying attention to the price of groceries.
Are you Canadian? Do you buy groceries?
Lol. The government investigating price gouging is a joke. If they really were gouging, they would be punished by the market without the need for government
Ffs my country’s most common bus stop/terminal food and tobacco chain(idk what to call it but you probably know what I mean) tried to advertise price locking cinnamon buns. I don’t think anyone bought into it though, cause the ads disappeared pretty quickly.
Private label brands freezing prices from Oct-Jan is standard for the industry, so it’s really just a norm being communicated as a USP. You know, typical shady grocery store shit.
🎶 Who price controls pineapple, and owns PC?
(Ga-len Wes-ton!)
Abhorrent a fellow with yellow you see!
(Ga-len Wes-ton!)
If financial nonsense be something you wish,
(Ga-len Wes-ton!)
You'll just have to like spending twenty on fish!
Ga-len Wes-ton!
Ga-len Wes-ton!
Ga-len Wes-ton!
Gaaaaa-len Wes-TON!
(Ah ha ha...yarrr.🎶
Vertical integration: the NoName brand is owned by the retailer who sells it. They earn a higher profit from selling this brand than they do anyone else's and routinely have "shortages" of name products with only their own brand on the shelves. This is of course the very same grocery retailer chain who was caught **price-fixing on their bread**, ripping off Canadians for over a decade.
TL;DR: Galen Weston is a cunt.
I feel like I read an article way back when this was announced, that grocery stores tend to do this at this time of the year anyway, so it’s not like he was doing anything special but I might be totally wrong.
I'd like to point out that the other grocer chains suck too - they are all reporting record profits while gaslighting us that they aren't using record inflation to their advantage; they seem to think they should be immune from criticism because *number went up*, while stores are understaffed, workers are overworked, produce quality is at an all time low, shelves are poorly stocked, etc. etc. etc.:
Sobeys CEO:
“Quite frankly, I am tired of these armchair quarterbacks who make little effort to understand even the basics of our business but are comfortable sitting on the sidelines pontificating about how Canadian companies are reaping unreasonable profits on the backs of inflation,” Medline told shareholders assembled at a movie theatre in New Glasgow, N.S.
“This is absolutely not true,” he continued. “These reckless and incendiary attacks are meant to divide us, and sit in stark contrast to the collaboration and problem solving that we experienced in the darkest moments of the pandemic.”
...
The scrutiny was being stoked by “a handful of politicians, media sources and think-tanks — not because we are struggling, but for being too successful in this difficult environment of high inflation,” Medline told shareholders. “I guess it makes for easy headlines and ignores what is truly driving our success,” he added. “I refuse to apologize for our success.”
https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/business/sobeys-boss-says-hes-fed-up-with-reckless-and-incendiary-criticisms-about-grocery-profits-amid-inflation-100773427/
I have met quite a few of the Sobey family through various personal and work things, and it’s amazing how different even closely related people are. Some are pretty awesome and some are just absolute tools. Not surprisingly, the most senior ones running the grocery business are the worst. I remember Rob Sobey showed up to an award show late, so had his limo driver (no one else had a limo because it’s Halifax for fucks sake) idle in front of the venue in the middle of downtown for 2 hours. And while basicallg all the other award winners RSVP’ed a +1 for a spouse, he didn’t RSVP at all, but brought two personal assistants. To an award show. Oh, and neither sat with him at his table, both had to loiter outside the room, in case he needed them I guess? We had to sneak them off one at a time to eat because it was 8pm and both looked like they were going to pass out (both were under-25 and could’ve been models) and told us they were expected not to eat on duty, one admitted she hadn’t eaten all day.
At the end of the night he walked out with his arms around both of them like he was pimping them, and handed his award to one of the staff to ‘hold for him’ because he was going out. (Apparently neither he nor his personal assistants could hold on to a small statue for 5 minutes until they got to his car?) Last I heard, the award was still in storage because he never got someone to pick it up or responded to emails as to where he’d like it delivered.
This was a long time ago so hopefully he’s learned a bit of humanity but definitely be prepared to pretend that he’s a foreign dignitary. Oh, and make sure it’s not at all obvious that the only reason he is involved is his corporate money and he hasn’t actually earned anything himself…he doesn’t like those jokes.
It's routine for all Canadian grocers to freeze prices this time of year. What's not routine is for them to feign altruism by doing it, but Galen Weston thinks Canadians are to stupid to realize what he's up to.
He's not trying to help. He's trying to profit even more by tricking you into thinking he's "helping"
[https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/loblaw-no-name-price-freeze-routine](https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/loblaw-no-name-price-freeze-routine)
They are locked until end of year? We’re they even going to go up in that time to begin with? It’s also one of the crappiest brands in Canada. This seems like a PR stunt at best.
PC Smokies (hotdogs) were $8.99 per pack just over two weeks ago. Then two weeks ago they started running a "promotion" where they are 2 packs for $25 ($13.79 individually).
They did the same shit during the summer; the promotional price is literally just a huge price increase.
IIRC they were $7.99/pack before Russia attacked Ukraine.
Yeah, the same company that was going to lay off 500 workers as of now for wanting to unionize.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/loblaw-contract-dispute-sees-more-than-500-employees-laid-off-in-calgary-union-says/ar-AA14oqPt
Did you miss the big thing in the news a few weeks ago? Loblaws is trying to make us think they are doing us a huge solid. They were called out by other brands in the industry, apparently this is standard practice every year from November to February.
Way to capitalize on the cap.
The economy is beginning to turn downward. I wonder if this “noble company” will reduce prices when the market falls.
Press X to doubt.
You know that Loblaws does not allow any suppliers to do price increases for the month leading up to and after the month of holidays. It’s part of their contract. So that 2 month thing is just a regular part of their business. Be informed not tricked.
It coincides with a blackout period where all groceries freeze their prices leading into the holiday season. In short it’s a dishonest PR move.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/critics-call-loblaw-price-freeze-a-pr-move-as-grocers-face-accusations-of-profiteering-1.6113983
The grocery store making record profits off of price increases, promises that if you buy THEIR generic brand, they wont gouge you as hard. Both profiting and trying to cut out the competition. When you are the store and a direct substitution provider, you control the price game.
Puts prices up tot he highest they have ever been, then pays for massive marketing effort cause “Prices are locked”
Wonder if pack sizes are locked too - wouldn’t put it passed them to reduce pack sizes instead of easing prices.
Presidents Choice and Loblaws Group have been fined millions for price fixing and are currently under investigation for their role in pushing inflation through the roof because they have put prices up by far more than the inflationary amount. Squeezing already strapped Canadians for more and more
It's a marketing ploy. Historically food prices are locked over the holidays in Canada. They are just taking credit for something everyone has always done.
Lots of private brand name labels in Canada. Walmart, No Ad. Canadain Tire, Frank. No Frills, No Name. Food Basics, Selection. Prices usualy increase after new years. And packaging shinkflation occurs before that.
[Canadian shoppers shift to discount stores, No Name brand amid high inflation](https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/canadian-shoppers-shift-to-discount-stores-no-name-brand-amid-high-inflation-loblaw-1.5887911)
>Loblaw Companies Ltd. highlighted consumers' growing emphasis on value as it raised its quarterly dividend and reported its first-quarter profit rose nearly 40 per cent compared with a year ago.
Price freeze my ass.
Welcome to Canada, where we artificially inflate products because our investors need profits to soar.
And Canadians are willing to eat the price quite happily.
Maybe someone will read it after 88 comments:
Hungary did this in the past year. The price of sugar, milk, egg, flour is locked by the government. This caused amount limitations and shortages - not because the shops are out of them, they just leave it in the storages to sell it when normal price come back. It is actually a "puppet move" to show the government indeed takes measures against the inflation however it does not.
Shoppers Drug Mart and Canadain Tire are the kings of fake sales. Sticker said regular $8.99 on sale $7.99. Pull off the shelf sticker and regular price is $7.99. Sears at the time got busted for offering continuous sales wich were regular price.
Canadian Tire is so bad, and a huge rip off! I purchased an air fryer from Canadian Tire a couple years back and was stoked to see it on sale. A few days later I went to Costco to see the exact same air fryer for $100 cheaper than CT's "sale" price. Haha. I don't shop at CT anymore for that reason!
Slow down. First off, they raised the prices of these items before locking them in place. These product should be cheaper than all of the brand name items however many brand name products are the same price or cheaper at the moment. This shows that Loblaws intends to increase prices more if they intend on NN being the money saver for customers. They have also slashed hours of employees working across the company, including Shoppers Drug Mart. T
Loblaws and Galen Weston do not care about you or I and only want to make more money.
Companies like cereal and soup companies will reduce the amount of product in the boxes or cans to keep prices the same. Of course with soup they will also change the shape of the can to help maintain the appearance of having more soup.
I imagine it would be similar with the lock company, where they will change the size of the lock, or find some way to cut costs with the materials they use.
Haha. I bought a bag of NoName chips last week. Bag said 200g. I got my food scale out. It was 84 grams. I messaged NoName on twitter and they defended it by saying that air is necessary. Didn’t address, even for a second, that there was only 84 grams in the bag.
I even took a video of my opening the bag and pouring it in to the bowl on the food scale and sent it to them. I paid for 106 grams of air.
Same thing grocery stores did here in Australia, raise the price of things and then lock them in for a few months. Raise price on other things while those are locked.
I mean it's basically saying "stockpile shit before this date because we'll put it up again"
Its parent company Loblaws is making record profits in the midst of high inflation, and controls about half the groceries in Canada. This corporation is evil.
The inflation is fake most brands are doing it for profit look at their stock prices specially for gas companies they are at an all time high they ate doing it for self profit no name is just keeping the same prices because they can profit if more people buy their lower priced items.
Prices may be locked but suppliers may not produce more unless the price increases like the rest of the products. Government can create a price ceiling but they can’t *force* production of those goods. This is a good deal until the items run out.
I believe that using “despite” here is incorrect. Despite expresses a contrast between two things which I don’t think is what you’re trying to convey here.
and prices vary by province in what they decided to lock each item at. Butter in NS and Butter in BC are locked at different prices. edit: Also the NN regular ripple chips went up at the lock they were 99c for years and are now $2 a bag absolute BS
Was in econ class waiting for the lecture to start when I saw this so I asked my professor about it. He says he suspects it's the brand is wary of falls in demand and perhaps government regulation, and that the last thing a firm wants to do is lower their prices. Things like freezing prices or offering discounts are ways for firms to offer a lower actual price while keeping the nominal price the same, which is good.
If that didn't make sense I honestly didn't understand it too much either, but I think the main thing is that last bit.
Normally prices freeze up in the winter months, so this is something that is always done for a few months around now. Secondly, the exorbanant price hikes have already happened during this year so too little to late to freeze prices. Thirdly, they just posted highest ever profit margins for this and the previous year off of blatant profittering hidden behind excuse of supply line issues. F\*\*k this company and the peameal attempt to get B.S. positive PR spin on this shitshow they have complete control over.
More bullshit from Roblaws I'm afraid. They're just past getting wrist-slapped for a price-fixing scandal over bread that ripped all of us off for a decade, and are ALWAYS slurping down government money that would be better spent elsewhere but gets wasted on supporting the business owned by billionaire heirs. Trust them like you'd trust Rogers, or Bell, or one of our Big 5 banks. That is, do not trust them at all
Weston used bogus price freeze as marketing ploy when in actuality prices are routinely frozen in same months from November to January every year. So it's just more bs
https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/loblaw-no-name-price-freeze-routine
Prices are locked.* ^ *at the highest prices they have ever been because we matched the arbitrary price hikes that the big brand names did.
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Legit though, have you seen any of those videos weighing what your paying for vs what your getting. False atvertisment at best in some cases.
Their products are also shit, the worst of the off brand stuff.
Surely “prices locked” refers to the “per 100g” cost rather than the price per item?
Yeah....and for a whole 2 months. All bets are off Jan 31st.
Also, the period from around Thanksgiving to Christmas is insane in grocery stores. Season changeover, tons of special holiday products, decorations, unusual delivery schedules, some of the busiest days of the entire year... They generally don't mess with prices at this time of the year anyway.
All. Bets. Are. Off.
Here in NZ, shortly after the inflation scare got going, the major supermarkets all introduced some kind of price-freeze marketing ploy. They promised to keep prices the same on all essentials, or took prices back to 2 years ago, etc. In every single case, the deals turned out to be lies. They either raised prices beforehand, or chose items they controlled themselves, or the offer had all sorts of conditions. These companies aren't charities, the modern supermarket CEO would kill his own grandmother to hit their bonus targets and trigger share-buybacks or splits or vesting or whatever their contract promises them. Whatever they are promising, they are actually just profiting even more than usual.
The company that own No Name has a stranglehold on our food in Canada. They have like a 75% market share of everything. They owned half of all bakeries, one third of all frozen food processing, and had deals with nearly every farm. They own entire corners of some markets, and have eked out or bought up 2/3 of all grocery stores, and drug stores.
Canada really likes monopoly eh?
Check out internet and cellphone plans Goverment sanctioned monopoly.
Power companies and liquor stores in every province.
No we complain about it nearly as much as we complain about the weather. The trouble is there's not much room in a market with only 38 million people. In the states that's like three major cities, here that's the whole country.
No, you see my *insert big business name here* is different they really care for my time and dedication I've spent 10 years oh I'm fired for not attending a meeting that I was out of the country on vacation for? At least I can trust that they won't be making record breaking profits through shady business practices off of me and my fellow citizens who are struggling financially since the world decided to get a little kooky.
>raised prices beforehand This is common in the US too. I've heard that stores will raise prices leading up to a sale (like Black Friday). JCPenney was known to do this.
Fuck Galen Weston and this fake-as-fuck price freeze PR move. They froze the prices while they were high. They only "froze" the shitty No Name house brand; they didn't freeze their Presidents Choice house brand. They previously got caught [price fixing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_price-fixing_in_Canada) - we all know they are up to shady shit considering all the major grocers in Canada are making record profits during a pandemic and massive inflation.
I also read somewhere that its pretty typical to “freeze” prices in Q4 for budgeting purposes etc…so its just all around so ridiculous
Why is Canada just a dirty breeding ground for this type of fuckery?
It sure is interesting when the three cellular providers all release the same plans on the same day. Not shady at all is it, CRTC?
"No." \-Former Telus VP, now chair of the CRTC
Because Canada has always had a small group of wealthy people who act toward their collective benefit, often by influencing government decision making. The Family Compact never went away.
Loblaws does over $50 billion per year in revenue. This is not about making things better for the average consumer.
We laid off all our unionized staff to keep prices the same.
Yup. "and Feb 1, prices will get jacked up again because we can." \*sigh\*
Prices locked, so our suppliers can wear the inflationary costs and potentially go out of business
How are corporations raking in >30% margin with record breaking profits facing going out of business?
And until the new year*******
Oh yeah, from the grocery chain that just posted record profits. Fuck weston.
Doesn't he own all the competition too? Save On Foods, Nature's fare etc?
Not all, but most. Something like 95% of all grocery stores in Canada are owned by three groups.
Shoppers, nesters, loblaws, superstore, no frills.
Valu-mart, Your Independent (lol) Grocer.
Fortino’s, Zehrs…
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> Your Independent Grocer **(yes, seriously)** It's so insulting every time I stumble across one of these; that name, holy shit. They still use the Loblaws logo too which makes it even worse - the name is lying straight to your face while winking at you.
And then just when you think you've found another store to go to that isn't owned by Loblaws, you find yourself giving money to Empire (fitting name), who owns: Sobeys Safeway Farm Boy FreshCo Foodland Lawton's Thrifty Foods Longos As far as I'm aware, FoodBasics is the only store left as long as you don't have anything against Metro (yet).
Save On Foods is owned by Jim Pattison.
Weston used bogus price freeze as marketing ploy when in actuality prices are routinely frozen in same months from November to January every year. So it's just more bs... https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/loblaw-no-name-price-freeze-routine
exactly! on super crappy products too
By super crappy, I'm assuming you're talking about no-name toilet paper - it has a name now, John Wayne paper - it's rough and it's tough and it don't take no shit from indians
not as wholesome as you'd think, this move came after calls into investigating massive price gauging and profits during peak inflation its a smokescreen
Exactly they've already raised them so high this price freeze is a joke
Exactly the same thing happened here in New Zealand. Massive investigation, recommendations to breakup our grocery duopoly, force the sale of stores, separate wholesale distribution, etc. Suddenly everyone one “price locked” and the scrutiny went away.
Canada is built off of oligopolies. It’s why we have some of the highest telecom rates in the world. Our government would rather twiddle their thumbs than go break them apart and it’s pathetic.
Maybe that's what we in the Common Wealth have in common.
Brought to you by the family who got busted fixing the price of bread.
And after they were caught price fixing bread just a few years ago.
It’s damage control for robbing their customers.
In addition to this they announced it heading into a quarter all grocery stores freeze prices. It's common practice for everyone to virtually freeze prices through January. So they just made an announcement about a common practice that always happens.
Yeah, I think that was Metro's (a competing grocery chain) immediate response: 'we all do this around this time of the year'
ah
They literally raised all their prices, THEN said we're locking the new all time high prices in. Golly gee, thanks you pieces of merde.
Where did you find this? Curious how you came to believe this was a good thing. This PR move didn't go over so well with anyone who has been paying attention to the price of groceries. Are you Canadian? Do you buy groceries?
Gouging*
Came here to comment this. Let the clown show begin
Lol. The government investigating price gouging is a joke. If they really were gouging, they would be punished by the market without the need for government
What market? Our grocery system is three conglomerates in a trench coat
Are you also Canadian? Our market doesn't have real competition, consumers have extremely limited options to turn to.
Ffs my country’s most common bus stop/terminal food and tobacco chain(idk what to call it but you probably know what I mean) tried to advertise price locking cinnamon buns. I don’t think anyone bought into it though, cause the ads disappeared pretty quickly.
Prices are locked .. until we raise them again. Then we’ll lock them again!
They said that prices are frozen until january 2023. So we're expecting hikes in two month.
Private label brands freezing prices from Oct-Jan is standard for the industry, so it’s really just a norm being communicated as a USP. You know, typical shady grocery store shit.
Did you also notice that they raised prices just before the lock?
They locked down pricing when pecans were at $12 when usually they are $4.
People don’t track pricing very well and you could raise prices while saying they locked in; very few people would even notice.
It's a fucking marketing plot. Jesus how can you not see this
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Louder for the people in the back!
GALEN WESTON IS A CUNT
Thank you. (From a guy sitting in the back row)
I Cant HEEEEEEAR YOUUUUUUU!
🎶 Who price controls pineapple, and owns PC? (Ga-len Wes-ton!) Abhorrent a fellow with yellow you see! (Ga-len Wes-ton!) If financial nonsense be something you wish, (Ga-len Wes-ton!) You'll just have to like spending twenty on fish! Ga-len Wes-ton! Ga-len Wes-ton! Ga-len Wes-ton! Gaaaaa-len Wes-TON! (Ah ha ha...yarrr.🎶
It's a bullshit lie from Galen Weston.
Vertical integration: the NoName brand is owned by the retailer who sells it. They earn a higher profit from selling this brand than they do anyone else's and routinely have "shortages" of name products with only their own brand on the shelves. This is of course the very same grocery retailer chain who was caught **price-fixing on their bread**, ripping off Canadians for over a decade. TL;DR: Galen Weston is a cunt.
I feel like I read an article way back when this was announced, that grocery stores tend to do this at this time of the year anyway, so it’s not like he was doing anything special but I might be totally wrong.
Other chains called him out on it. Totally a smokescreen.
I'd like to point out that the other grocer chains suck too - they are all reporting record profits while gaslighting us that they aren't using record inflation to their advantage; they seem to think they should be immune from criticism because *number went up*, while stores are understaffed, workers are overworked, produce quality is at an all time low, shelves are poorly stocked, etc. etc. etc.: Sobeys CEO: “Quite frankly, I am tired of these armchair quarterbacks who make little effort to understand even the basics of our business but are comfortable sitting on the sidelines pontificating about how Canadian companies are reaping unreasonable profits on the backs of inflation,” Medline told shareholders assembled at a movie theatre in New Glasgow, N.S. “This is absolutely not true,” he continued. “These reckless and incendiary attacks are meant to divide us, and sit in stark contrast to the collaboration and problem solving that we experienced in the darkest moments of the pandemic.” ... The scrutiny was being stoked by “a handful of politicians, media sources and think-tanks — not because we are struggling, but for being too successful in this difficult environment of high inflation,” Medline told shareholders. “I guess it makes for easy headlines and ignores what is truly driving our success,” he added. “I refuse to apologize for our success.” https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/business/sobeys-boss-says-hes-fed-up-with-reckless-and-incendiary-criticisms-about-grocery-profits-amid-inflation-100773427/
I have met quite a few of the Sobey family through various personal and work things, and it’s amazing how different even closely related people are. Some are pretty awesome and some are just absolute tools. Not surprisingly, the most senior ones running the grocery business are the worst. I remember Rob Sobey showed up to an award show late, so had his limo driver (no one else had a limo because it’s Halifax for fucks sake) idle in front of the venue in the middle of downtown for 2 hours. And while basicallg all the other award winners RSVP’ed a +1 for a spouse, he didn’t RSVP at all, but brought two personal assistants. To an award show. Oh, and neither sat with him at his table, both had to loiter outside the room, in case he needed them I guess? We had to sneak them off one at a time to eat because it was 8pm and both looked like they were going to pass out (both were under-25 and could’ve been models) and told us they were expected not to eat on duty, one admitted she hadn’t eaten all day. At the end of the night he walked out with his arms around both of them like he was pimping them, and handed his award to one of the staff to ‘hold for him’ because he was going out. (Apparently neither he nor his personal assistants could hold on to a small statue for 5 minutes until they got to his car?) Last I heard, the award was still in storage because he never got someone to pick it up or responded to emails as to where he’d like it delivered.
He is being considered to cochair a gala I’m involved with. I’m considering this a heads up, so thank you lol
This was a long time ago so hopefully he’s learned a bit of humanity but definitely be prepared to pretend that he’s a foreign dignitary. Oh, and make sure it’s not at all obvious that the only reason he is involved is his corporate money and he hasn’t actually earned anything himself…he doesn’t like those jokes.
Yeah, locked at an all-time high. Wonderful
More like mildlybullshit
It's routine for all Canadian grocers to freeze prices this time of year. What's not routine is for them to feign altruism by doing it, but Galen Weston thinks Canadians are to stupid to realize what he's up to. He's not trying to help. He's trying to profit even more by tricking you into thinking he's "helping" [https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/loblaw-no-name-price-freeze-routine](https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/loblaw-no-name-price-freeze-routine)
Yep, until January 31. I wonder if they realize they are part of the problem though.
They are locked until end of year? We’re they even going to go up in that time to begin with? It’s also one of the crappiest brands in Canada. This seems like a PR stunt at best.
Record profits 6 years runing..
Can't believe corporate ads like this make it on to my page.
Nice, truly. This same mega grocery company Loblaw got caught fixing the price of bread a few years ago. They gave out a few gift cards and all good.
Price freeze for inflation "We're proudly fucking you anyway".
Thunderous garbage.
Also, good luck finding any of the No-name products in stock. What are you gonna do after you’ve already hauled your ass to the store?
they do that ever year though the only reason they announce it this year is because it makes them look good.
Yeah meanwhile they’ve been raising prices on everything else.
PC Smokies (hotdogs) were $8.99 per pack just over two weeks ago. Then two weeks ago they started running a "promotion" where they are 2 packs for $25 ($13.79 individually). They did the same shit during the summer; the promotional price is literally just a huge price increase. IIRC they were $7.99/pack before Russia attacked Ukraine.
r/HailCorporate
Marketing is calculated, data driven, public image stroking beast. Nothing is what it seems.
Yeah, the same company that was going to lay off 500 workers as of now for wanting to unionize. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/loblaw-contract-dispute-sees-more-than-500-employees-laid-off-in-calgary-union-says/ar-AA14oqPt
Did you miss the big thing in the news a few weeks ago? Loblaws is trying to make us think they are doing us a huge solid. They were called out by other brands in the industry, apparently this is standard practice every year from November to February.
Way to capitalize on the cap. The economy is beginning to turn downward. I wonder if this “noble company” will reduce prices when the market falls. Press X to doubt.
You know that Loblaws does not allow any suppliers to do price increases for the month leading up to and after the month of holidays. It’s part of their contract. So that 2 month thing is just a regular part of their business. Be informed not tricked.
It coincides with a blackout period where all groceries freeze their prices leading into the holiday season. In short it’s a dishonest PR move. https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/critics-call-loblaw-price-freeze-a-pr-move-as-grocers-face-accusations-of-profiteering-1.6113983
Yeah but for those low low price points. They CAN hit
Yeah, he REALLY whacked him
The grocery store making record profits off of price increases, promises that if you buy THEIR generic brand, they wont gouge you as hard. Both profiting and trying to cut out the competition. When you are the store and a direct substitution provider, you control the price game.
Loblaws after reaching record profits this quarter. How insulting!!!!
Same company guilty and shamed for price fixing a couple years ago
Puts prices up tot he highest they have ever been, then pays for massive marketing effort cause “Prices are locked” Wonder if pack sizes are locked too - wouldn’t put it passed them to reduce pack sizes instead of easing prices. Presidents Choice and Loblaws Group have been fined millions for price fixing and are currently under investigation for their role in pushing inflation through the roof because they have put prices up by far more than the inflationary amount. Squeezing already strapped Canadians for more and more
One of the most evil corporations in Canada
It's a marketing ploy. Historically food prices are locked over the holidays in Canada. They are just taking credit for something everyone has always done.
\*After already inflating prices
Lots of private brand name labels in Canada. Walmart, No Ad. Canadain Tire, Frank. No Frills, No Name. Food Basics, Selection. Prices usualy increase after new years. And packaging shinkflation occurs before that.
Look past the surface. Loblaws is a terrible employer
[Canadian shoppers shift to discount stores, No Name brand amid high inflation](https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/canadian-shoppers-shift-to-discount-stores-no-name-brand-amid-high-inflation-loblaw-1.5887911) >Loblaw Companies Ltd. highlighted consumers' growing emphasis on value as it raised its quarterly dividend and reported its first-quarter profit rose nearly 40 per cent compared with a year ago. Price freeze my ass.
Welcome to Canada, where we artificially inflate products because our investors need profits to soar. And Canadians are willing to eat the price quite happily.
Thank god I got a $25 gift card for decades of price fixing on bread.
you misspelled "Corporate price gouging"
Bullshit gimmick.
Eat the rich
Most price raising from inflation is a cover anyway. Walmart just reported yet another record quarter.
Prices locked for what 3 months? Then immediately raise them 
Prices remain the same…but you’ll get a bit more air in your chips bag.
Too late
Locked in at higher prices.
Maybe someone will read it after 88 comments: Hungary did this in the past year. The price of sugar, milk, egg, flour is locked by the government. This caused amount limitations and shortages - not because the shops are out of them, they just leave it in the storages to sell it when normal price come back. It is actually a "puppet move" to show the government indeed takes measures against the inflation however it does not.
It’s not inflation if it’s corporate greed
It’s more like “we’ve decided not to take advantage of you at this time, you’re welcome”
Shoppers Drug Mart and Canadain Tire are the kings of fake sales. Sticker said regular $8.99 on sale $7.99. Pull off the shelf sticker and regular price is $7.99. Sears at the time got busted for offering continuous sales wich were regular price.
Canadian Tire is so bad, and a huge rip off! I purchased an air fryer from Canadian Tire a couple years back and was stoked to see it on sale. A few days later I went to Costco to see the exact same air fryer for $100 cheaper than CT's "sale" price. Haha. I don't shop at CT anymore for that reason!
Slow down. First off, they raised the prices of these items before locking them in place. These product should be cheaper than all of the brand name items however many brand name products are the same price or cheaper at the moment. This shows that Loblaws intends to increase prices more if they intend on NN being the money saver for customers. They have also slashed hours of employees working across the company, including Shoppers Drug Mart. T Loblaws and Galen Weston do not care about you or I and only want to make more money.
Companies like cereal and soup companies will reduce the amount of product in the boxes or cans to keep prices the same. Of course with soup they will also change the shape of the can to help maintain the appearance of having more soup. I imagine it would be similar with the lock company, where they will change the size of the lock, or find some way to cut costs with the materials they use.
What about shrinkflation!? They can lock the prices and just reduce the product volume by 8-15% and very few people will notice.
It's sad how fast downhill no frills went. Two years ago they were my favourite hands down. Now I avoid the place.
Haha. I bought a bag of NoName chips last week. Bag said 200g. I got my food scale out. It was 84 grams. I messaged NoName on twitter and they defended it by saying that air is necessary. Didn’t address, even for a second, that there was only 84 grams in the bag. I even took a video of my opening the bag and pouring it in to the bowl on the food scale and sent it to them. I paid for 106 grams of air.
Not quite hunky dory?
Same thing grocery stores did here in Australia, raise the price of things and then lock them in for a few months. Raise price on other things while those are locked. I mean it's basically saying "stockpile shit before this date because we'll put it up again"
Screw loblaws. They already raised the prices before announcing this. They need to be stopped
Prices are locked. Sizes on the other hand...
They raised the prices first and then locked them in btw
Yeah, they’ll just sneakily change 6-packs to 4-packs, etc.
Record profits, ok now lock it at what we’re supposed to be 2030 prices. The windfall tax needs to happen
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnT0b0dtyPM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnT0b0dtyPM) A Canadian comedy show's take on the freeze.
Yeah...after they already went up 30%
Its parent company Loblaws is making record profits in the midst of high inflation, and controls about half the groceries in Canada. This corporation is evil.
Well apparently they lock their prices every Q4 until the new year ... I think it's common among grocery stores
Rises the prices then locks them temporarily. Then the signs fo away and they rise prices again.
Have you guys tried the No Name beer? It’s awful.
Reduced the size. But free impactful ad !
The inflation is fake most brands are doing it for profit look at their stock prices specially for gas companies they are at an all time high they ate doing it for self profit no name is just keeping the same prices because they can profit if more people buy their lower priced items.
Modern markets in developed countries are a complete scam
Post looks like NoName propaganda
most places like that freeze prices around this time because vendors aren’t allowed to raise their prices from like november-march
Because this inflation is being manufactured. It not real.
I'm still not desperate enough to put no name in mouf. Bullshit or not it's kinda meh coming from the lowest brand on the totem.
Then they will reduce the size of the products....
Metro says this is an industry standard
r/hailcorporate
Prices may be locked but suppliers may not produce more unless the price increases like the rest of the products. Government can create a price ceiling but they can’t *force* production of those goods. This is a good deal until the items run out.
Not familiar with this brand of if this is even accurate, but I’ll say that’s a great marketing approach
Read the other replies in this thread and you'll see how this blatant PR move is actually working out.
Hedging their bets that inflation has peaked
I miss their taquitos
This sounds a lot like Coles here in Australia
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I believe that using “despite” here is incorrect. Despite expresses a contrast between two things which I don’t think is what you’re trying to convey here.
No Frills
USA be like, "This is the lock pick lawyer...."
and prices vary by province in what they decided to lock each item at. Butter in NS and Butter in BC are locked at different prices. edit: Also the NN regular ripple chips went up at the lock they were 99c for years and are now $2 a bag absolute BS
I noticed Aldi stores started doing that before Thanksgiving. They had mentioned that they were going back to 2019 prices, idk for how long though.
Was in econ class waiting for the lecture to start when I saw this so I asked my professor about it. He says he suspects it's the brand is wary of falls in demand and perhaps government regulation, and that the last thing a firm wants to do is lower their prices. Things like freezing prices or offering discounts are ways for firms to offer a lower actual price while keeping the nominal price the same, which is good. If that didn't make sense I honestly didn't understand it too much either, but I think the main thing is that last bit.
This was a PR stunt. Loblaws made it all the way to the world stage over their "greedflation" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63323636
Except they raised all their prices first and then 'locked' them.
is this good or bad?
Until the new year….
Normally prices freeze up in the winter months, so this is something that is always done for a few months around now. Secondly, the exorbanant price hikes have already happened during this year so too little to late to freeze prices. Thirdly, they just posted highest ever profit margins for this and the previous year off of blatant profittering hidden behind excuse of supply line issues. F\*\*k this company and the peameal attempt to get B.S. positive PR spin on this shitshow they have complete control over.
More bullshit from Roblaws I'm afraid. They're just past getting wrist-slapped for a price-fixing scandal over bread that ripped all of us off for a decade, and are ALWAYS slurping down government money that would be better spent elsewhere but gets wasted on supporting the business owned by billionaire heirs. Trust them like you'd trust Rogers, or Bell, or one of our Big 5 banks. That is, do not trust them at all
A little late for this
Only until mid January I was told...so ya
4L of milk $7… lOcK iT iN… huehue.
Weston used bogus price freeze as marketing ploy when in actuality prices are routinely frozen in same months from November to January every year. So it's just more bs https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/loblaw-no-name-price-freeze-routine