In the current inflationary environment, many consumers are bargain hunting.
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“I’m going to reduce especially on products that are more luxurious, like snacks, or brands that are a little more prestigious, you might say,” said a citizen interviewed by TVA Nouvelles.
If citizens adapt their habits to their new budget, grocery stores also have to adapt in return.
Nearly thirty Provigos will become Maxis this year, in order to better meet the new habits of citizens.
“Here we have supermarkets that offer less service, but with lower prices: Maxi and Super C, for example,” explains Benoît Duguay, professor at the School of Management Sciences at UQAM.
At the grocery store as well as at the pharmacy, house brands are also particularly coveted.
“Buy private brands, no-name brands if you will, which are generally going to be offered every day, at lower prices than national brands. So for a consumer who would like to simplify their life, it remains a very interesting option,” explains Maryse Côté-Hamel, assistant professor of consumer science at Laval University.
Discount clothing retailers are also popular.
The Quebec banner l’Aubainerie, which already has fifty branches across the province, continues to expand.
“Yes, consumers will turn to retailers that will be less expensive, whether it’s Walmart, Old Navy, and others,” explains Ms. Côté-Hamel.
To save money, second-hand shops are not neglected either. At Renaissance, sales have increased by 15% in the last six months.
“There are many of my colleagues who have shopped in these stores, and it is worth it,” said a citizen.
Since Renaissance is a non-profit organization (NPO), taxes are not applicable.
