2023-08-05 04:00:00
Food stores are seeing an increase vertiginous thefts committed by customers driven to vice by inflation, while food banks are completely overwhelmed.
“We’re talking about an average of $4,000 to $5,000 in stolen food per week, depending on the store,” explains Stéphane Lacasse, vice-president of public affairs at the Quebec Food Retailers Association.
Stéphane Lacasse, Vice-President of Public Affairs at the Quebec Food Retailers Association. Provided by Stéphane Lacasse
The phenomenon began to gain momentum last fall. The Bank of Canada had just raised its key rate for the fifth and sixth time in a few months to counter inflation.
Luxury products such as meat, alcohol and cheese are the most sought after by thieves, said Mr. Lacasse.
Just last week, a 36-year-old man was arrested by Quebec City police on Saint-Laurent Street after stealing steaks from the IGA Deschênes. Photos of the arrest by several police officers obtained by The newspaper show that this scourge is taken seriously by law enforcement and merchants.
A 36-year-old man was arrested in Sainte-Foy on July 25, 2023, after stealing steaks from IGA Deschênes. provided by Marie-Chantale Gaudreault
Exploding requests for help
“What these people don’t understand is that businesses have to compensate for these losses by increasing prices, for example. It has an impact on all of the customers,” emphasizes Stéphane Lacasse.
“We understand that there are people who are experiencing difficulties, but there are other solutions,” he continues.
Among these, we find in particular food banks which, for a derisory amount, can provide a complete grocery store. These organizations can moreover bear witness better than anyone to the current financial issues facing the population.
Nearly 1,100 people turn up every Thursday for food aid at La Bouchée Généreuse. Jeremy Bernier
“In a few months, we went from 600 people helped per week to around 1,100!” exclaims Pierre Gravel, the general manager of La Bouchée generous, in Lairet.
The newspaper also found Thursday morning, when hundreds of people lined up in front of the establishment, in the rain. Similar situations are also reported by Moisson Québec and Entraide Agapè.
“It doesn’t stop, it’s hell. I’m afraid to burn my volunteers. The world has no more money to eat,” laments Mr. Gravel.
Pierre Gravel, general manager of the Generous Bouchée Jeremy Bernier
Changing faces
The various organizations contacted by The newspaper also observed a change in their clientele. We see more and more small families and the incomes of the households that ask for help are higher and higher.
“We have people who have an annual family salary of $80,000 and who no longer arrive. We didn’t see that before. We have a 28% increase in our working clientele,” says François Dion, food coordinator at Entraide Agapè.
Mélissa Larouche and her friend, Céline Turmel, have been asking La Bouchée genereuse for help with food for four months. Jeremy Bernier
At the Generous Bouchée, Mélissa Larouche says she has had no choice but to call on food banks for several months, despite her job as a graphic designer.
“It’s really crazy, I can’t even afford to go get fruit or vegetables anymore. I know what it’s like to spend a day with only two bites of yogurt in your body,” she says.
what they said
“At first, I didn’t want any help. I spent three weeks almost without eating.
Mélissa Larouche, food bank user
“When your pound of butter is down to $6, it’s no surprise that people start stealing. Salaries do not follow.
Pierre Gravel, CEO of La Bouchée Generous
“I work in the health field and I no longer earn enough to support myself. We got there.”
Kevin Ulrich, food bank user.
“There was clearly a before and after the pandemic. We went from 35,000 mouths fed per month in the Quebec City region to 80,000.”
Élaine Côté, General Manager of Moisson Québec.
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