Category: Food Insights

Grocery shopper choosing nuts for healthy snacking

Snacking Trends Among Canadians

As the Big Football Game is fast approaching, consumers are starting to stock up with their favourite snacks. Below are some interesting facts and snacking trends that will help grocery retailers make their snack category stand-out. Snacking is a big part of Canadian culture, with an increasing number of consumers choosing to snack throughout the…

Inflation has Canadians Stressed and Hungry

Several new surveys have found Canadians are feeling very stressed from soaring inflation rates, including the rise of grocery products. Statistics Canada writes, “Canadians pay 9.7% more for food at stores compared to a year ago” –  the largest increase since September 1981. The FP Canada Financial Stress Index survey says that 38% of respondees…

woman feeding baby with formula

Canada’s Formula Shortage Update

At the moment, Canada’s formula shortage is affecting parents across the nation. Following the recall of certain powdered Similac products that were allegedly responsible for the bacterial infection that led to the death of two newborns, Abbott Laboratories closed down its factory in Michigan that produced infant formula in February. The plant was reopened earlier…

Meal kits being the ultimate solution? CJR Wholesale Grocers and DairyCentral distributors review of the new segments in industry

Do Meal-Kits Still Fit The Bill?

The COVID Effect Meal-kits gained popularity quite early in the pandemic when lockdowns swept populations and kept people stuck at home—multiplying the number of potential customers. Many people turned to meal-kit delivery service in search of new meal ideas, or to simply learn how to cook during the pandemic. Now, due to various factors, it…

Consumer Saving and spending analysis by CJR Wholesale Grocers and DairyCentral distributors

Produce Prices Rise: Saving and Spending

Almost a third of consumers in Ontario are skimping on the produce since inflation took a deep dive into the average Ontarian’s pockets. Numerator’s latest data suggests roughly 75% of shoppers noticed the steep price hike for fruits, and 78% for vegetables, respectively. The increases are “moderately to extremely concerning” for over half (55%) of…

Part of Canadian Grocers, CJR Wholesale Grocers and DairyCentral distributors have partner with ministry of health for free COVID 19 rapid antigen test

Ontario’s COVID-19 Rapid Test Expansion

The province’s COVID-19 rapid antigen test program that was supposed to carry on for eight weeks, originally set to wrap up in April, will be continuing to offer free rapid test kits until the end of July, a government official has confirmed. “These tests will provide another layer of protection, support the province’s efforts to…

Insights on how inflation has impacted the grocery industry and how grocery business is coping up with it

Inflation Raising Grocery Bills

Food inflation in Canada is at 6.5 percent, the highest year-over-year increase in grocery expenditures in more than a decade, thanks to increasing supply costs, shipping fees, and wages. “We’re starting to see commodity price increases ripple through to the grocery store,” said Stuart Smyth, associate professor and research chair in Agri-Food Innovation at the…

Grocery Trends to look for in 2022

Consumers are continuing the search for meals that are prepared ethically, have high nutritional value and can be delivered in an eco-friendly fashion, but preferably in less than an hour or it’s free. These five trends are all on-brand for 2022: Vegetarian, But Make It Flex Flexitarianism (flexible vegetarianism) is a mostly plant-based diet that…

Analysis on innovation creation by grocers and food service industry for health and wellness packed mornings

Eating Right and Early

Breakfast is back in style, and with it, innovative creations made for mornings. As predicted, the first meal of the day is once again becoming the most cherished. With people still working from home, many by choice at this point, a lot of folks are finding they have more time to cook with less time…

Grocery industry trends during pandemic observed by CJR Wholesale grocers and DairyCentral distributors

Ontario’s Post-Covid19 Grocery Industry

COVID-19 has brought to light aspects of food retail that most consumers had formerly taken for granted. The period of panic-buying has curbed as consumers have become accustomed to the “new normal” of grocery shopping. New shopping patterns, with higher reliance on online and delivery options, have become commonplace. With customers’ expectations in grocery shopping…