The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we go about our daily lives. It has affected how we travel, work, interact and of course how we shop. Within a short period of time, grocery shopping, once a routine errand has now become a strange and unfamiliar experience. From buying more online to searching out local products, the recent pandemic seems to have forced a significant change in consumer behaviour in Canada. Although consumer purchases have been centred around necessities there is believed to be a shift towards embracing and buying locally sourced products for three main reasons.
- Food Safety
- Supporting Canadian Companies
- Geography
Food Safety
Canadians are concerned about food safety including where their food is coming from and whether the packaging is COVID-19 free, despite CDC statistics. Produce, meat, and other foods can travel across numerous borders before finally landing in our homes which leaves many to think about all the people who may have come into contact with their food along the way. A shorter supply chain could translate to more transparency, which could ease consumer fears.
Supporting Canadian Companies
COVID-19 has hit our economy hard. More than ever, Canadians need to support other Canadians. This affects every part of the food chain including where the food is grown, the brands themselves, the distribution and packaging centres, the stores where the food is sold and the people who work in those stores. CJR is proud to carry many Canadian brands like Maple Leaf Foods, Mars Canada Inc., Canada Bread and more. We are also Canadian owned and operated.
Geography
You know what else has become a priority? How close to home that food is. People are sticking to their immediate neighbourhoods to avoid travelling or leaving the security of their homes for long periods of time. More and more people are shopping at the closest supermarket and convenience stores. Rabba Fine Foods is one such company who’s 30+ locations in the GTA are open 24/7 with all grocery essentials. Many have turned to Rabba as a source of reliable groceries as their standards for keeping stores clean and safe have exceeded many others.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic could last for a very long time and potentially change consumer habits forever.
