Hi there,

We will be arriving in British Columbia in the next couple of weeks and I was just wondering what the high street/grocery store equivalents are. There may not be, but it just helps when shopping, although I do plan to spend a lot of time discovering the various retailers myself. :0) For now, I'd be interested to know what similar brands there are for the following UK retailers:

Marks & Spencer/Waitrose
Sainsbury/Tesco
Currys/PC World/Dixons
Boots Pharmacy
B&Q

Thank you!

M&S - you can order online for delivery to Canada without the issue of import duties I'm told, not really sure of an alternative.
Tesco - Canada Superstore
PC World - Radio Shack?
Pharmacy - Shoppers Drugmart (I think that's the name)
B&Q - Home Depot

The Source and BestBuy are more like PC World UK tbh. Radio Shack is more along the lines of Maplin Electronics.

It's been about 4 years since I had the time to travel around Surrey and Vancity. Never went to the source store. Will definitely check that our when I get there!

Maplin's just closed down here in the UK! (Well a few months really). I needed a bi-metallic thermal switch the other day and had to order from a company in Guildford, UK. Could have used Maplin's then but what can you do?

Only went to Canadian Tire/Tyre once. I think it was for an overpriced air freshener.

After that ended up going to the dollarstore or $1.25 store which I found quite reasonable.

The Source is basically just a bog standard electronics store. Most stuff in there tended to be overpriced as I recall and could be found cheaper elsewhere (usually from Best Buy). The fact it still exists is testament to Canada's retail protectionism and how little online shopping has been adopted compared to other similar countries.

The UK is at the other extreme end of the spectrum though. High Street retail in the UK is practically defunct at this point for everything except food, household goods and toiletries and the likes of Amazon and Ocado are even trying to take over those few remaining markets. Pretty soon there will be nothing left except for coffee places, chain bakeries and pound shops.

Don't forget the bookies and the loan sharks!

I know the online retail sector like the back of my hand. Primarily what I do.
It has had an effect on the high street but I've found the smaller stores who offer 'real' customer service will survive. A presence both online and in the high street is the way to go. That said, I feel sorry for the Amazon courier who has to go to the toilet in his van as he does not have the time to go in a 13 hour shift.


Judging the recent NAFTA or whatever it is called now discussions, Canada has lost out. It will affect the retail trade. Amazon is already getting its fingers in the Maple Syrup Pie!

I live in Kamloops and we survive on Costco, Walmart, Superstore, Home Depot, Shoppers Drug Mart and Best Buy. The only thing my Wife really misses from M&S are the knickers. Can't get good knickers in Canada apparently.

Tesco/Sainsburys would be equivalent to Save On Foods and Safeway. They have Costco and if you have a UK membership you can use it out there. Asda and Walmart are quite similar. As for a hardware store Home Depot is similar to B&Q/Homebase.

There's a good reason for that

There was, Asda have just been sold to Sainsburys.

Do try to stick with the OP's questions please.. it's not the place for off topic chitchat about NAFTA / the UK / Amazon working conditions and the like... you can take that to the Maple Leaf Forum Thanks.

I prefer London Drugs over shoppers, they have a more diverse selection of goods vs shoppers, London Drugs even sells electronics although I am not an electronics type of person so never paid much attention. I also find London Drugs prices to be better.

London Drugs isn't nationwide as far as I know, so will be limited to Western Canada.