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-   -   Groceries (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/groceries-857019/)

crofty82 Feb 1st 2020 10:08 am

Re: Groceries
 

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 12800059)
I would consider the stores here top being upmarket and bottom being discount type chain

Whole Foods
Urban Fare*
Choices*
Safeway
Nester's*
Save On*
Great Canadian Super Store & Wal-Mart
Buy Low* & No Frills

I know I am missing local independents and smaller some smaller chains, this is a general gist of things.

Thanks, in an attempt to save money I’m going to tell Mrs Crofty82 that list is the other way round and see how long I can get away with it.

BristolUK Feb 5th 2020 6:16 am

Re: Groceries
 
10lb box of Navel oranges for a bargain $6.88 at Giant Tiger.

scrubbedexpat091 Feb 5th 2020 10:47 am

Re: Groceries
 

Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 12802306)
10lb box of Navel oranges for a bargain $6.88 at Giant Tiger.

so like 68 cents per pound, nice price.

Lowest I found today was 99 cents per pound, 5lb back for $4.98

I compared Super Store vs No Frills today, not as much as savings with No Frills as they like to make it seem, at least for our locations

NF = No Frills/ Super = super store

Navel Oranges
NF- 1.10 per pound
Super- 1.11 per pound
*NF didn't have the same size pre-bagged so I could not directly compare, but Super can get the price to 99 cents per pound buying a 5lb bag.

Bag of frozen corn, No Name Brand, same size both stores.
NF 2.00
Super 1.98

1.75kg bag of Broccoli PC brand, Frozen
NF- 7.97
Super- 7.78

PC 4 fruit blend 2.75kg
NF- 14.97
Super- 14.98

NF Total- $30.44
Super Store- $29.72

But Super Store requires either driving a car, taking transit, or taking a taxi so really there is no savings to be had once you account for cost of transportation.

We ended up just going to No Frills.

Fruits and vegetables cost a lot more vs frozen meals, can get 15-20 frozen meals for the same price which will last longer but of course not healthy, hard to eat health on a lower budget that is for sure.



caretaker Feb 5th 2020 12:04 pm

Re: Groceries
 
Too bad your No Frills isn't great; the one here is above average for most things (the produce is very good), even though it isn't a massive store. My usual complaint is if I go there for a specific sale item and it isn't there for whatever reason, either sold out or not delivered yet. Between Wholesale Club, No Frills, and an occasional visit to Independent (all Loblaws stores) and Giant Tiger I get almost everything I want and almost never go to Safeway, and never to Sobey's or Co-op. If I happen to be right there I'll walk through Walmart grocery and sometimes find some good things there. Superstore or Walmart or Sobeys means a drive to the outskirts of town.

scrubbedexpat091 Feb 5th 2020 12:35 pm

Re: Groceries
 

Originally Posted by caretaker (Post 12802466)
Too bad your No Frills isn't great; the one here is above average for most things (the produce is very good), even though it isn't a massive store. My usual complaint is if I go there for a specific sale item and it isn't there for whatever reason, either sold out or not delivered yet. Between Wholesale Club, No Frills, and an occasional visit to Independent (all Loblaws stores) and Giant Tiger I get almost everything I want and almost never go to Safeway, and never to Sobey's or Co-op. If I happen to be right there I'll walk through Walmart grocery and sometimes find some good things there. Superstore or Walmart or Sobeys means a drive to the outskirts of town.

Probably the high cost of real estate in Vancouver, low prices + high real estate don't really go hand in hand and Wal-Mart really isn't much competition in the city of Vancouver with 1 location within city limits at the far eastern edge and not even a normal size Wal-Mart. City of Vancouver has made it clear to Wal-Mart they are not welcome here, doubt there will ever be another within city of Vancouver limits, plenty in the burbs though.

I can't say Wal-Mart is much if any cheaper though, really everyone pretty much falls into the same prices for the most part, except Safeway they just over charge to the point I don't even consider them a viable place to shop, even their flyer deals are generally not the best deals.

I did like Giant Tiger though back when I was living in Ontario, good prices for sure and decent store, its too bad we don't have them out this way.






caretaker Feb 8th 2020 1:31 pm

Re: Groceries
 
''Broccoli,

While not exoccoli,

Is within an innach,

Of being spinach.''
Ogden Nash

BristolUK Feb 13th 2020 3:13 am

Re: Groceries
 
Been a while since I checked out the Brit stuff in Sobeys.

I can't remember if they had Custard Creams before but now they do, with the Bourbon biscuits.

They've had Flakes for years but now have a multi-pack option, as well as Galaxy Ripple and Wispa.

Also cans of Bitter Shandy and Dandelion & Burdock so I bought one of each for old times sake. :thumbup:

BristolUK Feb 13th 2020 4:30 am

Re: Groceries
 
Sobeys had goose today for $33-$36 each. ($8.80/kg)

Whenever I've looked before they've always been $60-$70. They were not advertised as a special price or any kind of saving.

They had whole Pheasants too, also for about $33. I didn't notice the 'weight' price.

caretaker Feb 23rd 2020 6:44 am

Re: Groceries
 
I bought 2 of the pork picnic shoulders from No Frills at $1/lb today, $17 something for the both of them. Froze one and I think I might go all Food Network pulled pork on the other and make a dry rub and let it marinate then smoke it and finish it off in the oven. I've probably seen it hundreds of times on tv by now, what could go wrong?

BristolUK Feb 23rd 2020 9:17 am

Re: Groceries
 

Originally Posted by caretaker (Post 12810684)
I bought 2 of the pork picnic shoulders from No Frills at $1/lb today, $17 something for the both of them. Froze one and I think I might go all Food Network pulled pork on the other and make a dry rub and let it marinate then smoke it and finish it off in the oven. I've probably seen it hundreds of times on tv by now, what could go wrong?

Pretty big then. Previously we've cut them into 2 or 3 chunks - not necessarily equal - before freezing and our smallest piece was 2.6lbs.

Standard roast and leftovers for sandwiches, curries, whatever.

BristolUK Feb 28th 2020 3:44 am

Re: Groceries
 
I like shopping in Giant Tiger.

Bought quite a few things in there today and when it was all scanned I thought the assistant said 84 something. I thought it was a bit more than expected, but you know how it is, sometimes there's a more expensive item you forgot or there are so many things you lose track of and it all adds up.

It was actually 34 something. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Oink Mar 1st 2020 4:15 pm

Re: Groceries
 
Just spent far too much on a tin of post-organic, ancient strain Mesopotamian chickpeas. I hate the realization that at best I've become middle-class. :sick:

BristolUK Mar 2nd 2020 1:20 am

Re: Groceries
 

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 12814497)
I hate the realization that at best I've become middle-class. :sick:

To what do you attribute the fall? :p

Siouxie Mar 2nd 2020 3:50 am

Re: Groceries
 

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 12814497)
Just spent far too much on a tin of post-organic, ancient strain Mesopotamian chickpeas. I hate the realization that at best I've become middle-class. :sick:


Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 12814670)
To what do you attribute the fall? :p

He's been led astray - mixing with the wrong crowd! ;)

These are the ones I buy (if I don't buy them dry) - every so often they are on offer at 4 for $5, so I stock up.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...a79bb4d27d.jpg

caretaker Mar 2nd 2020 3:58 am

Re: Groceries
 

Originally Posted by Siouxie (Post 12814806)
He's been led astray - mixing with the wrong crowd! ;)

Christmas a couple of years ago he mentioned "adopting a turkey".
Meanwhile, for us plebes.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...fc117c5d1e.jpg


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