Sweet Onion Solutions Inc.

07/25/2025

Food inflation eased in 2024 (+2.2%) after surging in 2022 (+9.8%) and 2023 (+7.8%)—but many Canadians are still adjusting how and where they shop.

Nearly 1 in 4 Canadians living in the provinces faced food insecurity in 2023, prompting shifts in purchasing habits. People increasingly turned to general merchandise retailers (like dollar stores and supercentres) for groceries:

🛒 Food sales at general merchandise stores rose 8.9% in 2024
🥕 Fresh food sales at those stores grew at triple the pace of traditional grocery stores
📦 Packaged and frozen foods saw even bigger gains—up 9.2% at general retailers
🥤 Beverage sales spiked 13.2%, while grocery store beverage sales stayed flat
💊 Health and personal care stores lost ground in food sales, dropping $261.9 million

Meanwhile, overall food spending remains high, with signs pointing to further grocery price increases in 2025. Prices rose year-over-year in January (+1.9%), February (+2.8%), March (+3.2%), and April (+3.8%).

Where are you shopping to save?

🔗 https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/8187-inflation-slowed-2024-canadians-continued-shift-their-grocery-shopping-habits

07/16/2025

Just some locals on their way to find the best deals using Onio-n.

I bet they shop, they save ;)

🔗 https://www.onio-n.com/

07/15/2025

Title: B.C. grocer avoids selling U.S. produce for 117 days in what expert calls a ‘real’ boycott
Source: Global News, Amy Judd & Kylie Stanton, July 14, 2025

A grocery store in Victoria, B.C., has gone 117 days without stocking U.S.-grown produce — a response to trade tensions and a push to prioritize local and Canadian-grown food.

Urban Grocer’s general manager says customers are backing the move, even when it means sourcing from farther afield. When U.S. cauliflower was the only option, they flew in Holland cauliflower instead—choosing to cut their margins to keep prices stable.

Experts say this is part of a wider trend. According to Dalhousie’s Sylvain Charlebois, sales of American food products are down 8.5% in Canada. “That’s a boycott.”

Whether it's about values or value, grocery habits are shifting. Would you go local—even if it meant skipping some deals?

🍁

At Onio-n, we help you spot the best deals—no matter where your groceries come from. Supporting Canadian? We’ve got that too.

🔗 https://www.onio-n.com/

Onio-n is a grocery shopping app to help consumers find their best grocery purchase option(s) for the products they want, from their preferred retailers.

07/14/2025

📈 Canada’s Food Price Report 2025
Posted by Dalhousie University

Food prices in Canada are expected to rise by 3% to 5% this year. The average family of four could spend $16,833.67 on food in 2025 — up to $800 more than last year. Despite a slower inflation rate in 2024, food affordability remains a top concern.

🧺 Price forecast by category:
* Meat: +4% to 6%
* Vegetables & Restaurants: +3% to 5%
* Dairy, Bakery, Other: +2% to 4%
* Fruits & Seafood: +1% to 3%

🚨 Food insecurity is rising:
* 8.7 million Canadians, including 2.1 million children, live in food-insecure households
* Nova Scotia (28.9%) and PEI (28.6%) have the highest rates
* Food bank visits hit a record high in 2024 — 2 million visits in one month

🌎 Key drivers of food prices:
* Climate change, trade disruptions, labour shortages
* U.S. politics, wildfires, rail strikes, a weaker dollar
* Rising demand, especially from younger Canadians borrowing to afford groceries

🛒 Consumer impact & action:
* 2024 saw a Loblaw boycott, reflecting consumer frustration
* The new Grocery Code of Conduct aims to increase fairness in the industry
* But oversight is needed to ensure it makes a difference

🔍 Now in its 15th year, Canada’s Food Price Report is a collaboration between Dalhousie, Guelph, UBC, and Saskatchewan — using AI and analytics to forecast food trends and help Canadians prepare.

📢 What do you think needs to change to make food more affordable?

Read the full report:
🔗 https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/sites/agri-food/EN%20-%20Food%20Price%20Report%202025.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawLiV61leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFuSWFsb09NMjJsZ1JLRUVGAR6jX7uQmyoOVzrcfXuGOYJSGJxlxBq9R9TfUayIObBr8xQEcQsvcG7rIJ6iyQ_aem_UZtzgtvmTI_4_IulAqyGCQ

07/10/2025

Title: Does anyone still clip coupons?
Source: CBC News, July 6, 2025

"I used to clip coupons. Now I stack cash-back apps with digital flyers and loyalty points."

That’s how deal hunters like Toronto’s Kathleen Cassidy (aka Living on a Loonie) save big—without touching a paper flyer.

📲 Physical coupons still exist, but they’re not as common.
📉 U.S. coupon distribution dropped from 330 billion in 2010 to 50 billion in 2024.
📈 Meanwhile, traffic from AI tools to retail sites is surging.

Whether you’re clipping or tapping, it’s clear: the way Canadians save is changing. What’s your favourite money-saving tool?

07/09/2025

Title: Does anyone still clip coupons?
Source: CBC News, July 6, 2025

A growing number of shoppers are asking AI tools like ChatGPT to help them find discount codes or compare prices.

But does it actually work?
🔍 CBC tested a few codes from AI tools—none were valid.
⚠️ Experts warn AI can’t verify if a code is still live, and often links to outdated deals.
💡 Still, TikTok is full of Gen Z users sharing AI “shopping hacks.”

Have you tried using AI to find deals? Did it work for you?

07/08/2025

Title: Does anyone still clip coupons?
Source: CBC News, July 6, 2025

Once a Sunday ritual, clipping coupons from the newspaper is fading fast. But that doesn't mean people aren't still hunting for deals—just in new ways.

📉 Coupon use has been steadily declining since the '90s.
📱 Many shoppers now rely on digital tools: cash-back apps, digital flyers, and loyalty points.
🤖 Some are even turning to AI to help them save.

Are paper coupons becoming a thing of the past? How do you find deals on groceries?

07/02/2025

Rising grocery prices have left many shoppers feeling powerless.

According to our latest Onio-n survey, most shoppers now prioritize lower prices over sticking with familiar brands.

If loyal customers started switching for better deals, would retailers be forced to change?

We want to hear from you—what’s your take?

🔗 https://www.onio-n.com/

06/30/2025

Are you familiar with Canada’s Scanner Price Accuracy Code (SCOP)?

It’s a voluntary policy adopted by many major retailers to protect customers from pricing errors at checkout. If an item scans at a higher price than advertised, you’re entitled to receive it for free (if it’s under $10) or get $10 off (if it’s over $10).

In a recent Onio-n survey, most shoppers said they would speak up if they noticed a pricing error.

Have you ever caught a mispriced item while shopping?

🔗 https://www.onio-n.com/
🔗 https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/deceptive-marketing-practices/types-deceptive-marketing-practices/scanner-price-accuracy

06/27/2025

Why Food Charity Can’t Fix Food Insecurity in Canada

Despite growing networks of food banks and millions in donations, food insecurity is still on the rise. Why? Because food charity doesn’t tackle the root cause: inadequate income.

Only a small portion of food-insecure Canadians actually use food banks. A 2019 study found that most people facing food insecurity instead skip bills or borrow money from friends — not because food banks aren’t helpful, but because they’re not enough.

📉 There is no evidence that food programs like food literacy classes, community gardens, or Nutrition North subsidies lift people out of food insecurity.

🔎 For example, in Nunavut, nearly 1 in 2 people live in food-insecure households despite years of federal investment in Nutrition North Canada. Inuit organizations are calling for Inuit-led strategies that address the root issues of poverty and income.

The message is clear:
🛑 Food charity isn’t the solution
✅ Income-focused policies are

It’s time for federal and provincial governments to stop funding stopgap measures — and start implementing policies that work.

Source: https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/what-can-be-done-to-reduce-food-insecurity-in-canada/