Manitoba government launches study to find ways to cut grocery costs
The Manitoba government announced a provincial grocery study Wednesday, aimed at finding ways to reduce grocery costs.
Data found that 62 per cent of Manitoban families go hungry once a month or more because they cannot afford food, according to Harvest Manitoba.
The study will look at what’s driving up food prices by examining what the province calls predatory pricing practices, where companies temporarily lower prices to push out competitors.
It will also review differential pricing practices, in which companies charge different prices depending on the customer.
Grocery prices in Canada have risen by about 22 per cent since 2022, according to the Bank of Canada.
The study follows the province’s passing of the Property Controls for Grocery Stores and Supermarkets Act last year, which aims to prevent restrictive covenants and exclusivity clauses that limit where grocery stores can operate.