By opting to shop at other establishments and canceling their credit cards and memberships with Loblaw-owned businesses, those who are boycotting do so.
A statewide boycott of Loblaw-owned stores for the month of May has been initiated by a subreddit called r/loblawsisoutofcontrol, which was first established as a forum for individuals to complain about excessive grocery expenses.
According to their page, the online organization wants to draw attention to the “ridiculous cost of living in Canada right now.” They specifically criticize Galen Weston, the chairman of the firm, for hiking prices and making profit while “Canadians struggle to make ends meet.”
The boycott’s target audience is unknown, however over 60,000 people have liked the Reddit page where it first started.
According to Stuart Smyth, a professor and University of Saskatchewan chair in agri-food innovation and sustainability enhancement, the effect of the boycott is contingent upon the amount of money that participants in it usually spend on groceries each month.
There will be a discernible difference if these customers are buying groceries for families and spending $200 or more each trip, but “the impact will be quite negligible” if they are convenience shoppers stopping by for a few items.
By opting to shop at other establishments and canceling their credit cards and memberships with Loblaw-owned businesses, those who are boycotting do so. Local butchers and the Calgary Farmers’ Market are recommended as sources of meat and produce by Calgary residents who post on the subreddit.
According to Smyth, other businesses that have their stores near Loblaw outlets will be monitoring traffic in such locations. “The temptation to raise prices may result based on their profit margins.”
