Loblaw Companies Ltd. has opted to backtrack on its decision to discontinue offering a 50% discount on food items nearing their best-before dates, following feedback from customers and colleagues. The company, which operates various stores including Atlantic Superstore, No Frills, Dominion, and Freshmart, announced its reversal in an email statement to CBC News.
The company clarified that it had not implemented the change in the Atlantic region and would maintain the existing discount policy there. In the rest of the country, customers can anticipate the return of 50% discount stickers on products in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week, Loblaw’s decision to cease providing a 50% discount on perishable foods such as meat, fruit, and vegetables as they approached their best-before dates had received widespread criticism, particularly from individuals who relied on these discounts for affordable meals, especially amid rising grocery prices.
Bill VanGorder, the national advocacy chair for the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), expressed his approval of Loblaw’s decision, highlighting the positive impact it would have on people with limited incomes. He commended Loblaw for listening to customer feedback and taking the necessary steps to address the issue. VanGorder hoped that other food retailers would follow suit and prioritize the needs of older Canadians to improve their quality of life.