Costco voted most respected grocery store in Canada, while Loblaw falls in survey ranking

financialpost.com:

Shoppers have named Costco Wholesale Corp. the most respected grocery retailer in Canada, according to a new survey.

Costco, which requires a membership, topped the list of 14 grocers in a survey of almost 3,000 Canadians conducted by Maru Public Opinion survey for Canada’s Most Respected Award Program.

After Costco, the most respected grocer was Canadian chain Metro Inc. in second place and Walmart Inc. in third.

Grocers have faced criticism in the past year from consumers frustrated by high inflation, especially in food prices.

And the ranking has changed since the survey was last conducted in 2021, said Jeff Munn, executive director of the CMR award program.

“Since last evaluated in September 2021, much has occurred to affect grocery and food retailer organizations including COVID-19, supply chain challenges, and inflation spurred price increases,” he said.

“The significant changes in this year’s rankings compared to 2021 demonstrate that corporate respect is an attribute consumers harbour, particularly when they have a choice as to where to pledge their pocketbooks in tough economic times.”

Walmart rose 11 spots to third place, perhaps reflecting Canadians’ growing appetite for bargains. Metro’s discount Food Basics chain also rose from ninth to fourth place.

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and the brands it owns, on the other hand, “appear to have taken a significant reputational hit,” the study said.

Your Independent Grocers fell eight places from second to 10 and Loblaw flagship stores dropped five places to second last among the 14 grocers. Loblaw brand Real Canadian Super Stores fell three spots from fourth to seventh.

Empire Co. Ltd.’s Sobeys stores dropped four spots from fifth to ninth place.

Here is the full ranking.