Loblaw discount change spurs backlash: ‘How can they do that?’
Loblaw confirmed that it’s no longer offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on items nearing expiry.It’s a move that the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) is surprised and disappointed by.“It is a major increase for some people. It really hurts them.
And we were very surprised and disappointed that a company would do something like this,” CARP chief education and advocacy officer Bill VanGorder told Global News.He said it’s unusual for CARP members to reach out to the organization on issues unprompted, but the organization began receiving calls about seniors across Canada noticing the change last Wednesday.“This very small amount of business selling food that they would have to throw out anyway. How does that really impact their bottom line? We understand they’re making pretty good profits already anyway,” VanGorder said.“Why are they picking on this small group of people who really need this kind of help to buy food that other people don’t want because it’s stale? It doesn’t make sense.
Ethically, how can they do that?”Loblaw spokeswoman Catherine Thomas says the grocer is instead offering 30 per cent off on last-day sale items across the board in order to be more predictable and consistent.Thomas says in a statement that Loblaw has always offered between 30 and 50 per cent on last-day sale items.This change is also causing concern for students at the University of Ottawa. The closest grocery store to campus is a Loblaw location, about a 15 to-20-minute walk away, according to student union president Delphine Robitalle.“So Loblaws has already taken away the 10 per cent discount for students on Tuesdays, instead replacing it with a points incentive,” she said.“Our food bank has seen a 250 per cent increase
. Read more on globalnews.ca
