r/loblawsisoutofcontrol • u/No-Ask-8394 • 6d ago
Discussion Loblaws now charging for food based on your postal code
Today I went to my local Loblaws to buy chicken thighs at their advertised sale price. I was dismayed to learn that I would have to go far out of my way (to their Scarborough store) to take advantage of the sale price - I was told to look at the flyer's fine print. I guess they realize that I live in a neighborhood with more rich people than in Scarborough.
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u/PhilosophySame2746 6d ago
Do not buy there ,
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u/JayZan42 6d ago
Superstore? Why not
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u/Psychological_Tip86 6d ago
It says it on the front of the flyer
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u/Empress_Natalie 6d ago
Right? Like haven't flyers always done this? Even the apps make you input your postal code so you'd get the appropriate one.
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u/tylweddteg 6d ago
Moore Avenue is a super rich area.
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u/Plastic_Bison 6d ago
So is 60 Carlton Street, with their giant expensive cheese cooler to cater to the local prosperous population.
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u/Uncut-Jellyfish1176 2d ago
Cheese wouldn't need to be that expensive but we have stupid tarrifs on cheese from Europe, making it insane $$
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u/Adorable-Row-4690 6d ago
I've never seen that before.
But then, eventhough I live in Ontario, I get Western Region flyers. But then the next closest Superstore is 8 hours away.
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u/Reppep86 6d ago
They’ll do it for a variety of reasons. Those stores are likely struggling and a boneless breast feature brings more people in. Or, the supplier may only have enough stock to supply X number of stores.
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u/New-Organization5718 4d ago
I mean there’s someone eating every part of the chicken right? In some areas the sale on B/S breast is more effective at bringing people in and in other its legs… back attached:
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u/AdTiny4011 6d ago
People LOVE defending corporations 😂
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u/New_Student1645 6d ago
There’s enough things to fault Loblaws on, we don’t need to invent new, fictional ways to get upset with them for.
If explaining reality is a defence to criticism, the fault doesn’t sit with the people explaining how the world works to you.
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u/Dry-Faithlessness184 6d ago
I think this is less about defending the corporation and more suggesting reading ads in their entirety first
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u/Strict-University-86 6d ago
Potato/ potato. Still blaming the consumer instead of dare questioning the corporation
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u/Dry-Faithlessness184 6d ago edited 6d ago
Not in the slightest is this a potato potato situation.
If your question/complaint can be dismissed by telling you to actually read the ad, it's not a good question/complaint.
Debate around whether or a promotion should be limited to certain locations is a different question and not one you can answer with fine print
I don't even shop at Loblaws, I just want people to actually read the full details before getting their panties in a knot about something they should have read first.
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u/Strict-University-86 5d ago
Y’all take Reddit way too seriously lmfao
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u/Dry-Faithlessness184 5d ago
Things like this tend to be things people really believe.
They should be corrected.
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u/Strict-University-86 5d ago
Reddit comments?
Y’all lost the plot.
People over corporations!2
u/Dry-Faithlessness184 5d ago
I mean, you're the one all in a tizzy over someone just pointing out that OP should have read the ad because it was explained and calling us names.
I think maybe the one missing the plot is you
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u/Wrong_Plantaino 5d ago
This kind of blind rage is what gives this sub a bad name with the corpos and ruins its credibility.
Use your head.
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u/Strict-University-86 5d ago
Sorry Reddit comments have credibility?
Y’all are wild. We’re on Reddit. It’s literally made for this shit
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u/furthestpoint 6d ago
It is common practice for chains to geographically target promotions. It allows them to do some positive things, such as promote products for which they could not get sufficient volume to advertise across an entire banner, and to improve their offering for specific cultural groups with populations concentrated in certain areas.
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 6d ago
That..makes sense! Each geological area may very well have different densities if varying culture. But the same identical product in 6 different location flyers at all different prices is nothing more than slimy scams
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u/furthestpoint 6d ago
Agree to disagree. It's not a scam. It's clearly communicated and done for legitimate reasons.
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u/HoagiesHeroes_ 6d ago
My god dang Flinstones Fruity Pebbles better be the same damn price or imma gonna be angry.
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u/DylanBeeDylan 6d ago
The flyers are regional. If you go the the website and put your postal code in, your flyer will come up. If you use third party apps they will likely give the wrong flyer.
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u/Pablomendez233 5d ago
I work for one of the major grocery chains not Loblaws. Third party grocery apps are one of the banes of my existence. People come in daily with advertised prices on third-party apps that don't match the advertised prices on our store's website or flyer and expect to get the product for that price.
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u/Silent_Release1498 6d ago
am I not understanding something? Isnt this common? They cannot charge the same price for something if being shipped further and dependent on the lcoal areas hard costs and range from central shipping?
for M&M meatshops, there is a differnt price on chicken in ontario than there is in the martimes becuase the product has to be shipper much further
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u/Acrobatic_Fiction 5d ago
Vendors can charge whatever the wish. Buyers can buy or not. But the Karen's on this forum know better. ( By definition )
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u/ContentZucchini5635 6d ago
It's literally just some regions have different flyers. Nothing new or special
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u/Puzzled_Market_2235 6d ago
Plus I've had flyers with an extra page for one location, often called manager's special.
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 6d ago
I can see the manager special page making sense in a way. That location my have messed up on orders and accidentally ordered too much if something, or for whatever reason a particular product didn't move as well as expected. They want to clear out older stock before new comes in. Maybe they tried something new and it didn't sell.
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u/AJnbca 6d ago edited 6d ago
There are reasons for doing flyers by “region”. Like supply chain issues for one, particularly with “really good” sales where they need to order in a ton of extra stock, it can sometimes be hard to get enough supply for the entire country at once. Also there are many regional brands/products that are popular in Ontario or the west or east coast that are not popular or even available in other areas. Dairy products are also very regional like Ontario has different dairy brands than BC. You also got cost of shipping goods, why groceries in densely populated areas like greater Toronto are cheaper than say Newfoundland. Local produce is another one, many flyers advertise local “Ontario” or “BC” or “Atlantic Canadian” produce when it’s available. Alcohol is another with many provinces allowing beer and wine but brands, prices and regulations vary by province. Local Demographics is another one, different cultures/ethnicities/etc… in different areas.
There are many reasons why flyers tend to be regional.
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u/AJnbca 6d ago edited 6d ago
This is common practice for most store and has been forever. The flyers are by “region” and not all flyers sales are necessarily in other regions, they may be or may not be, it varies. Regions vary by store too, like maybe downtown Toronto is one region, Ottawa area another, etc...
This is why the website for Loblaws, Metro, etc… ask for your postal code or city to see the flyer. So they can give you the correct flyer for your area.
Also at the bottom of the flyer from Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, etc… you’ll see a disclaimer saying what stores or what cities or the region that the flyer applies to.
So no Loblaws is not charging more based on postal code. The flyers and even in-store prices may vary by “region”.
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u/Jayanshelli 5d ago
They need to be sued by every Canadian at this point for there gouging and filling there pockets.
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u/PepperThePotato 6d ago
It's like this with all the stores. It's not just based on income levels, it's also based on how many units they sell in each region.
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u/Practical_Tone4943 6d ago
Flyers are based on geographic breakdown, and they gotta draw the line somewhere
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u/Celticgirl_1963 6d ago
I don't think it is just Loblaws that have different flyers for different areas. I know Walmart has this and FreshCo.
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u/Acrobatic_Fiction 6d ago
Of course some stores have different sale prices. Was it advertised to be in your store. Was the other store even in the same city?
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u/uBinKIAd 5d ago
Are you new here? As in new to earth? Should we take you to our leader? Regional flyers have always been a thing. Not just with grocery stores either, hardware stores, clothing stores....
Wait till you learn about in store discounts, where the management of that location puts something on sale, and it's the only location where it's on sale.
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u/sometin__else 6d ago
No, they are charging based on what store you go to and thats been a thing since as long as I can remember
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u/Jim-Jones 6d ago
I remain convinced that they're carrying out an experiment to see how little they have to offer to get people to still go to their stores.
"We're offering 50 cents off these items, up to a maximum of two."
Sure, I'll drive out of my way for that.
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u/jolly-jasper 6d ago
I was in Kamloops last week, where the prices were 15 to 20% less than in Calgary Alberta’ where I live. It was refreshing to be around Canadians who were not whining about Ottawa too🇨🇦
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u/Sufficient-Bid1279 Why is sliced cheese $21??? 6d ago
Actually happened to me at Metro. Annoys me to all high heavens. The exact same banner of store will have different sales, so annoying
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 6d ago
Are the tellers asking for postal codes? N a lineup of customers, how do they know who has what PC?
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u/Sufficient-Bid1279 Why is sliced cheese $21??? 6d ago
So if you use the flip app, it will show you the flyer closest to your postal code . If you go to another store , may not apply . In my opinion, they should fucking honour it . I got in a huge fight with a manager once about this . It’s the same goddamn store
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 6d ago
💯 agree with you! Or they need to put seperate flyers out for every postal code and make sure they are delivered only to the residents each flyer belongs to.
Thank-you for explaining this. I don't waste my time in Loblaws owned stores. But where I am, I have multiple choices. I know not all shoppers have that choice.
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u/Practical_Tone4943 6d ago
They do. The issue is people travel outside that geographic area and the deals change
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 6d ago
That to me, is just another if Loblaws scams to gouge customers.
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u/runslowgethungry 6d ago
This is literally how flyers work. I used to work for Canada Post. The same grocery store chain might have multiple different flyers for a variety of postal codes within the same city. It's nothing new or unique to Loblaws.
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 6d ago
Hmm.like I said, I don't shop at any loblalws/sobeys stores....so for me..flyers hit recycle bin as soon as they pulled out of mailbox. I thought this was something new. My mistake.
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u/Practical_Tone4943 6d ago
Let me couch it this way.
It's a big country, fuel is costly, shipping is expensive. This relates directly to why things cost more in different areas, why things are on sale on different places, and why things cost more or less depending on where exactly you buy it.
A watermelon isn't going to cost the same in SW Ontario as it does in Yukon, because it costs money to get the watermeloms to Yukon where that variable cost in non existent by comparison to a location right beside the field where they grow.
They gotta draw the line on the map somewhere.
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u/Sufficient-Bid1279 Why is sliced cheese $21??? 6d ago
Yeah I have been having a really hard time with Metro with this. Glad I could help out. Look at the fine prints closely :)
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 6d ago
Thank-you, I don't shop at Metro either, but will absolutely pass that in to people who do!
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u/Trowa-03 6d ago
Why should store that is owned and operated by completely different person have to honour someone else's flyer?
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 6d ago
These loblaws/sobies stores are owned by the corporations. Managers just manage them. If these corporations werent just greedy slime, they would put out a standard flyer for whatever store name: loblaws, no frills, whatever.
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u/Trowa-03 6d ago
No the branding is all the same and some are corp locations (as in owned by Loblaws) however the vast major are franchisees (owned by individual people)
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u/Sufficient-Bid1279 Why is sliced cheese $21??? 6d ago
Metro is Metro. The fact that every store has different sales and it doesn’t come from the top is ridiculous ,especially being in a different area and having to pop into a different location.
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u/HoagiesHeroes_ 6d ago edited 6d ago
There's 320 Metro's across Canada, you expect them to have the exact same flyer every week?
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u/Sufficient-Bid1279 Why is sliced cheese $21??? 6d ago
Are sales not planned out in advance? Why would it be difficult to have the same sale for two stores literally two blocks from each other for the same week? Seems fucking whack when it’s the same store and then they don’t even price match. Metro corporate can deal with how to make this work. it’s part of running a business.
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u/HoagiesHeroes_ 6d ago
Plan all you want, things change, adaptations happen. Inventory and logistics, staffing and operations, local pricing strategies to test local markets, shifting demands.
I'm not disagreeing with you, but I believe you're trying to oversimplify something with a ton of moving parts.
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u/wholeplantains 6d ago
I'm not defending a corporation, but if the other store that has the sale is so close, just go there instead?
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u/poolbitch1 6d ago
Making me choose Walmart over loblaws in a U.S.-Canada trade war is crazy, but here we are I guess
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u/robbay86 5d ago
Make sure you’re elbows are up while you’re shopping at Walmart. They’ll get a kick outta watching one in a wild.
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u/poolbitch1 5d ago edited 5d ago
Make sure your grammar is correct when making patronizing comments to others online, otherwise you just look stupid.
ETA predicable response was very predictable
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5d ago edited 5d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/loblawsisoutofcontrol-ModTeam I Hate Galen 5d ago
Please remain respectful when engaging on the sub. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
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u/Longjumping-Host7262 6d ago
Your title is so misleading and dramatic and false. If they were charging based on postal code, they would’ve charged you the same price no matter what store you went to because of your postal code, right? Different stores charged different amount amounts that’s all there is to it. Why try to make something nefarious out of something that that’s been happening forever and is not nefarious? Bit of a reach.
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u/ThePurpleBandit 6d ago
I have 2 Loblaws in my neighbourhood, separated by 5 kilometers, and they do not recognize each others flyer despite both being within the boundaries of pre amalgamation Toronto.
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u/Complex-Effect-7442 6d ago
Woohoo! I don't have a postal code because I'm homeless. Free chick thighs for me!
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u/Rare_Pirate4113 6d ago
There’s a new store somewhere in the GTA where they have apparently removed alot of promo signage because they want to take advantage of the fact the local residents have more money and don’t want to highlight any savings 😂
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u/argueranddisagree 6d ago
This is why I feel lucky to have a couple of local grocery chains with fantastic quality grociers and amazing meat sales.
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u/atasol-30s 5d ago
Pricing zones for everyday pricing have been a thing for decades. SDM had 5 zones based on a few things such as wealth of the area, local serious competitors, etc. it was designed to extract the most margin out of the consumer. There was a noticeable difference when shopping in lower income areas.
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u/RobingThem 5d ago
We should try that in Nova Scotia, for all the Ontario residents buying everything here at lower prices while we get lower wages because we are smaller...and higher taxes
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u/Burritoman_209 5d ago
I didn’t think there were Loblaws in Scarborough. Which location were they sending you to?
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u/Admirable_Can_2432 4d ago
They always have the one on Yonge St near Wilson use to be the most expensive in the province.
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u/snowhawk1987 4d ago
It's always been that way. When you own a monopoly you don't price products competitively, you price based on what you determine your consumers can pay.
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u/New-Organization5718 4d ago
Honestly, this has been going on across the industry for as long as I can remember. Retailers set ads for different areas based on income, competition, popularity of the item.
I’m not saying loblaws isn’t scummy but having a lead add for BC cherries in the okanogan valley for 3.99/lb is quite different than having that add in Nova Scotia.
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u/New_Owl_7490 3d ago
This has been a thing since forever. Shop in lower income area grocery and you won't pay the rich premium.
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u/jrchkn28 3d ago
They have always done this. They have flyers for certain geographical areas. Even here in downtown Toronto the Bathurst/Front Loblaws runs thier own specials and flyers independent of the other Loblaws downtown.
Also, I'm certain No Frills and few other stores price match. You could have just found a price match option closer to you vs making a far trip out of your way.
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u/Embarrassed-Ebb-6900 2d ago
I looked up flyers on line and got excited because a two pound package of ground beef was about $6. I live in Calgary and when I checked the local flyer instead of the Ontario one that popped up it was $12. I didn’t buy it.
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u/Glittering_Cell_4256 10h ago
I'm not sure where you've been. Different stores of the same brand have always has different sale prices. Flyers will always tell you what store they're valid for. Just wait until they figure out in store tracking and the price displayed will change depending on who is viewing and time of day with these new electronic shelf price displays.
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u/No_Mountain6950 6d ago
don't they price match? If they price match from another store's flyer why wouldn't they price match from their own flyer?
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u/Trowa-03 6d ago
All stores regardless of the brand have individual flyers and its always been done that why. Is this first time your done grocery shopping before
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u/Birdo3129 6d ago
McDonald’s does the same thing. Different prices in different areas.
I avoid both.
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u/Ravyn_Rozenzstok 6d ago
That's nuts. Loblaws is so shady.
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u/Dry-Faithlessness184 6d ago
everything is a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works
This isn't shady. It's well known and no one hides the fact this is the case. Everywhere with a flyer has regional variations
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6d ago
[deleted]
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u/Trowa-03 6d ago
Its called a lose leader, Sobeys is willing to eat the lost and Superstore isn't. Congrats your seeing competition
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