How are rising food costs impacting your business?

Canadian Grocer spoke with leadership from Goodness Me! Natural Food Market, Pattison Food Group, Nature’s Emporium, Vince’s Market, Summerhill Market and Mike Dean Local Grocer to learn how rising food costs are impacting their businesses and what steps they are taking to mitigate the costs and pressures to support their customers. 

Danny Brannagan 

CEO, Goodness Me! Natural Food Market 

“Rising food costs have presented challenges, but they’ve reinforced our commitment to providing healthy, high-quality products. We’ve seen customers become more intentional, prioritizing nutrition and sustainability. By deepening our support for local producers and Canadian brands, we offer products that nourish families and strengthen communities. Our focus remains on ensuring every dollar spent delivers lasting value—through nutritious food and education that empowers informed choices and supports long-term health for families.”

Jamie Nelson

President, Pattison Food Group 

“Rising food costs impact nearly every part of our business—especially here in Western Canada, at the end of a long supply chain. With 110 years of innovation behind us, we’re finding creative ways to help mitigate these costs and reduce the impact on our customers. While we can’t entirely avoid passing some of these increases on, our commitment to doing what’s best for our customers and offering value remains as strong as ever.” 

Joe D’Addario 

Chairman, Nature’s Emporium 

“Rising food costs are putting pressure on our business. Higher prices from suppliers make it harder to keep our margins while still offering the quality our customers expect. We’re also seeing some shoppers become more careful with their spending. To adjust, we’re working on better sourcing, controlling costs and adding more value options so we can stay affordable without lowering our standards. It’s about finding the right balance between keep prices fair and running the business sustainably.” 

Giancarlo Trimarchi 

President, Vince’s Market 

“We look at rising food costs as two challenges. First, how do we serve our customers the quality fresh food they expect at reasonable and competitive prices? Second, how are we prepared to react to rising food prices in a way that protects profitability? Protecting the customers starts with respectful vendor negotiations to get the pricing we need to be competitive. Protecting the business means being diligent in how we pass rising costs to customers. It’s no easy feat; both are essential for us to succeed in challenging times.”

Brad McMullen 

President, Summerhill Market 

“In response to the climate and uncertainties in the market, both suppliers and our business have opted to accept lower margins to pass on cost savings to customers. This strategy aims to maintain business continuity and customer loyalty during a period of economic softness. Overall, fostering these relationships with suppliers and customers can help navigate the challenges posed by fluctuating costs and market conditions.” 

Gordon Dean

President, Mike Dean Local Grocer 

“Our grocery stores are in rural regions, so being frugal has been a way of life for generations. Rising food costs have caused us to significantly extend our one-off opportunity buys and discount deals. This actually first came about during COVID supply shortages as we pivoted our buying to keep our stores full then discount buys again increased momentum due to inflationary pressures, and now with tariff increases and uncertainty our customers continue to fill up their buggies with our ever-changing treasure hunt of discount deals on display.”

This article was first published in Canadian Grocer’s September/ October 2025 issue.