Opinion: Why Canada’s independent grocers are winning
Independent grocers face a continuous cycle of challenges—and as one issue recedes, another emerges. Against a backdrop of low margins and budget-conscious consumers, some of these challenges include cost increases and supplier surcharges, higher energy costs, labour shortages, tariffs and steep credit card interchange fees.
Though these obstacles may seem Sisyphean and it’s easy to wonder whether the four horsemen of the apocalypse have zeroed in on the food industry, we must not forget that the battlefield is dotted with successes.
Through the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), independent grocers have raised awareness of their unique role and value in the industry. They are viewed as reliable entrepreneurs deeply woven into local communities across the country. Canada’s Main Street grocers continue to differentiate their offerings and level of service, collaborate with industry partners, work with governments and, when needed, advocate for change.
READ: How CFIG's Gary Sands Takes The Lead
Indeed, through CFIG, independents have been at the forefront of developments that offer enduring inter-generational prospects for our industry.
CFIG was the first association in Canada to call for a Grocery Code of Conduct. In 2026, that Code became a reality. It offers a chance for our industry to bring a renewed sense of fairness and transparency to market practices, particularly by putting a dispute resolution process in place. But an independent grocer can gain access to this only by becoming a member of the Code. To invoke the Code’s protections, you must be a signatory when the issue occurs.
CFIG’s advocacy on supply access, distribution costs (especially in rural areas and the North), growing domestic infrastructure, and partnerships with local producers and processors has paid off. Some of these priorities are reflected in the government’s $3.2-billion National Food Security Strategy, announced in June 2026. While the industry needs to help develop and implement this strategy, the key takeaway is this: Ottawa allocated more than $1 billion to help independent grocers. This bodes well for what lies ahead—governments are finally appreciating how critical it is to reconcile the promise of independent grocers with the policies of the government. The government has provided a framework and the funding to move forward, so now it’s up to the industry to bring those objectives to life by working together with a shared purpose.
READ: How Canada’s food strategy could reshape competition in the grocery sector
CFIG successfully partnered with the Canadian Dairy Commission to create greater transparency around supply management and is pushing for the same accountability from other supply-managed sectors. Spelling out what drives price hikes at the grocery store reduces finger-pointing, and CFIG will work with members to give the public a better understanding of how supply-managed prices, from gate to plate, are determined.
Progress has been made in CFIG’s marathon battle to reduce credit card interchange fees. Their upward spiral was halted, and rates were brought down to an overall level of 1.2% for independent grocers; a Payments Code of Conduct was enacted; and the Competition Bureau mandated that Interac continue as a flat-fee payment model. Together, these measures have saved grocers millions of dollars over the years. Lower rates provide more room for independents to re-invest in their businesses, help alleviate rising costs and address the concerns of consumers around affordability.
The point of recapping these successes is not to offer a paean to CFIG. We are simply the voice and the instrument of independent grocers. The opportunities seized and changes made are to the credit of CFIG members. This is their shared legacy and their path forward. I have every reason to be an optimist, because I know independent grocers will continue to see and build on every opportunity available to them.
This article was first published in Canadian Grocer’s September/October 2026 issue.
