Ontario’s Best Grocery Stores Ranked: Is Your Favorite Store on the List?

Grocery retailers in Ontario have consistently ranked among the best in Canada, evaluated on various criteria such as the freshness of produce, pricing, and value-for-money ‘bundled’ deals. Some stores also stood out for the strong relationships they have built with their communities.

A local media outlet recently conducted an online survey to determine the best grocery stores in Ontario, assessing them on factors such as quality, price, and service. The results revealed some surprising contenders.

Here’s a quick overview of the survey results:

1.       Tied for First Place: Walmart and No Frills were rated as the “best” grocery stores in Ontario.
2.       Second Place: Farm Boy secured the second spot. Despite being limited to Ontario, it surpassed national chains like Costco and Loblaws, with many shoppers praising it as the best grocery store in the province for quality produce and “allergy-friendly food.”
3.       Tied for Third Place: Costco and FreshCo. One shopper noted, “If you shop in bulk, then I’d say Costco.” Another mentioned that FreshCo offers “better prices than Longo’s and Metro, and a better selection than No Frills or Food Basics.” A former No Frills shopper commented, “I find that prices are better at FreshCo now.”
4.       Tied for Fourth Place: Food Basics and Fortinos.
5.       Tied for Fifth Place: Loblaws and Longo’s.

In defense of Food Basics, a shopper mentioned that it has improved, stating, “It is a lot better than it used to be.”

At the bottom of the list were some well-known stores, including Your Independent Grocer, Highland Farms, Real Canadian Superstore, Giant Tiger, Ample, and Rabba.

Another survey based on this data provided additional insights from shoppers:

– Shoppers looking for Halal meat expressed frustration at the limited options in major stores, which often required them to shop at multiple locations.

– “Walmart is hands-down the cheapest for the majority of items. I tested it with a $100 cart and found the same items cost me $120+ at other stores.”

– “Farm Boy is the dark horse of grocery stores. It’s quietly serving its customers without much advertising because it is confident in its quality and prices.”

– “Highland Farms has great produce and is a cheaper option compared to Metro.”

– “Chalo FreshCo, the South Asian version, offers some good selections for Indian shoppers. I wish they could do the same for other ethnic communities.”

– “Loblaws provides a lovely shopping experience with varied choices, but their prices are not always the best.”

Did you find yours in the list?

*****