McDonald’s Canada freezes value pricing for a year, forcing rivals to respond and sending ripple effects through restaurants, processors, and Canadian farms.
Charlebois said his team’s analysis suggests Canada experienced a net loss of roughly 7,000 restaurant establishments in 2025 and is on track to lose about another 4,000 in 2026, as closures continue to outpace openings
Dynamic pricing powered by AI is moving into grocery aisles, putting fairness, trust, and food affordability in Canada at risk, says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.
Canada’s food inflation is rising faster than overall inflation, driven by structural costs, policy constraints, and supply chain pressures rather than grocery profits.
Canada’s 2026 Food Price Report shows costs rising again as long-standing structural weaknesses continue to drive sustained food inflation across the country.
Food prices are 27% higher than they were five years ago. Annual food price increases are currently within the range predicted in the 2025 report (4%), however meat increased at a faster rate than predicted (5% to 7%).
Self-checkouts are frustrating Canadians, driving up shrink and eroding trust, prompting retailers to rethink the model as the experiment falters, says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.
Canadians face rising food stress as the Fall 2025 Food Index reveals worsening affordability, shifting habits, and declining trust in the national food system.
Seasonal food inflation in Canada stems from supplier–grocer contract cycles, not just global forces. The Grocery Code could bring stability says Sylvain Charlebois.
Health Canada plans to deregulate cloned meat, allowing it into Canada’s food supply without labels — a move that could unsettle retailers and consumers alike.