Bread prices - Niagara region

[endi2000]

Is it me - or are bread prices outlandish in Niagara region? We've lived in BC for quite a few years - so I am trying to wrap my head around where the most logical place is for me to shop now that we are in the Niagara region. We had a couple of local small local grocery chains who baked their own bread. We could always get a loaf of whole wheat bread for $1.25 - $1.60. They often had sales of 5 loaves for $5.00 and day old baked bread (no preservatives etc) was half price

I have yet to find any freshly baked bread for less than over $2.00 and no day old in that mix.

Any input would be appreciated

Thank you

[Ciel]

In Ontario in larger communities with a Loblaws owned store or a Walmart Supercentre, it is possible to find half-off commercial bakery items but am not sure that you'd find it with freshly baked bread. The grocery industry is mighty competitive. I tend to check for sliced bread (Old Mill, a Weston bakery brand) on the 50% off racks in bakery first before getting a loaf in regular bakery if I must have cracked wheat bread.

So many grocery stores offer something they pass off as French stick bread. Ace Bakery bread is reasonally good bread but it's best to find a French baked goods shop.

Have you tried to see what stand alone independent bakeries sell at the end of the day? Or tried to find a farmer's market that has bakeries in attendance to see if there might be end of day deals?

[anisa]

I moved to ON from BC 15 years ago. It has been nothing but regrets lol.
I too was shocked at the poor quality and high prices of basic groceries.

I find the only reliable place for me is good old RCSS for brand name items and produce. Loblaws, Fortinos etc are usually not as fresh because they have less turnover of products because of their higher prices.
You won't find nice independent bakers. If you do they are generally overpriced.
I don't believe I have come across any grocers that actually bake their own bread.

[walkonby]

welcome to Ontario @endi2000 I have no idea what the prices are in B.C. but here I too get aggravated at the cost of bread ( and many other staples ).
As Ciel mentioned there are plenty of racks in No Frills, Loblaws and RCSS stores that offer discounts on what they consider old bread. ( loaves ranging in price from $.85 - $1.25 )
Perfectly fine and I buy these for the family and freeze them.

Sadly, I must pay full price for my gluten free bread products....now those prices would make your hair curl!

[Shwa Girl]

Dollar Tree $1.25 bread
Costco bread and sales occasionally

[moneytalks]

....in Quebec, there's a BREAD POLICE.

Stores advertising bread are prohibited from displaying the retail price. At most they can show the $ or Cents amout discounted off the regular price....with a government mandated price floor.

With that, the average bread price is about $4.00.

Walmart's Great Value brand white or whole wheat (factory bread) is priced about $2.50 - $2.60 each.

I'm surprised Quebec doesn't have a Bread Czar to dictate exactly how many of each variety of bread are permitted to be sold in Montreal each day.



SAME WITH DAIRY: Aside from the Trudeau Supply-Management DAIRY CARTEL imposing a hidden dairy tax on milk, eggs, butter and cheese.......Quebec Dairy Police visit retailers to ensure their brands are ONLY from Quebec producers.

Won't find Gay Lea from Ontario in a Quebec store.

[coupon girl]

I try to never spend more than 2.50 a loaf (shoppers has it 2 for 5.00 on sale sometimes ) mind you went to Costco got 2 loaves dillangio I think it was 4.00 something -I don't have a membership went with my daughter-in-law
-fresh bread from a bakery here in southern Ontario usually 2.99 to 3.49-i paid 3.49 last week at denningers
-sometimes wonder is on sale 1.99 -haven't seen bread cheaper than 1.99 in years thou

[Arjon]

-sometimes wonder is on sale 1.99 -haven't seen bread cheaper than 1.99 in years thou

Here in the western GTA, store-brand fluffy white and WW loaves are usually 1.69.

As a small step up in quality, some of the local groceries bake a few types like "French" and "Italian", but as far as I can tell, using dough that's pre-made at central locations, and that may well have been frozen. As a generalization, these loaves look much better than they taste.

Ace Bakery products and the few Cob's ones I've tasted aren't awful, but while I haven't looked around since I started baking hearth-style breads some years ago, I haven't seen and thus don't know anywhere I can get a truly good "artisan" loaf at any price, granted my standards for bread are higher than most people's.

[anisa]

Yup
If you are from BC you're bound to be disappointed by the selection of food and restaurants in ON.



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[endi2000]

Ya know....20 years ago, when we started RVing full time - and we went to California - where we got out first price shock for bread (at that time it was $3 per loaf), I went to using a bread maker (yep - in an RV at all sorts of elevations - that was a learning experience). Even when we were in BC for the first few years, I used the bread maker. But when we found the freshly baked bread, it just wasn't worth it. So..a year or so ago - I sold it. Can you see the writing on the wall? Thank you for all of your input .....especially the Quebec Bread Police (that is a hilarious post!). Sad but hilarious

[endi2000]

Many years ago, when I lived in the Niagara region - I didn't appreciate all of the farmers' stands along the parkway. Too bad so many others didn't either....way too many vineyards taking over the farms.
The restaurants ....well there are just too many chains with no attention to quality of food or freshness. But then, if the consumer continues to frequent the business and accepts the status - then nothing will change or improve

[endi2000]

Really interesting to know that Fortinos is not as fresh - I always thought they were better than the RCSS - but that goes back a few years when they weren't owned by a big consortium. In BC, RCSS is good for dry good - IF it is in stock - or IF it arrives on the truck - however, anything that would be classed as 'fresh' vegetables is definitely something that requires reading between the lines