‘They’re hard to get back once gone’ grocery chain with 2,500 stores warned as it faces nationwide boycott from May 1 | 1MND9K5 | 2024-04-30 17:08:01
'They're hard to get back once gone' grocery chain with 2,500 stores warned as it faces nationwide boycott from May 1 | 1MND9K5 | 2024-04-30 17:08:01
A SUPERMARKET chain with 2,500 stores has been warned to back down over high prices amid a huge boycott threat.
Loblaws has also been slammed for being too greedy as shoppers are hard to get back once they're gone.
The chain's fed-up customers have been urging shoppers across Canada to boycott stores for at least the entire month of May.
They've demanded Loblaws' bosses chop the cost of food by 15% – and abandon its controversial member-only pricing.
The furor kicked off on Reddit and quickly gathered comments from angry shoppers.
It was started by a previously loyal customer, Emily, who posted a Reddit thread titled "Loblaws is out of control but why is everyone still shopping at Loblaws?"
As a result of mounting anger, thousands of shoppers could now spend their hard-earned cash elsewhere in May – the month of the organized boycott.
DEEPLY UNHAPPY
Canadians are angry about those leading the country's major grocers, which are drawing political and public scrutiny for hiking food prices – and benefiting from soaring profits, CTV News reported.
But there are fears that Loblaw is too big to care.
"It's unlikely that Loblaws is going to change… its fundamental business model as a consequence of a boycott," warned Monica LaBarge, an assistant professor at Queen's University, studying food access and consumer well-being.
LaBarge said the chain's bosses appear to be ignoring "how deeply unhappy their customers are."
And that puts Loblaws at risk, she added.
This is because the boycott could set off a change in shoppers' habits – where they switch to other stores as a form of continued protest.
"It's that consistent loss of consumers over time, because they're very hard to get back once they're gone," LaBarge explained.
Shoppers told CTV News they're already switching to alternative stores to save money amid the cost-of-living crisis.
"I've already switched (to) getting my vegetables and fruit from my local family store," admitted Willi Fleerakkers, who described himself as a once-loyal Loblaw customer.
And others have already started a full boycott, including Ann de Sequeira, of Toronto.
She told CTV that she has even stopped her PC Financial Mastercard and is now buying her prescriptions from Shoppers Drug Mart.
But Per Bank, the president and CEO of Loblaws, denied that the chain was oblivious to complaints.
Bank said the chain's stats show that shoppers are honing in on its discounted items.
"We don't have a contract with our customers.
"They can choose to shop elsewhere tomorrow, if they don't like the offer that we're giving," he added.
However, he stressed that he was trying to fix the chain's problem with unhappy customers.
Loblaws has been contacted for further comment.
BIG RED FLAG
Tempa Hull, a Halifax resident, urged the government to step up.
Hull said that Loblaws would simply snub any boycott as it "simply owns too many things that we need in order to live and function in society.
"And that right there, if anything, should be the big red flag to government that they need to get serious about fixing the problem."
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> On the subreddit, Loblaws staffers are also piling in to accuse the chain of ripping off people.
"As an employee who's supporting the boycott and wants to see this company's downfall, thank you to everyone in this subreddit who's always sticking up for the employees.
"You guys make us feel like we don't have to give up our jobs and our income in order to support this boycott!
"And I know I speak for all of us employees when I say thank you for bringing up that the employees aren't at fault. You guys are the best," wrote one staffer.
MONEY TALKS
"I plan on supporting my farmers markets all summer! Support local, make human connections, save money, win, win," posted another boycott supporter.
"Money talks, so let your wallets, purses, and repayment options talk up a storm.
"Sooner or later, something will have to change and I'm all for change," said one on the subreddit, while others accused Loblaws of corporate greed.
More >> https://ift.tt/3lK2IZV Source: MAG NEWS
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