A spokesperson for the country’s independent grocers calls the factors leading to rising grocery prices to “the four horsemen of the apocalypse.”

The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers says rising prices go far beyond what many shoppers believe is nothing more than corporate greed.

Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy with the federation, Gary Sands, says suppliers are increasing their prices, which means grocers are paying more to stock their shelves.

“We are getting a myriad of price increases from the suppliers, and when you’re an independent grocer on a margin of 2 per cent, you’ve got to pass that on or you’re not going to be an independent grocer next month.”

But he can’t blame the suppliers alone for rising prices.

“There are so many things that are impacting prices—the wildfires, climate change, prices gone through the roof for some imported commodities, the war in Ukraine, rising transportation costs, and fuel costs…I could go on and on.”