Loblaw boycott: Will Canada’s biggest grocer feel the pinch?

Will a boycott of Loblaw's stores make a dent on the retailer's bottom line? Here's what experts say about the reputational challenges facing Canada's biggest grocer.

An online campaign urging shoppers to boycott Loblaw stores is unlikely to leave a lasting scar on the company’s bottom line, some experts say, but the phenomenon could hint at a deeper crisis of consumer confidence for Canada’s largest grocer.

Wednesday marked the beginning of a month-long boycott planned against Loblaw’s properties, from grocery stores to Shoppers Drug Mart to the company’s various services.

The campaign was organized on r/Loblawsisoutofcontrol, a Reddit group with more than 63,000 members venting their frustrations with the rising cost of living and groceries widely, but Loblaw specifically.

While food inflation has cooled lately from decades-high levels seen nearly two years ago, Canadians are continuing to report rising costs on their grocery bills in recent months, according to recent polling from Ipsos conducted exclusively for Global News.

Throughout the current inflationary period, many consumers and politicians have pinned the blame for rising prices on Canada’s highly concentrated grocery sector.

Loblaw itself acknowledged in social media posts last year that it had become the “face of food inflation” in Canada, but has argued, along with other grocers, that increased costs from its suppliers are at the heart of the grocery price hikes.

Users on the subreddit advocating the boycott are not convinced, often collectively denouncing promotional tactics or public statements from Loblaw.

Jennifer Singh, CEO of public relations firm She’s Newsworthy Media, tells Global News that she’s not surprised that social media frustrations have reached the boycott boiling point.