https://dealdish.ca/blog Smarter Canadian grocery shopping. Articles on shrinkflation, tariffs, flyer-reading, meal planning, and saving money on groceries. en-ca Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://dealdish.ca/blog/canada-groceries-essentials-benefit https://dealdish.ca/blog/canada-groceries-essentials-benefit Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT The GST/HST credit becomes the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit starting July 2026, with quarterly payments up 25% for five years. Eligible Canadians also get a one-time top-up starting June 5, 2026. A plain-English guide to the dates, amounts, and what you need to do. Industry News noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/flyer-meal-plans-ontario https://dealdish.ca/blog/flyer-meal-plans-ontario Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT An Ontario-based creator builds weekly recipe meal plans straight from the region's grocery flyers — and posts them free on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Here's why Flyer Meal Plans belongs in every Canadian shopper's feed. Meal Planning noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/inflation-canada-grocery-2026 https://dealdish.ca/blog/inflation-canada-grocery-2026 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Statistics Canada's March 2026 CPI put food purchased from stores up 4.4% year-over-year — and the Food Price Report 2026 forecasts 4–6% growth with a family of four spending $17,571.79 on food this year. Here's what's actually driving the climb, which categories are worst, and the habits that cushion the hit. Industry News noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/strait-of-hormuz-grocery-prices https://dealdish.ca/blog/strait-of-hormuz-grocery-prices Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply from late February 2026, and Canadian gasoline jumped 21.2% month-over-month in March. Here's how oil shocks flow through diesel, freight, and packaging into Canadian grocery prices — and how to shop around it. Industry News noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/shrinkflation-canada-2026 https://dealdish.ca/blog/shrinkflation-canada-2026 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT The chip bag looks the same. The cereal box hasn't changed. But you're paying more for less. Here's how to identify shrinkflation at Canadian grocery stores — and use unit pricing to outsmart it. Industry News noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/us-canada-tariffs-2026 https://dealdish.ca/blog/us-canada-tariffs-2026 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Canada removed many counter-tariffs on U.S. goods — including food and beverages — effective September 1, 2025; steel, aluminum, and autos remain. A plain-English guide to what's still taxed, where grocery effects actually come from now, and how to shop through the noise. Industry News noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/tariffs-grocery-prices-canada https://dealdish.ca/blog/tariffs-grocery-prices-canada Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Canada's 2025 counter-tariffs on U.S. food and beverages were removed on September 1, 2025, but packaging, logistics, and uncertainty still move grocery prices. Here's where trade policy actually shows up on your bill now — and how to plan around it. Industry News noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/pc-optimum-vs-scene-plus https://dealdish.ca/blog/pc-optimum-vs-scene-plus Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Four programs cover most Canadian grocery shopping in 2026 — PC Optimum, Scene+, Moi Rewards (Metro/Food Basics in Ontario from late 2024), and Air Miles. We broke down redemption math, bonus-offer patterns, and the single habit that turns any card from pocket clutter into real grocery savings. Save Money noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/price-matching-canada-guide https://dealdish.ca/blog/price-matching-canada-guide Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT No Frills, FreshCo, Real Canadian Superstore, Giant Tiger — who still matches, whose policy tightened, the competitor-list and quantity-cap fine print that catches most shoppers, and how to pick your spots so matching earns real money without eating your Thursday night. Save Money noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/how-to-read-grocery-flyers https://dealdish.ca/blog/how-to-read-grocery-flyers Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Loss leaders, decoy pricing, sale cycles — the weekly flyer is built to manipulate you. Here's how to read it like an insider and walk out with the deals that actually save money. Save Money noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/spring-seasonal-produce-canada https://dealdish.ca/blog/spring-seasonal-produce-canada Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Imported berries and peppers are up double digits this spring. Canadian greenhouse cucumbers, asparagus, and rhubarb are genuinely on the floor. A month-by-month cheat sheet for spring produce that's cheap because it's here. Meal Planning noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/meal-planning-budget-strategies https://dealdish.ca/blog/meal-planning-budget-strategies Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT "Just plan your meals" sounds easy until you try it for six straight weeks. Here are five strategies that hold up — including the one most budget guides get backwards. Meal Planning noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/discount-grocers-canada-2026 https://dealdish.ca/blog/discount-grocers-canada-2026 Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT No Frills, Food Basics, FreshCo, Giant Tiger, Maxi, Walmart, Costco — we built an internal reference basket across selected Ontario and Quebec stores through March and April 2026. Where each chain actually wins, where "discount" isn't the cheapest, and why most households save more by combining two banners. Save Money noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team) https://dealdish.ca/blog/private-label-vs-name-brand https://dealdish.ca/blog/private-label-vs-name-brand Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT No Name vs President's Choice vs Heinz. Sometimes the generic is identical. Sometimes it's a downgrade you'll regret. Here's the category-by-category breakdown for Canadian shoppers. Save Money noreply@dealdish.ca (Deal Dish Team)