Affordable Groceries
Affordable Groceries
And helping to minimize food waste!
I am working on a much bigger post that I was hoping to get done this week, but it is taking a while. So, in the meantime I bring you some advice about some ways to get (somewhat) affordable groceries in Montreal.
Conventional storefronts
Segal’s Market
This is a classic IFYKYK. A tiny storefront on St. Laurent between Napoleon and Duluth that you would walk right by if you didn’t know that this is the place everyone (especially locals to the area) shop. That is my friend Biella in front of Segal’s in the photo! They have by far the cheapest prices for many products, including many organic products. They also have very cheap produce. And they also always randomly have crates full of discontinued or soon-to-expire packaged foods. Also, for some reason, they have have a lot of salted codfish in the back. When I think of Segal’s, it conjures up the distinct smell of very pungent cured fish. Needless to say, it is an experience to shop here. Check everything carefully; the produce and the dairy may not last very long in your fridge at home.
Insider tips: 1) They are inexplicably closed on Sundays; 2) They offer delivery in the immediate area if you buy too much to carry home, especially useful in the winter; 3) bring your own bags or use their cardboard boxes; 4) cash or Interac only; and finally 5) expect surly staff— it’s part of the experience.
Supermarché PA
The one on Parc Avenue is the local obligatory shopping spot for those in Mile End. They try to keep all of their prices as low as possible while still being one-stop shopping. But they also have good specials and good variety too. There are a few locations across town.
Insider tips: 1) pick up a flyer on your way in to see what’s on sale; 2) their website is pretty good for online shopping with either pick-up or delivery; 3) if you’re making it a destination, go to the one on Westbury— they have parking and wide aisles.
Super C
This is the grocery chain with the cheapest prices for a number of big brand things, especially if you buy what’s on sale. Their variety is also pretty astounding. I sometimes go to the one at Atwater Market to pick up some staples or teenage party food and am always pleasantly surprised by the prices. Maxi is very similar, if you happen to be closer to one of those. These are the big box stores (e.g., Sam’s Club, etc) of Quebec.
Marché Fu Tai
In my hood, I am blessed with a number of Asian grocery stores. I usually shop at Kim Phat, but it has been a little low-stocked for veggies lately. So, when I am feeling more ambitious, I’ll head to Fu Tai in Plaza Côte-des-Neiges. The produce here is really good, mostly Asian varieties, but they also have pretty much everything. It is a big store with a ton of pan-Asian groceries too and a fantastic frozen food selection. (In a call back to my earlier post, when I can’t make it to Trader Joe’s, I can find many of the specialty items I am looking for here). And the prices are very good. Big parking lot too. (If you want an even grander—but not necessarily more affordable— Asian grocery shopping experience, it is worth heading just a little farther north to Ville St. Laurent to check out the new and highly anticipated T&T Supermarché.)
Marché Jean-Brillant
If you happen to be visiting someone in the hospital or have a doctor’s appointment at St. Mary’s or JGH, make sure to make a pitstop here. It is only open from May-October, but when it is open, it is open 24 hours/day. They only sell produce (and nuts, jams, and maple syrup!) and the prices are unbeatable. I buy cartons and cartons of berries and baskets of Ontario peaches all summer long.
Insider Tips: Interac and cash only. Bring your own bags. Parking is tough, but it’s on the same block as the CDN metro stop.
Web/App- based businesses
Too Good to Go
This post was in part inspired by this new find— an app designed to help reduce food waste. They have recruited a number of businesses (restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores) to sign on with the app and they will make “bundles” or “baskets” or even meals available for a very reduced price. You have to track it often, but you can save your favourites to find out when they have a pick-up for you. It is a “mystery box” but so far it has worked out well for me. I have seen specialty markets here, pizzerias, boulangeries and patisseries, and also full meals available.
Insider Tip: Check it periodically throughout the day, especially near closing time and first thing in the morning.
Second Life
This is an online grocery service that has a marketplace of imperfect foods (largely produce, but also groceries) at reduced prices. You put together a basket that you can get delivered or pick up at one of their pick-up points. They offer marketplaces for organic and conventional foods where you can pick and choose what you want in that week’s basket. I haven’t used this in a while now, but I am going to check it out more thoroughly soon.
Insider Tip: Once you get a membership, it automatically signs you up for a basket for that week. So, activate carefully.
Improove
This is a brand new Montreal-based company that started off making popsicles from food waste. Soon they found that there was so much wasted food that they could launch Improove — paniers (baskets) of different sizes. They still also make products derived from leftovers and for every box purchased they also donate a box to a community organization. They offer delivery on Thursday afternoons for now to customers in Montreal.
Odd Bunch
Odd Bunch is another service offering 'imperfect foods’ and now delivers to the Greater Montreal area. It is a little simpler in that you choose a basket size of fruit or vegetables or both and they deliver it to you. Prices start as low as $20. You do not get a choice of items, but on the other hand there’s much less online maintenance.
Flashfood
Flashfood is an app that is somewhat similar to Too Good To Go except that it partners primarily with supermarket chains in town. The supermarkets have food at the end of their “use by” dates or otherwise about to be tossed for amazing prices. I have used this and always been pleased.