Federal plan to boost competition in the grocery market receives cautious welcome from shoppers and small stores

Ottawa —
A number of shoppers and small store owners welcomed the federal government's plan to enhance competition in the grocery sector, but they emphasized that the true measure of its success will be an actual decrease in prices at the checkout counters.

The plan comes as part of a federal food strategy aimed at addressing the ongoing pressures on food prices, expanding options for consumers, and encouraging the entry of more competitors into a market dominated by a limited number of major chains.

Shoppers say they are not just looking for a new political announcement, but for direct results in their weekly bills, especially after years of increases affecting essential products such as vegetables, meat, coffee, dairy products, and bread.

As for small store owners, they see that increased competition can help consumers, but it requires fair rules that allow independent stores to obtain better supply prices and face the high cost of