The vast majority of Canadians have not only heard of Loblaws, they probably shop at a Loblaws store fairly often. While “Loblaws” was first a grocery store, it has since expanded to become a multi-corporation conglomerate that includes over 20 retail chains and brands.
In this article we’re going to talk about shopping at Loblaws the grocery store, giving you a number of ways to earn more rewards, save money, and stretch your food budget as far as you can.
But first we’ll start with a quick introduction to the other brands included under the larger Loblaws Companies Limited umbrella.
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Loblaws Companies Limited
Here’s a quick rundown of the many retail chains and brands that are part of the larger Loblaws corporation.
| Loblaws retail chain or brand | Description |
|---|---|
| ARZ Fine Foods | Grocery store |
| Atlantic Superstore | Grocery store |
| Dominion | Grocery store |
| Extra Foods | Grocery store |
| Fortinos | Grocery store |
| Freshmart | Grocery store |
| Independent City Market | Grocery store |
| Joe Fresh | Brand |
| Life Brand | Brand |
| Loblaws | Grocery store |
| Maxi | Grocery store |
| No Frills | Grocery store |
| No Name | Brand |
| PC Financial | Credit cards |
| PC Money | Prepaid Mastercard |
| PC Optimum | Rewards program |
| Pharmaprix | Drugstore |
| President’s Choice | Brand |
| Provigo | Grocery store |
| Real Canadian Liquorstore | Liquor store |
| Real Canadian Superstore | Grocery superstore |
| Real Canadian Wholesale Club | Grocery superstore |
| Shoppers Drug Mart | Drugstore |
| T&T Supermarket | Grocery store |
| Valu-mart | Grocery store |
| Your Independent Grocer | Grocery store |
| Zehrs | Grocery store |
As you can see, Loblaws Companies Limited is behind a huge number of Canadian brands, stores, and markets, making it one of Canada’s iconic retail giants.
Shopping at Loblaws grocery store
Now, let’s focus on how to save the most money at the “Loblaws” branded grocery chain.
Loblaws flyer
Of course, one of the easiest ways to save money on groceries is to always shop the grocery store flyer.
Every week, most grocery stores run a different set of sales for common everyday items from most departments. Usually published on Thursday, the flyer will include a full list of what’s on sale, including:
- meat, poultry, and seafood,
- fresh and frozen produce, including fruits and vegetables,
- bakery items,
- pantry items, including baking products and tinned goods,
- health and wellness items,
- paper goods,
- snacks,
- frozen foods,
- and more.
If you make a habit of shopping the Loblaws flyer and planning your weekly family menu around what’s on sale, you’ll immediately start to save money on groceries.
Looking for the weekly Loblaws flyer? You can find it right here: Loblaws flyer.
Loblaws online
With online grocery shopping becoming more and more popular, you might wonder whether you can save any money by shopping at Loblaws online. And you can – not only will you have a chance to see exactly what’s on sale, the Loblaws online shopping site includes:
- an easy-to-spot unit price for most items (so it’s easy to comparison shop),
- the ability to punch in your PC Optimum rewards number, so you never miss out on points,
- a quick link to see this week’s PC Optimum offers,
- and inexpensive pickup or delivery fees, so you can save both time and gas.
If you haven’t tried online grocery shopping, you should take the plunge and try it out. Like many Canadians, you may quickly decide that the ease and convenience is worth the (minimal) fees involved.
Loblaws app
While Loblaws doesn’t have its own app, you can access Loblaws flyers through the PC Optimum app, which is available for download through Google Play or the Apple App Store.
The PC Optimum app gives you an easy way to find local stores, browse through Loblaws flyers, and check out your current PC Optimum offers. It’s just a quick and easy way to find deals, save money, and keep track of your PC Optimum rewards.
Loblaws delivery
Loblaws delivery is through PC Express, where available, and generally has a fee of $9.95 per order.
You can schedule your delivery from the same day, and up to 14 days in advance, but be warned: delivery slots tend to fill up quickly, so you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure you’ll be able to get your delivery in time.
Loblaws pickup using PC Express
If you don’t mind picking up your groceries, but still want to save time and stay safe, you can order Loblaws groceries for curbside pickup.
This service is also part of PC Express – formerly known as “Click and Collect” – and you’ll generally pay a $3 fee per pickup order. However, if you have a PC Insiders subscription, the fee is waived.
Arranging for pickup is just as easy as arranging a delivery – simply select that option when you’re checking out online, choose a pickup slot, then…that’s it. Just go to the store during your time slot, phone them when you get there, and they’ll bring your groceries right out to your car.
Again, time slots tend to fill up quickly, so you’ll want to plan ahead a little bit. I generally try to place my orders 3-4 days in advance, just to be sure that I’ll be able to pick them up when it’s most convenient for me.
Loblaws pharmacy
Rather than a “pharmacy” section on Loblaws online, you’ll find a “Health & Beauty” section. Here is where you’ll find things you’d typically find in a pharmacy, including:
- toiletries,
- shampoo, conditioner, and body wash,
- toilet paper and facial tissues,
- over the counter cold and flu products,
- vitamins, painkillers, and supplements, and
- bandages, first aid supplies, among other things.
Often these sorts of items will be part of Loblaws “multi-buy” deals, where you can save a significant amount of money by stocking up and purchasing several items instead of just one.
For example, Life Brand Epsom Salts are on a multi-buy deal right now, where you can save $1.00 per item, if you purchase 2 or more.
You can also find pharmacy items on sale, such as $1.00 off a package of Ricola lozenges.
Keep an eye out for these sorts of Loblaws pharmacy deals when shopping at Loblaws online, or in-store, and the savings can add up fast.
Loblaws locations
The vast majority of locations are in Ontario, primarily in the Toronto and Ottawa regions. There are a couple of stores in Kingston, Ontario as well, and a few in British Columbia and Alberta too.
For the most part, however, Loblaws is an Ontario grocery chain.
Loblaws hours
Loblaws hours depend on the location, but for the most part, Loblaws grocery stores are open from 7:00 am until 9:00 or 10:00 pm.
Loblaws prices vs. Walmart vs. Sobeys
Of course, another tried and true way to save money is to spend some time comparison shopping, then purchasing different items at different stores, depending on who has the lowest prices.
With weekly flyers being part of this equation, you’ll have to do a bit of research every week, but you’ll soon start to recognize patterns in these things. It becomes second nature in no time, and can save you an enormous amount of money on groceries over the course of a year.
So let’s take a look at how Loblaws stacks up when compared to Walmart and Sobeys. Here I’ll be looking at the prices for a fairly standard grocery list, and comparing whatever the cheapest available price is at each store.
| Product | Loblaws | Walmart | Sobeys | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (2%, 2L) | $4.29 | $4.27 | $4.17 | $4.17 |
| Eggs (1 doz, organic) | $6.29 | $7.22 | $8.09 | $6.29 |
| Butter (1lb) | $3.00 | $4.47 | $4.49 | $3.00 |
| Bread (multigrain) | $2.99 | $2.50 | $3.49 | $2.50 |
| Shredded nacho cheese (320g) | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.99 | $5.00 |
| Sausages (hot italian, 500g) | $6.00 | $5.50 | $5.99 | $5.50 |
| Kale (1 bunch) | $3.49 | $2.47 | $3.49 | $2.47 |
| Scallions (1 bunch) | $1.00 | $0.74 | $0.90 | $0.74 |
| Avocados (each) | $1.00 | $1.67 | $2.00 | $1.00 |
| Potatoes (5lbs) | $4.99 | $3.47 | $4.99 | $3.47 |
| Store brand toilet paper (2 ply, 12 rolls) | $4.99 | $6.78 | $7.20 | $4.99 |
| Store brand dish liquid (532ml) | $2.33 | $1.77 | $3.19 | $1.77 |
| Arm & Hammer laundry detergent (4.43L) | $11.79 | $10.54 | $9.98 | $9.98 |
| Total: | $57.16 | $56.40 | $63.97 | $50.88 |
Here we looked at grocery prices for 3 locations in Toronto, shopping online through their websites, plus what you would pay if you purchased each item at the store with the best price.
While it may not seem like a huge difference, with a little bit of research and buying each item at the best price, you would save $14 over the most expensive store. That’s a 20% savings.
5 ways to save money at Loblaws
If you’re not interested in ordering groceries from a bunch of different stores and just want to shop at Loblaws, here are some basic strategies you can use to save even more money.
1. Shop Loblaws sales
We’ve already talked about shopping the flyer and building your grocery list around what’s on sale any given week.
You should also keep an eye out for other in-store specials that might not be included in the print flyer. Different stores may have extra sales going because of over-ordering inventory, or maybe they have some items on clearance.
2. Take advantage of Loblaws multi-buy deals
Loblaws stores often have multi-buy deals, where you can save on individual items by purchasing several at a time. These deals are tagged in the flyer as well as on the website if you’re ordering groceries online.
In-store, Loblaws will indicate which items are available for multi-buy deals with a special tag on the shelf. Watch for these, and stock up on things that are on sale.
As long as you have the storage space at home and will be able to use all of what you purchase before it goes bad, you can save money and make your life a little bit easier by reducing how often you have to go grocery shopping.
3. Use Loblaws coupons
Loblaws Canada accepts valid coupons if you have them, so watch out for those. Sometimes you can just do a quick search online to see if there are any coupons available. It can take a bit of time and research, but using coupons can help shave down those grocery bills even more.
4. Maximize your PC Optimum points
PC Optimum is one of the most popular grocery rewards programs in Canada, and for good reason. If you’re able to maximize your PC Optimum points, you can use those to pay for your groceries when you check out.
We’ve written an extensive and comprehensive guide to the PC Optimum rewards program, but here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect.
How to collect PC Optimum points
You can start collecting PC Optimum points by registering for a PC Optimum account online at pcoptimum.ca.
Once you have an account, load the PC Optimum app up on your phone, and have them scan your app when you pay for purchases at a variety of stores, including:
- Loblaws
- No Frills
- Real Canadian Superstores
- The Independent Grocer
- Zehrs
- Fortinos
- Wholesale Club
- Valu-mart
- Independent CityMarket
- Atlantic Superstore
- Dominion
- Maxi
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- Pharmaprix
- Esso
- Mobile
And be sure to check your PC Optimum app weekly for new deals.
How to spend PC Optimum points
As soon as you have collected 10,000 PC Optimum points, you can start redeeming them.
Every 10,000 points can be redeemed for $10 off your purchases at participating stores, or online at Shoppers Drug Mart or Joe Fresh.
Each PC Optimum point is worth 0.1 cents, so it’s easy to figure out how much you can redeem them for. Your PC Optimum app will also give you a running total and how much they’re worth, any time you log in and check your balance.
How to maximize PC Optimum points
There are a few strategies you can use to maximize your PC Optimum point earnings, including:
- sign up for weekly personalized offers,
- get a PC Financial Mastercard,
- use the PC Optimum app,
- watch for special earning and redemption days,
- maintain multiple PC Optimum accounts in your household,
- stock up on items when you can max out your points,
- stack promotions when possible,
- get gas at Esso or Mobile, and
- join PC Insiders.
We talk about each of these strategies in more detail in our PC Optimum guide if you would like more information about how to do each of these things.
5. Use a cash back or other rewards credit card
While you can maximize your PC Optimum points by using a PC Financial Mastercard, you may get a better return on your grocery spending with a cash back credit card or other rewards credit card.
We’ll go over a few of the better credit cards to use at Loblaws below.
Want to maximize your savings at Loblaws? Read our detailed guide to the PC Optimum rewards program.
Best credit cards to use at Loblaws
If you’re focused on boosting your PC Optimum rewards earn rate as much as possible, you may want to take a look at the PC Mastercard.
While there are actually 3 versions of the PC Mastercard – basic, World, and World Elite – we’ll just look at the basic version here.
| Annual fee: | $0 |
|---|---|
| Type of reward: | PC Optimum |
| Reward details*: | * 10 points per $1 spent at PC grocery stores * 25 points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart * 30 points per litre for Esso fuel purchases * 20 points per $1 spent at PC Travel * 10 points per $1 spent on all other purchases |
| Average rate of return %: | 1.14% |
| Purchase interest rate: | 20.97% |
| Income requirement: | None |
* These totals include points earned as a regular PC Optimum member.
The PC Mastercard gives you an easy way to significantly boost your PC Optimum earn rate, but…not a whole lot else.
Where most credit cards include an assortment of perks, benefits, and complimentary insurance coverage, the PC Mastercard offers very little. Beyond the boosted rewards earn rate, you’re getting almost nothing extra with the PC Mastercard, making it significantly less valuable than most other credit cards in Canada.
Also, the interest rates for the PC Mastercard are slightly higher than average – not a lot higher, but every percentage point counts if you’re going to carry a balance.
Another thing to keep in mind, of course, is that PC Optimum rewards can only be redeemed at participating Loblaws retailers. This is significantly more limited than regular cash back rewards, which you can use anywhere you like.
Not sure if a PC Financial Mastercard is right for you? We’ve written an in depth review.
3 top cash back credit card alternatives
Since PC Optimum rewards are like cash back (albeit a limited version), we figured we’d see how the PC Mastercard measures up when compared to some of Canada’s best cash back credit cards.
| Category | Credit Card | Average Earn Rate % | Annual Fee | Apply for Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best cash back Visa for groceries | Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite | 2.08% | $120 | Apply now |
| Best flat rate cash back Mastercard | Brim World Elite Mastercard | 2.25% | $199 | Apply now |
| Best no fee cash back card | BMO CashBack Mastercard | 1% | $0 | Apply now |
1. Best cash back Visa for groceries
GC: $20
$20 GeniusCash + 10% cash back on purchases for 3 months + 4% cash back on groceries.*
With the
- 4% on eligible grocery and recurring bill purchases,
- 2% on eligible gas and transit purchases, and
- 1% on all other eligible purchases.
There’s also a generous welcome bonus you’ll enjoy with this credit card, earning 10% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in spend.
Pair that with 11 types of complimentary insurance, some added perks, and a rebate for your first year annual fee, and this is the best cash back credit card for groceries available in Canada.
2. Best flat rate cash back Mastercard
Prefer to carry a Mastercard? The
While this card doesn’t have a traditional welcome bonus, you can earn up to $500 in bonus rewards after first purchases with select Brim retail partners.
The Brim World Elite Mastercard also has the best credit card insurance package available in Canada, including 15 different types of complimentary coverage.
3. Best no fee cash back credit card
If you prefer a no fee credit card, the
With this BMO Mastercard, you’ll earn:
- 3% cash back on groceries (up to $500 spent per month),
- 1% cash back on recurring bill payments (up to $500 spent per month), and
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases.
As a welcome bonus, you’ll get 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend.
And while no fee credit cards tend to be a bit bare boned, this card includes extended warranty and purchase protection, plus discounts at National and Alamo Car Rental locations.
4 credit cards head to head
All that said, how do these 4 credit cards measure up, side-by-side? Here we take a look at some of the key factors you might want to consider when choosing between these credit cards.
Average rate of return
First off, the average rate of return you can expect on your spending. Here the Brim World Elite is in the lead, with the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite close behind.
The 2 no fee cards are well behind, with the PC Mastercard having a slight edge.
These numbers are based on a typical $2,000 monthly spend, across a number of everyday categories, and will be different based on your personal spending habits.
Welcome bonus comparison
Of course, everyone loves a good credit card welcome bonus. Here these cards defy the trend a bit, with the Brim World Elite Mastercard having no traditional welcome bonus at all, while the no fee BMO Cashback has a surprisingly generous welcome bonus worth $100.
Of course, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite is in the lead with this one, given its bonus cash back earnings for the first 3 months you have the card.
Estimated insurance value
One credit card feature that is often overlooked is included insurance coverage. We did a study to come up with an estimate of what each type of coverage is worth, and it turns out that complimentary insurance coverage can be incredibly valuable.
The Brim World Elite Mastercard is a perfect example of this, as its 15 types of included insurance coverage are estimated to be worth over $578 per year. And while it’s unlikely you’ll extract that much value every year, the added peace of mind is also a valuable feature.
The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite also has an impressive array of complimentary insurance coverage, while the 2 no fee credit cards only offer basic extended warranty and purchase protection coverage.
Bottom line
So there you have it – some basic strategies you can use to start saving money when shopping at Loblaws.
Do you have any other tips that could help our readers save money?
Let us know in the comments!
FAQ
How does Loblaws grocery pickup work?
Loblaws grocery pickup is quite straightforward. All you do is place your grocery order online through their website, and select a PC Express pickup location, date, and time when checking out. Then simply go to your selected pickup location at the specified time, call the number they’ve given you, and they’ll bring your order right out to your car.
How much is Loblaws delivery?
Loblaws delivery is usually $9.95 per order, but may change depending on the time and location. But generally you can expect to pay around $10 to get your groceries delivered from Loblaws.
What grocery stores do Loblaws own?
While “Loblaws” is a grocery store unto itself, “Loblaws Companies Limited” owns over 20 Canadian retail chains and brands. You can read more about these various companies here.
Does Loblaws have online shopping?
It does. Loblaws offers online shopping for both pickup and delivery.
How can I save money at Loblaws stores?
Shop the sales, build your weekly menu around the Loblaws flyer, collect PC Optimum points, and use the best credit card to earn more rewards. We go into these money saving strategies and more, right here.
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