Despite a rise in grocery prices, many in BC are not planning to change the way they shop.

A recent report says factors including climate change, shifts in packaging, and trade wars will hit our pocketbooks. University of Guelph Bachelor of Commerce in Food graduate Eamonn McGuinty says it looked at a number of possible changes to food behaviours. “Things like restaurants, eating out, coupons, flyers, visiting different retail stores, buying in bulk, buying more plant based alternatives and looking at the freezer aisle as an option for food. Of those habits, British Columbians are the least likely to adopt them to offset inflation.”

McGuinty says around 13% of British Columbians won’t be changing their food buying habits despite a pretty significant cost increase. “It was surprising to us that they were the least likely to adapt. That being said, it could also make sense given the awareness factor and the importance people place on food in British Columbia that inflation wasn’t going to affect the way they were going to buy and what they are going to buy.”

McGuinty says an average family of four is likely to spend about $500 more next year if they keep the same shopping habits that they had in 2019. “There were some interesting data that came out of basically what Canadians would likely intend do with their food to save costs. Anything from reducing food waste to cooking more often and eating more vegetables.”