Discount and Clearance Grocery Stores in Canada

Tips for saving at the grocery store? This is exactly what you need in times when inflation is eating away at your budget!

I’ve tracked down the top Canadian grocery stores for discounts and clearance sales. Now let’s go bargain hunting.

Grocery at Better Prices – Surpluses, Surprises, and Unsold Items

Several grocery stores and businesses stand out for their very low food prices, thanks to bulk supply from wholesalers. The products available are always a surprise, as they may have:

label, packaging or manufacturing defects,
an approaching expiration date,
unsold or « downgraded” (because they don’t meet industry standards),
or from surplus production.

Food liquidation centers offer the biggest discounts (30-70%) on name-brand products. They acquire surplus inventory, end-of-lot items, or products with upcoming expiry dates. Additionally, the products often change and may not return to the shelves.

High-discount grocery stores will offer significant discounts of between 20% and 50%, with products that are often the same.

Finally, there are the low-price supermarkets that offer a year-round low-price policy with a stable selection, such as Dollarama, Giant Tiger, Walmart, No Frills and Food Basics.

Here are just a few examples of the discounts and wide selection of products available:

$3 bag of chicken nuggets
Case of 24 soft drinks for $12
Box of 12 muffins for $1
$2 pack of bacon
$2 bag of chips from a popular brand
11-pound box of peppers for $10
Bag of pre-made salad for $1.25
Large bottle of orange juice from a popular brand for $4
Smoothies at $1.25 each or 6 for $6

You can also read a similar article we wrote about discount or clearance grocery stores in the province of Quebec.

Most of these liquidation stores actively use their newsletters or social media (especially Facebook) to announce new arrivals and promote these great items that have arrived unexpectedly.

In addition, it is highly recommended to check the expiry dates before purchasing from liquidation grocery stores. The shelf life is generally shorter, but many products still taste just as good. Refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s guide to understand the meaning of « best before” dates.

Good to know: a product close to its « best before” date can be safely consumed if it has been well stored. When in doubt, rely on your senses: the product’s look, smell and texture.

How to Maximize Grocery Savings With Credit Cards?

Nonetheless, you may need to go to another supermarket to complete your shopping for the week’s meals. Check out the cheapest grocery store in your neighbourhood. Also, use points from loyalty programs to pay part of your bill.

And carry a credit card in your wallet that offers more points at the grocery store. They’re the best way to maximize your savings. For example:

Grocery	Recommended card	Advantage
Safeway/Thrifty Foods/Longos/Foodland/Sobeys	Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card	6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
Circle K/Food Basics/Metro/Too Good to Go	American Express Cobalt^® Card	5 points per dollar spent at grocery stores, restaurants, bars and food delivery services in Canada.
No Frills/Real Canadian Superstore/Costco Wholesale	National Bank World Elite Mastercard	5 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases and 1% cash back at Costco.
Safeway/Thrifty Foods/Longos/Foodland/Sobeys/ Food Basics/Metro/No Frills/Real Canadian Superstore	CIBC Dividend Platinum^® Visa* Card	3% cash back on grocery store purchases.
Walmart	National Bank World Elite Mastercard	5 points per dollar spent on groceries on the first $2,500 of monthly purchases, then 2 points per dollar on groceries and restaurants.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 12 months Up to 50,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026 After $7,500 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express Cobalt^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$191.88	Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months Up to 15,000 points Get 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months	Apply NowCompare
CIBC Dividend Platinum^® Visa* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$99 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 4 months Up to $250 cash back After $2,000 in 4 months	Apply NowCompare
ExclusiveNational Bank World Elite^® Mastercard^® Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$150 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated First Year Annual Fee RebateEnds Nov 4, 2026 $150 annual fee rebated	Apply NowCompare

List of Discount and Clearance Grocery Stores by Province

Here’s our list of grocery stores we’ve found across Canada that stand out by offering reduced prices all year round. Do you know of any others? If so, please let us know on our Facebook group.

Alberta

Calgary

Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 3700 29 Street Northeast, Calgary, AB T1Y 5W4
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 999 36 St NE #1020, Calgary, AB T2A 7X6
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 13226 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2J 7E5
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 9415 23 St SE, Calgary, AB T2C 5R2

Edmonton

Fatima’s Market: 11809 66 St NW Edmonton, AB, T5B1J2
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 17320 Stony Plain Rd, Edmonton, AB T5S 1K6
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 5017 127 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5A 0B4
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 3909 99 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 6M2

Lethbridge and Red Deer

Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 1017 2A AVE N, Lethbridge, AB T1H 0G1
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 5239 53 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4N 5K1

British Columbia

Real Rad Deals : 31713 S. Fraser Way, Abbotsford BC
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 925 Notre Dame Dr, Kamloops, BC V2C 5N9
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 15340 104 Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 1N6

Ontario

The Grocery Outlet: 3026 Parkedale Ave, Brockville, ON K6V 3G6
The Grocery Outlet: 513 Division St, Cobourg, ON K9A 5G6
Save A Lot Grocery Outlet: 101 Hazelglen Drive Kitchener, ON, N2M 5A2
Food4Less Lindsay: 62 Riverview Rd, Lindsay, ON, K9V 1B4
The Grocery Outlet: 759 Davis dr., Newmarket, ON L3Y 2R4
The Grocery Outlet: 819 Chemong Road, Peterborough, ON K9H 5Z8
The Grocery Outlet: 982 Hwy 7, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X7
The Grocery Outlet: 7071 County Rd 2, Port Hope, ON K9A 4J7
The Grocery Outlet: 241 Quinte St, Quinte West, ON K8V 3S7
No name^® grocery store for saving: 333 Ontario St A3-2, St. Catharines, ON L2R 5L3
Delmar Foods Food Factory Outlet: 25 South Service Road St. Marys
No name^® grocery store for saving: 1555 Talbot Rd #650-660, Windsor, ON N9H 2N2

Greater Toronto Area

The Grocery Outlet: 180 Harwood Ave S, Ajax, ON L1S 2H6
Mondelez (Peek Freans) Cookie Outlet Store: 1400 O’Connor Dr Units 6-7, East York, ON M4B 2T8
Grandview Discount Foods: 600 Grandview St. S, Oshawa, ON, Canada, L1H 8P4
The Grocery Outlet: 133 Taunton Rd W, Oshawa, ON L1G 3T4
The Grocery Outlet: 191 Bloor St E, Oshawa, ON L1H 3M3
The Grocery Outlet: 1150 Sheppard Ave. W., Toronto, Ont. M3K 2B5
Just Closeouts Canada Inc. (delivery or take-out): 200 Trowers Rd, Unit 4, Vaughan, ON, L4L 5Z7
The Grocery Outlet: 100 Sunray St., Whitby, ON L1N 8Y3

Nova Scotia

Gateway Meat Market: 667 Main St Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2W3T6

Manitoba

Valu Lots Discount Centre: 910 Wall St, Winnipeg, MB R3G 2V2
Sobeys Cash And Carry: 840 Dufferin Ave Winnipeg, MB, R2X 0A3
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 1241 St James St, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0K9

Saskatchewan

Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 328 McDonald St, Regina, SK S4N 6P6
Bianca Amor’s Liquidation Supercentre: 2333 Ave C North, Saskatoon, SK S7L 5Z5

Compare

CIBC Dividend Platinum^® Visa* Card

CIBC Cash BackFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $99
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$250Annual fee rebated$99Total$349Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $349
Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 4 months: Up to $250 cash back

Available from $15,000 in annual (household) income, the CIBC Dividend^® Platinum Visa* Card sits below the income requirements of Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard tier cards.

With this offer, get up to $300 in value:

A 10% cash back welcome bonus of up to $200 on net purchases up to $2,000 (first 4 statements)
A $50 cash back when setting up a pre-authorized payment (first 4 months)
A first-year annual fee rebate (value of $99)

With the CIBC Dividend^® Platinum Visa* Card, you get:

3% on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, and grocery purchases^†
2% cash back on eligible transportation and dining purchases and on eligible recurring bill payments^†
1% cash back on all other purchases^†

And this CIBC Cash Back Credit Card offers some insurance coverage:

Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance
$500,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

This is a digital-exclusive offer.^† To be eligible for this offer: 1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and 2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you. ^† This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else.

This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else. CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Dividend card within the last 12 months.^†

^† Terms and conditions apply. Click on Apply Now to learn more.

Annual fee

Primary card$99

Additional card$30

Annual income required

Individual$15,000

Household$15,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

3xGas
3xGroceries
2xBills & recurring payments
2xRestaurants
2xTransit
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$874

2nd Year Value$364

Travel insurance

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Other Supermarkets to Check Out

Dollarama

Dollarama stores have an excellent food section:

Wide choice of snacks;
Preserves and dry products;
Drinks and juices;
Bread, baking products, spices, pasta, etc.

You can pay with American Express, Visa or Mastercard.

Compare

American Express Cobalt^® Card

American Express Amex Membership Rewards

Annual fee: $191.88
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months: Up to 15,000 points

The American Express Cobalt^® Card is a versatile American Express card, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt^® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer valued at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

American Express Cobalt^® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, and home food delivery. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line^® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers three kinds of merchants:

Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores (Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven): not part of 5X, 1 point per dollar.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	1
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt^® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt^® Card fees

Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,675

2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Giant Tiger

Present in several Canadian provinces, Giant Tiger stores offer:

Grocery products from well-known brands at reduced prices;
A good fruit and vegetable section;
Dairy products and frozen foods;
Their own house brand at a great price.

Payment methods are Visa and Mastercard.

Discounts and Clearance at Your Grocery Store

In larger branches, promotions are also regularly offered:

No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore and Loblaws offer 30% to 50% off select unsold fresh produce (watch for pink stickers, often applied after 6 p.m. or early in the morning);
Foodland offers weekly promotions or discounts combined with bonus Scene+ points;
Shoppers Drug Mart is liquidating its unsold food products or those close to their sell-by date.

Frequently Asked Questions About Discount Grocery Stores

Which grocery store is the least expensive in Canada?

No Frills, Walmart, and Food Basics are the best grocery stores in Canada for paying less.

Which grocery stores are the most expensive in Canada?

The most expensive grocery stores in Canada are Metro, Safeway, Longos and Thrifty Foods. To compensate, they offer higher product quality and a more satisfying customer experience.

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	1
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1