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Saving money on groceries with the right credit card comes down to a simple technique: “double-dipping.” You combine a grocery store loyalty program with a credit card that boosts that category, and you earn rewards twice on the same purchase—first with the store loyalty card, then with your credit card points or cash back.
Inflation is weighing on grocery bills: find out what our readers think.
In Canada, four major chains offer a loyalty program: PC Optimum at Maxi and Provigo, Scene+ at IGA, Moi at Metro and Super C, and the Executive membership card at Costco. This guide breaks down the best program + credit card combinations for each chain, with my real calculations by profile and my tips to make sure you don’t leave any rewards on the table.
At Maxi with PC Optimum
The PC Optimum program works at Maxi, Provigo, Shoppers Drug Mart and several other Loblaw banners. Accumulation is based on weekly personalized offers, flyer promotions, and selected products.
| Program | Earning rate | Redeem |
|---|---|---|
| PC Optimum | Based on personalized offers, the flyer, and selected products | 1,000 points = $1 off at checkout, redeemable at any time |
By planning your purchases according to flyer specials and app offers, rewards accumulate quickly. For example, on a $159 bill at Maxi, it is possible to obtain more than 42,000 points ($42) by combining the right offers. At the next checkout, these points are deducted directly from the bill.
Best Credit Cards at Maxi
Maxi accepts Visa and Mastercard. The trick is to pay with a card that offers a high multiplier for groceries.
| Card | Grocery Store earning | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | 5 points / $1 | Travel |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card | 6 points / $1 | Travel |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite* Card | 4% | Cash Back |
| CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card | 4% | Cash Back |
| CIBC Dividend Platinum® Visa* Card | 3% Cash Back | Cash Back |
| RBC ION+ Visa Card | 3 points / $1 | Travel |
| World Elite Mastercard PC | 30 points / $1 (3%) | Cash Back |
| PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard® | 4% back in points | Cash Back |
The PC World Elite Mastercard earns 30 PC Optimum points per dollar at Maxi (3%), or about $4.77 on a $159 bill. The PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard® goes up to 4% at Loblaw grocery stores. However, the National Bank World Elite delivers more in travel value: 795 NBC points (5 × $159), worth about $7.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $48 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
At IGA with Scene+
Since March 2023, the loyalty program at IGA has been Scene+. Accumulation is based on personalized offers, the flyer, and selected products.
| Program | Earning rate | Redeem |
|---|---|---|
| Scene+ | Based on personalized offers, the flyer, and selected products | 1,000 points = $10 off, redeemable at any time at checkout |
Amex Cards Accepted at IGA
IGA grocery stores accept American Express cards. The Voilà by IGA online grocery service also accepts them. Two Amex cards stand out:
| Card | Grocery Store earning | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card | 5 points / $1 | Statement credit (1,000 pts = $10) or airline/hotel transfer |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card | 6 points / $1 at IGA, Voilà, Rachelle-Béry, Marchés Tradition | Statement credit or in-store redemption (1,000 Scene+ points = $10) |
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card earns 1 more point per dollar than the Cobalt. Specifically, $200 in spending at IGA yields 1,000 Membership Rewards points with the Cobalt (200 × 5). With the Scotiabank Gold Amex Card, $167 is enough for 1,000 Scene+ points (167 × 6). The reward therefore arrives faster. It is the best grocery earn rate in Canada.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $191.88 | |||
| $120 |
Other Cards for IGA
Other Visa and Mastercard cards also offer a good grocery multiplier at IGA:
| Card | Grocery Store earning | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | 5 points / $1 | Travel |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card | 6 points / $1 | Travel |
| BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* | 5% cash back ($500/month) | Cash Back |
| CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card | 4% | Cash Back |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite* Card | 4% | Cash Back |
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
At Metro and Super C with Moi
The Moi program from Metro earns 1 point per dollar spent. Each week, download your personalized offers on the mobile app or from your online profile to boost your rewards.
| Program | Earning rate | Redeem |
|---|---|---|
| Moi | 1 point / $1 spent (0.8% value) | 125 points = $1 off at checkout (min. 500 points in account) |
The Moi RBC Visa Credit Card
Metro accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. The moi RBC Visa Credit Card is directly linked to the Moi program. By paying with this card AND scanning your Moi card at checkout, you get:
- 1 additional Moi point per $1: at Metro, Première Moisson, and Brunet in Quebec
- 1 additional Moi point per $1: at Jean Coutu in Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick
- 2 Moi points per $1: at restaurants, gas stations, and for electric vehicle charging
Moi points are used to reduce the bill at Metro, Jean Coutu, Première Moisson, Super C, and Brunet. The tip: redeem them at a low-price location like Super C to maximize their value. Additionally, link your RBC debit or credit card to your Moi card to earn points faster.
Best Cards at Metro
Other cards offer more advantageous grocery accumulation than the Moi RBC card:
| Card | Grocery Store earning | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | 5 points / $1 | Travel, lounge access, $150 credit |
| American Express Cobalt Card | 5 points / $1 | Statement credit (1,000 pts = $10) or transfer |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card | 6 points / $1 | Travel, lounge access, $100 credit |
| BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* | 5% cash back ($500/month) | Cash Back |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite* Card | 4% | Cash Back |
| CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card | 4% | Cash Back |
The American Express Cobalt Card multiplies Membership Rewards points by 5 for spending at Metro and other supermarkets. If you are hesitating between the Cobalt and the Amex Gold Card, consult our comparison.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $191.88 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
At Costco and its Executive Card
Costco offers a cash back program reserved for Executive Membership cardholders.
| Program | Earning rate | Redeem |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Membership | 2% on every purchase in-warehouse, on Costco.ca, and Costco Travel | Once a year (max $1,250), check redeemable in-warehouse |
Best Cards at Costco
Costco warehouses only accept Mastercard cards. The CIBC Costco Mastercard offers 1% cash back in-warehouse and 2% on Costco.ca.
| Card | Earning at Costco | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CIBC Costco Mastercard | 1% in-warehouse, 2% on Costco.ca | Costco Cash Back |
| BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* | 1% | Cash Back |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | 0.5% cash back | Cash Back |
National Bank or BMO CashBack (1%) remain good Mastercards to stack with the Executive rebate (2%).
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
The best grocery cash back
If you prefer cash back over points, the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* leads the pack for groceries: 5% on the first $500 in grocery purchases each month, then 1% beyond that. It’s the highest cash-back rate in Canada in this category.
| Card | Grocery rate | Bonus cap |
|---|---|---|
| BMO World Elite CashBack | 5 % | $500/month, then 1% |
| Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + | 4 % | Groceries and recurring bills |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | 4 % | Groceries and gas |
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
My concrete calculations by profile
How much do your groceries really earn? Here are my calculations, based on two cards at 5% or 5 points per dollar: the BMO CashBack World Elite (cash back, $139 annual fee waived the first year) and the Cobalt American Express (Membership Rewards points, $191.88/year fee, redemption value of 1,000 points = $10).
Urban couple: $500/month
| Card | Gross reward/year | Annual Fee | Net from year 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMO World Elite CashBack | $300 ($25/month × 12) | $139 | $161 |
| Cobalt American Express | $300 (30,000 pts) | $191.88 | $108 |
At $500/month, you hit the BMO CashBack 5% cap exactly. Cash back wins. In the first year, since the BMO fee is waived, you keep the full $300.
Family of 4: $900/month
| Card | Gross reward/year | Annual Fee | Net from year 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMO World Elite CashBack | $348 ($25 + $4)/month × 12 | $139 | $209 |
| Cobalt American Express | $540 (54,000 pts) | $191.88 | $348 |
As soon as groceries go over $500/month, the Cobalt pulls ahead: it earns 5 points per dollar without a tight cap (limit of $2,500/month across all 5x categories combined), while the BMO drops to 1% beyond $500. For a family, double-dipping with Cobalt + Scene+ or PC Optimum offers becomes the most lucrative.
My expert grocery tips
- Shop at Walmart Supercentre: Mastercard classifies it as groceries. Pay with the NBC World Elite and earn 5 points per dollar instead of 1.
- Buy gift cards at the grocery store: a Costco, gas, or restaurant gift card bought at the grocery store and paid with the Cobalt earns 5 points per dollar. You turn a 1% expense into a 5% expense.
- Save your PC Optimum points for Bonus Redemption Events: at Shoppers Drug Mart, these days increase the redemption value. You get more dollars for the same number of points.
- Max out the BMO CashBack 5% cap: exactly $500/month, then move the extra to an unlimited 2% card. That’s nearly $100 more per year than leaving everything at 1%.
- Stack the weekly promo and the card: at IGA, a 10% Scene+ offer combined with the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card’s 6 points per dollar can deliver up to 16% value on a bill.
- Redeem your Moi points at Super C: prices are lower there, so your points cover a larger share of your basket. You maximize their real value.
Other ways to save
The increase in grocery prices is weighing on budgets, but several ways exist to reduce the bill beyond the loyalty + credit card double dip. To go further, check out our guide How to save on groceries and the one on saving at the gas station.
- Anti-waste apps: Too Good to Go and FoodHero offer unsold items at reduced prices. Credit cards often classify these purchases as grocery or restaurant, with a multiplier.
- Gift cards at the grocery store: Buy gift cards for your other expenses directly at the grocery store. Your purchases then count in the grocery category of your credit card.
- Compare prices: Consult our comparison of discount grocery stores to find the cheapest retailer.
- Flyers and apps: Glouton, Reebee, and online flyers help identify the best discounts of the week.
Conclusion
The double-dip technique—loyalty program plus credit card—works at all major grocery stores in Canada. At Maxi, the National Bank World Elite combined with PC Optimum offers excellent value. At IGA, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card with Scene+ maximizes your points. At Metro, the Cobalt Card multiplies rewards by 5. And for pure cash back, the BMO CashBack World Elite pays 5% on the first $500 in groceries each month.
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card also deserves a spot on this list, with 4% cash back on groceries and a 15% welcome offer right now.
To compare all available options, visit our best credit cards page in Canada. Sign up for our newsletter to receive our weekly analyses and tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I save on food at the grocery store?
Several ways exist: use the Glouton, FoodHero, and Checkout 51 apps, visit liquidation stores, make a grocery list to avoid impulse purchases, be a member of the supermarket loyalty program, take advantage of coupons, and combine your credit card with the in-store loyalty program.
What’s the best credit card for groceries in Canada?
It depends on your grocery store. At IGA, the Scotiabank Gold Amex (6 pts/$1) is the most profitable. At Maxi and Metro, the NBC World Elite (5 pts/$1) or the TD First Class Travel (6 pts/$1) stand out. For cash back, the BMO CashBack World Elite offers 5%. See our page on the best cards for groceries.
How much can you save per year on groceries?
It depends on your spending. A family that spends $900/month on groceries with a card earning 5 points per dollar can rack up to $540 in gross value per year, before the card’s annual fee. On top of that, PC Optimum, Scene+, or Moi program offers can add 10% to 16% on a promotional bill.
Does Walmart count as groceries?
Yes, Walmart Supercentre is classified as groceries by Mastercard. By paying with a card that boosts groceries, like the NBC World Elite, you earn 5 points per dollar instead of 1.
How do I get a Scene+ card at IGA?
Go to the courtesy counter at IGA to get a physical card. You can also apply online and receive a virtual card automatically.
Where can I use the Metro Moi card?
You earn and redeem Moi points in Quebec at Metro, Super C, Jean Coutu, Brunet, and Première Moisson. In Ontario and New Brunswick, the Moi program is offered at Jean Coutu only.
How do I become a PC Optimum member?
Go to the courtesy counter at Maxi or a checkout at Shoppers Drug Mart to get a physical card. You can also register online and use a virtual card.
Can I use a Visa card at Costco?
Costco only accepts Mastercard cards in-warehouse. However, on Costco.ca, both Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted. One trick is to buy Costco gift cards with your Visa, then use them in-warehouse.
Which app should I use for flyer discounts?
In Quebec, Glouton, Reebee, Les vraies aubaines, and SOS Cuisine are the most popular for finding the best deals of the week. Some require a monthly or annual subscription.
