To the point
Here's how each grocery rewards program compares and works, so you know which one is best for you!
Save at the grocery store - Programs and store brands
There are several supermarket brands, with different loyalty programs. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the food giants. Here’s a summary:
Save at the grocery store - MOI Card at Metro and Super C
The Metro&moi program became MOI on May 25, 2023. Since May 25, 2023, points can be earned and redeemed at the following locations:
- Metro (in Quebec only)
- Jean Coutu
- Super C
- Brunet
- and Première Moisson
Basic accumulation at Metro for MOI card members
Even though the Metro&moi loyalty card has changed its name to MOI, accumulation and redemption are similar at Metro, Première Moisson, Jean Coutu and Brunet.
| Earning rate | |
| basic | 1 point per dollar (all banners excluding Super C) |
| offers | By specific product via application and circular (all banners including Super C) |
| Redeem | 125 points = $1 (minimum 500 points = $4) |
| Value | 1 point = $0.008 or 0.8% return |
| Credit card | moi RBC Visa Credit Card |
In the case of Super C, there is no earning based on spending, so the way to earn points is with personalized offers from mobile applications.
With the MOI program, points can be redeemed at any time, as long as you have at least 500 points in the bank, at any of the stores included in the program.
Coupons with bonus points are also available on the Metro app and website.
Earning with a credit card
To coincide with the launch of the new MOI program, a co-branded RBC and MOI card was introduced: the RBC Visa moi Card.
Save at the grocery store - PC Optimum at Maxi
PC Optimum loyalty card points can be earned at the following grocery stores:
- Maxi
- Provigo
- Loblaws
- No Frills
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Cliquez & Ramassez / Click & Go
1,000 PC Optimum points earn $10 off at checkout. It’s simply a 1% return ($10 divided by 1,000).
Basic accumulation
There is no basic grocery accumulation at Maxi, but there is at Shoppers Drug Mart at a rate of 15 points per dollar spent.
So, points are accumulated at Maxi through :
- Customized offers
- Special offers and events in store
- Product Promotions
They change weekly and can be found on the PC Optimum application and in the member profile on the PC Optimum website.
Special offers may be based on the amount spent at Maxi.
Or there will be an instant discount when you swipe your PC Optimum loyalty card at checkout.
PC points can also be earned by purchasing specific products. Please read our full review of the PC Optimum program here.
Earning with a credit card
The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard earns 30 PC Optimum points for every dollar spent at Maxi. With this PC Optimum credit card, even if there were no bonus points at Maxi, a $100 grocery purchase would earn 3,000 PC Optimum points ($3 value). The return is, therefore, 3%.
By the way, I had done an example of point accumulation in an article on the best combinations of rewards programs and credit cards. The promotions and bonus points for a grocery store at Maxi had brought me 26% in return !
If I had used the President’s Choice World Elite Mastercard Financial Services, it wouldn’t really have given me a better discount on my purchase (only 3% more).
It was the National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard® and the BMO® CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*that gave me the most, with an additional 5%.
Check out the best credit cards for grocery shopping.
Save at the grocery store - Scene+ at IGA
The Scene+ loyalty card is not just for movies and popcorn anymore! It is now on the supermarket scene across Canada and includes the following grocery stores:
- IGA
- Voilà by IGA / by Sobeys / by Safeway
- Rachelle-Bery
- Les Marchés Tradition
- Sobeys and Safeway
- Foodland, FreshCo and Chalo! Freshco
- Co-op
- and Thrifty Foods
1,000 Scène+ points deduct $10 from your bill at checkout ( 1% return).
Basic accumulation
There is no basic accumulation. It is therefore difficult to assess the exact value of this program.
Scene+ points will be accumulated through :
- Personalized offers on the IGA application
- Special offers or events in store
- Product Promotions
Offers change weekly and are available on the member’s profile on the IGA app. This is the same way Maxi and PC Optimum points work.
At IGA, there are all types of promotions, like this special coupon below.
$ 100 in purchases earns 1,000 bonus points ($10 value or a 10% return). Then, 400 Scene+ points are given with a minimum purchase of $50 ($4 value or 8%).
Then there are offers to purchase specific products.
Here, 100 Scene+ points ($1 value) with the purchase of 2 boxes of soft bars costing $5.98 total. It’s like $4.98 for the 2 boxes.
Having the Scene+ loyalty card at IGA also allows you to get a discount on products.
Accumulation with a Scene+ credit card and IGA offers
The best Scene+ credit card for the Scene+ loyalty card is the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card. It earns 6 points per dollar charged on the card ! It is the best accumulation in Canada in grocery stores.
So, a spend of only $167 (1,000 points divided by 6 points) on this credit card earns a $10 discount at checkout.
Let’s go back to this week’s Scene+ promotion at IGA, where a $100 grocery spend earns 1,000 points.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card would give an additional 600 Scene+ points (6 points X $100).
The grand total would be 1,600 points earned, worth $16 or 16% off!
What’s more, every week, Scene+ offers targeted deals that let you earn even more Scene+ points when you buy specific products at IGA grocery stores. These extra points offers must be checked and activated in the IGA mobile application.
Save at the grocery store - Loyalty program summary
| Basic accumulation | Minimum spending required to redeem | Rebate with a co-branded credit card | Credit card cash back with grocery store accelerated earning rate | |
| MOI | 0.8% (except Super C) | $500 | 1.6% with the moi RBC Visa Card |
5 % National Bank World Elite Mastercard |
| PC Optimum | None |
Basic: X With the PC World Elite Mastercard: $334 |
3,33 % |
5 % |
| Scene+ | None |
Basic: X With Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card: $167 |
6 % Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card 3 % |
5 % National Bank World Elite Mastercard |
| AIR MILES (ended March 22, 2023 in Quebec) | 0,5 % | 1 900 $ | 3.15% with the BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®*. | 6 % Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card 5 % American Express Cobalt CardNational Bank’s World Elite Mastercard® cardBMO® CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* |
Bottom Line
It’s easier to predict the point accumulation of the Moi program, with its fixed base accumulation. But it is one of the least profitable for its customers.
Those of the PC Optimum and Scene+ programs vary. They have the opportunity to give many more points. This will depend on the weekly promotions and the type of products purchased by the member.
But depending on the weekly offers, the member could earn an extremely advantageous return during a given week but be at zero the following week.
Even so, depending on your region, your habits and your nearest favourite grocery store, there are ways to get the most out of each reward program.
When's the next Metro reward?
Now you don’t have to wait until the next quarter to get your Metro rewards cheque! All you need is at least 500 MOI points in your MOI member account.
How do I become an IGA member?
IGA’s loyalty program is Scene+.
Future Scène+ members can go to the Courtesy Counter at IGA to pick up a physical card and a registration form.
Another way is to apply online and obtain a virtual card automatically.
How can I see my Moi points?
Check the bottom of your invoice or your member profile on the MOI program page.
How and where do I get a Scene+ card?
Go to the Courtesy Counter at IGA to obtain a physical card and a registration form.
Another way is to apply online or on the IGA mobile application and get a virtual card automatically.
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
