Grocery: Comparing rewards programs for a cheaper shopping cart

There are several supermarket brands, with differing loyalty programs. But in the end, it’s all down to three food giants. Here’s a summary:

The Metro&moi program became MOI on May 25, 2023. Since then, points have been accumulated and redeemed at the following stores:

• Metro
• Jean Coutu
• Super C and Food Basics
• Brunet
• and Première Moisson

Accumulation and redeeming are similar at Metro, Première Moisson, Jean Coutu and Brunet.

If you buy $100 worth of groceries at Metro, you’ll earn 100 base Moi points. It’s easy!

As for Super C, there is no earning based on spending, so the only way to earn points is through personalized offers from mobile applications. So that same $100 in groceries won’t automatically get you 100 Moi points at Super C.

In Ontario, it’s different. Read our article on the Moi program in Ontario.

Here’s an example of how to save and earn points on a Metro bill:

With the MOI program, points can be redeemed at any time, as long as you have at least 500 points in the bank, at all MOI stores.

Coupons with bonus points are also available on the app, the in-store kiosk and the Metro website.

The RBC Visa Credit Card gives you double MOI points.

Another option is to link any RBC debit or credit card to earn MOI points. To earn these additional Moi points, you must make a minimum purchase at Moi program stores, swipe your Moi card at checkout and pay with your linked RBC card.

These are options, but my analysis reveals better alternatives. Check out the best credit cards for groceries.

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

There is no base grocery accumulation at Maxi, but there is at Shoppers Drug Mart at the rate of 15 points per dollar spent. Note that even if you buy $100 worth of groceries at Maxi, you won’t necessarily get 100 PC Optimum points like at Metro above.

So, points are accumulated at Maxi through:

• Customized offers
• Special offers and an in-store prize event
• 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 you’ll get an instant rebate when you swipe your PC Optimum loyalty card at checkout.

PC points can also be earned through the purchase of specific products. Please read our full review of the PC Optimum program here.

Here’s an example of a purchase at Maxi worth over $150. I earned points only on the offers in my profile.

The PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard^® gives you 40 PC Optimum points for every dollar you spend at Maxi. With this PC Optimum credit card, a $100 grocery purchase paid with this credit card would earn 4,000 PC Optimum points (40 x $100, a $4 value), plus in-store points offers, if any. This card is good, but there are better ones out there.

For your information, I’ve gone through 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 !

Among others, I prefer the National Bank World Elite Mastercard which gives me the most at the grocery store, with 5 points for every dollar charged to the card. Check out the best credit cards for grocery shopping.

The Scene+ program‘s loyalty card isn’t just for movies and popcorn! It’s also featured at the Sobeys Group supermarkets across Canada, including the following grocery stores:

• IGA and IGA Extra
• 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

There is no base accumulation. So even if you buy $100 worth of groceries, you won’t necessarily get 100 Scene+ points.

Scene+ points will be earned thanks to :

• Personalized offers on the IGA application
• Special offers or events in store
• Product Promotions
• Purchases made on the Scene+ credit card

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 many types of promotions, like this special coupon below.

$100 in purchases will give you 1,000 bonus points ($10 value or 10% cash back). Or, 400 Scene+ points are given with a minimum purchase of $50 ($4 or 8% value).

Then there are offers to purchase specific products.

Here, 100 Scene+ points ($1 value) with the purchase of 2 boxes of candy bars costing a total of $5.98. It’s as if the 2 boxes cost $4.98 .

Holding the Scene+ loyalty card at IGA also entitles you to discounts on products.

The best Scene+ credit card for the Scene+ loyalty card is the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card. It earns 6 points for every dollar charged! It’s the best grocery accumulation in Canada.

So, a charge of just $167 at IGA (1,000 points divided by 6 points) on this credit card earns a $10 rebate at the checkout.

Let’s take the example of the Scene+ promotion at IGA, where a $100 grocery expenditure earns 1,000 points.

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 members.

PC Optimum and Scene+ programs are variable. 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 more or less interesting weekly offers, the member could accumulate an extremely advantageous discount and points 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.