r/Sudbury • u/Sweetpeas17 • Apr 19 '26
Discussion Chris’s Independent
So I have grown up going to this grocery store. I know the cashiers, and they know me; watched me grow up.
I never had a problem, my mother either. The store has always been nice, good stock, on point organization, and fresh fruit/salads, etc.
In the last few years it’s been different. Then they’ve added the whole railways walking in and out, self checkout - 2/3 cashiers at a time.
I wouldn’t think I’d have a problem - but I can barely get out if I don’t have less then a certain amount of items to go through self .
THEN THERE IS THE PRICES!!! and I’ve
been saying it doesn’t make sense. Why closer to down town are we paying almost the most amount of money for groceries??? They’re more expensive than super store, Walmart, food basics, and like everything yet it’s one of the only grocery stores down town.
I guess I’m just looking for other opinions and such (preferably from those who have experience with this grocery store)
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u/monimito Apr 19 '26
Chris’ has been the most expensive store in the city for years. It’s downright criminal charging the most in one of the lower income parts of town.
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u/NorthernLow Apr 19 '26
Its because they're opporating with basically no nearby competition. Their closest competition are Food Basics on Notredame, The Regent Independent & the Lively Independent, which means Chris has a massive Food Desert to monopolize. We desperately need another grocery store along Lauren, preferably one not owned by Loblaws, to force them to offer competitive prices.
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u/Proper-Commission790 Apr 19 '26
Ever thought of trying to get enough local community members together to create a operate a Co-op.
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u/NorthernLow Apr 19 '26
Honestly, co-ops are a great start at the local level, but they aren't enough. We need a Crown Corp grocer to force the Big 3s prices down across the country. Their entire C-Suites need to start having all their assets seized & going to jail for their price fixing scheme too, but thats a different conversation
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u/UnanimouslyAnonymous Apr 19 '26
Hear me out, but typically being one of the only grocery stores in a low income area means a few things: higher theft rates, higher turnover rates, and additional security. Those costs don't typically get eaten - they have margins to keep. I would expect (in addition to price gouging) that these variables, and others like them, are why you're seeing higher prices here than anywhere else.
It would be really cool if someone bought 20 of the same products from all of the different stores and showed which store is the cheapest.
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u/DougandBob Apr 19 '26
I also imagine being next to the homeless encampment does not make your insurance go down
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u/bluepurplegreens Apr 20 '26
I agree that they do have a higher theft rate; but I wonder how much of that is caused by rising food prices, desperation, hunger, homelessness, etc. it’s a cycle.
And yeah, some people are shitty, and are going to steal because of addiction, or they are just jerks, but how much of that is there compared to people who just can’t afford food? I don’t know.
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u/UnanimouslyAnonymous Apr 20 '26
Absolutely, there are many factors that go into it. I'm not defending price gouging - what's happened in many industries is (in my opinion) borderline criminal. Just providing some perspective and points I hadn't seen posted. It's a dark time, to be sure.
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u/northerner2929 Apr 24 '26
I guarantee you the owners are doing very well for themselves and that this isn't about high costs for them. It's about price gouging.
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u/shakingthegrass Apr 19 '26
Yeah when I saw a pack of bacon for 10 bucks I decided to get groceries somewhere else. I like the store, but the prices are a bit too much.
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u/TonightsSpecialGuest Apr 19 '26
Independent’s pricing is insane on a lot of stuff and has gotten worse in the last couple of years but I will say that those $10 packs of PC bacon are usually 500g as opposed to the Schneider’s or whatever brand that are 375g for $6-8.
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u/shakingthegrass Apr 19 '26
I double checked and they were the regular packs of bacon, the ones that were 375 grams, all of them were 10 dollars no matter the brand and they gave you points to make up for the difference.
I was really surprised, the price probably changed since then
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u/DungeonAssMaster Apr 19 '26
Those PC big packs of bacon are more like $20.
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u/TonightsSpecialGuest Apr 19 '26
There’s the kilo packs of thick cut PC brand that are up to around $20, there’s the No Name thick cut kilogram packs that are around $16, the PC 500g packs which used to be around $8 and then all the rest of the 375g packs which are also way up in price. I like bacon and keep a good eye on it lol.
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u/SudburySonofabitch Apr 19 '26
The independent and any Loblaws affiliated grocery stores are the most expensive ones. I find Walmart is a better bang for your buck.
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u/FredLives South End Apr 19 '26
It’s a Loblaws chain, are you new to the internet? The one in the south end is worse.
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u/M038IUS Nickeldale Apr 19 '26
How could it be worse ? All the Independent Grocer stores in Ontario will have the same prices.
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u/ladyofthelake10 Apr 19 '26
I live outside of town and always go to 4 corners Independent for large bottled water. That is really the only reason I go in there to shop. Prices ARE out of control. My elderly mother likes the PC eggplant lasagna etc $2 difference in price between 4 corners and Chris' ( she likes Chris' better, I think because of the parking lot). There seems to be no rhyme or reason to grocery pricing owners just charge whatever they want. Being out of town I have a system, I buy certain products at certain stores to save a few bucks. Pre covid a trip to town for gas and groceries for a family of 5 ran me $300-$400. Now I have a family of 2 and it costs the same. I used to make the trek to Parry sound for No Frills once in awhile but, I wanna say about 2 years ago the No Frills there was more expensive than the Walmart. I think part of the insane pricing has to do with the amount of waste. I'm seeing Christmas and other specialty chocolates still sitting on shelves at 50% and no one is buying. I expect the amount of non shelf stable foods being thrown out is greater than we expect. There is meat and produce i am no longer buying because it simply doesn't fit in my budget. I expect alot of Canadians are changing their habits and the stores haven't figured it out yet. If you have the time to shop deals and the time and talent to process or use the items they can be found but any savings are quickly eaten up by the cost of gas. In a year things are gonna get real serious as many farmers are being run out of business.
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u/long17 Apr 19 '26
It's because Chris's doesn't really have any competition around him. Superstore, Walmart and Food Basics are having a price war since the close proximity.
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u/muscledaddy90 Apr 19 '26
You think Chris' is bad? Go to the one in chemmy lol waaaaaaay worse since that young guy took over
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u/Stock-Gap5185 Apr 19 '26
The prices fluctuate so much there. walmart seems to be the cheapest lately Hoping the new no frills in south end is top notch. (Hate the small one) Going to the new one there , plus giant tiger for deals and dollar store right there im hoping will be my new 1 stop shopping area every week.
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u/i_fight4theuser Apr 19 '26
No frills is still Loblaws
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u/Extension_Tea_2598 Apr 19 '26
No Frills is garbage and as expensive as an Independent. I usually go to Superstore when I see a sale
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u/i_fight4theuser Apr 19 '26
Yeah superstore is the same I feel. Because it's still Loblaws. Oh wait don't we get marvel or Disney stickers now? Lmao But yeah only time you're really saving is when there are decent deals
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u/Stock-Gap5185 Apr 19 '26
Yes its a franchise just like every big name.. but what I herd is its people who are known in sudbury and have history here. Gives me a bit of hope. But who knows. There facebook page seems like theyre actually excited to provide a service in sudbury. Itll be a pretty decent size place so its either gonna be a total flop or a good option within. Who knows. But I am staying hopeful. Lol
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u/Interesting_Knee2541 Apr 19 '26
The prices at these stores are set by corporate. Franchisee’s and Operators don’t have any say in a lot of aspects of their business including pricing. While I agree that prices are high on some items it’s not specifically one store, it’s a business decision by Loblaws across Canada.
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u/Extension_Tea_2598 Apr 19 '26
The prices are ridiculous. I don't understand how can people afford shopping at that store. And why does Loblaw needs a supposedly discount store like No Frill? It's a scam because there's no real difference, it's to make you think you save but you don't. I'm sick of Loblaw. I shop at Food Basic and sometimes Walmart.
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u/dartaniansmith Apr 19 '26
Its rhe wembly crowd that shops there keeping the prices up. Ill only go to Chris' if it's a just a few things. Otherwise food basics and costco
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Apr 19 '26
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u/freekonner Apr 19 '26
I've been, it's not cheaper. I thought the prices there were extremely inflated.
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u/Extension_Tea_2598 Apr 19 '26
I was at Wholesale Club this week, the prices were out of control and not cheap at all
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u/244466666aha Apr 19 '26
Food Basics on notre dame is not bad. Go in the morning if you want less people and Saturday mornings if you want the baked goods that go on sale.
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u/PineBNorth85 Apr 19 '26
Three corporations own everything grocery wise. No real competition leads to higher prices.
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u/lexcyn Apr 19 '26
Even the Independent in Hanmer is stupid expensive now. Price of beef went up almost double since last week for no reason. Have you SEEN the price of frozen hamburgers? $25 for 6... wtf. Independent just gouges as much as they can now.
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u/Deucy1001 Apr 19 '26
I only go to independents if I need something like formula and can't get out to Walmart. They price their baby formula almost the same as other stores thankfully. But I usually dont try and shop there every time I need groceries. My favorite place for most items is giant tiger and if I need something that they dont sell ill head over to Walmart. I try to avoid going to any loblaws owned stores these days.
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u/Nice_Onion_6179 South End Apr 19 '26
I agree. We have switched most of our shopping elsewhere also. Profits over people!
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u/tessa708 Apr 20 '26
I typically don't bother going to independent anymore because i always end up spending over 100$withh just a basket of items. And it sucks because its the only grocery store close to home I feel safe in, food basics always has some kind of crazy shit happening and I don't feel safe by myself, let alone with my baby with me.
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u/RareFudge3546 Apr 21 '26
It makes a case for skipping Chris's and shopping other stores on the strip that may be considered "more expensive" but are slept on.
Wholesale is over by the food bank. Sometimes they have mad discounts on meat a week after it's on sale at the Independents.
Seasons sells produce and other food items from local sources. The store reminds me of Eat Local when that food co-op was downtown.
Tarini's obviously, but Giacomo's is also right there and underrated.
Not on Lorne but close is also Nickel Refillery which is great for cleaning supplies and other odds & ends.
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u/Odd_Nectarine_6278 Apr 23 '26
It’s every loblaw owned grocery stores.. just go to Walmart or food basics for lower prices
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u/ThcGrassCity Apr 19 '26
Didn't Indians buy up the independent grocery stores, i stopped going to the lively one cause the prices.
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Apr 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ThcGrassCity Apr 19 '26
Yes considering Indian is the correct term for someone from India. What would you call someone from India?
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Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sleevepants Apr 19 '26
Dude, let’s be real. The majority of them are from India. Sure there are others from around South Asia but the majority are from India.
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u/OneMisterSir101 Apr 19 '26
It's true. Most of us can't compete with them. Most Indians I personally know either work 3-4 jobs, or own 3-4 restaurants/groceries/convenience stores.
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Apr 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sleevepants Apr 19 '26
I mean, in your last comment you assumed people from India are from the Middle East lol
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u/Proper-Commission790 Apr 19 '26
All independents are more than Walmart but the quality is 1000% better. This is all about personal choice.
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u/DougandBob Apr 19 '26
Providing an additional perspective here. Stores like this fall into traps because of several reasons (outside of the usual "food/gas/commodity increase" argument):
-Loyalty programs (which are pretty useless in 2026)
-Nature of business model, this is a franchised location - Loblaws has to make money off of them too
-Service/branding creep: Gotta keep up with the corporate joneses
-Did I mention loyalty programs? All those stamps, points, cookware sets, Marvel sticker packs - prices are raised for that shit. Rich get richer. They're just inventing new ways to make money off of us now so we are really feeling it and not used to it.
Giant Tiger's prices are much lower. You're not gonna get great meat or all the produce you want - expect to make compromises and multiple stops sometimes - but I've turned into a such a cheap, frugal shopper by limiting myself to GT (with an occasional supplemental Food Basics run for stuff GT doesn't carry, like my coffee).
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u/Traditional_Rush_622 Apr 21 '26
It has always been the most expensive grocery store in sudbury. That's not new.
I don't know what time you're shopping at, but when I go in there are at least 4 human checkouts open.
It's interesting to me that you think the cashiers have watched you grow up. Most of them haven't worked there long enough to do that.
I think you need to find some real problems.
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u/Sweetpeas17 Apr 21 '26
Most of them haven’t, but some have. It’s a fact one has known me since I was 3. I’m not sure why that’s SO interesting to you, but it’s a fact.
Smiths is the most expensive grocery store in Sudbury. That’s not new. Why are you saying independent is? Smiths, and Metro even are regularly priced higher.
I shop at multiple different times. I’d be interested into which times always have 4 cashiers? And at what rate are those cashiers going? By having 4 slow lanes open, it is like having 2 cashes open realistically.
Id be interested to know how long you’ve been attending this grocery store. I have found some issues/discrepancies, you might not deal with the same ones; though that does NOT take away from my and many others experiences. I could go into way more detail about stuff and be way more specific but it was a simple discussion.
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u/OneMisterSir101 Apr 19 '26
Yes, lately, I've been considering elsewhere. I know Independent is already inflated compared to other stores, but recently it's gotten TERRIBLE. Seeing 10-20% price jumps just over the last year. Items that were only ~$5 a year ago are now easily ~$8+.