LETHBRIDGE — Jordan Murray says the prices at Coalhurst Grocery are outrageous.
“I can understand raising your prices above the norm in town, maybe a dollar or two dollars,” Murray said.
The small store opened its doors three years ago in Coalhurst. Murray says the prices of items have steadily increased ever since.
“In a time when everyone is being laid off in Alberta, we should all work together and help each other,” he said.
“Prices are sky-rocketing at this store and people in Coalhurst that already have a hard time are finding it that much more difficult.”
Global News did some price checking of our own.
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The price of coffee at the Coalhurst grocery store was $20 more than the same tin at a similar store. Delissio pizzas were also double the price and a box of wings was nearly $50.
“When you go to a grocery store you expect to feed yourself for $100 for a week, but you you go to the grocery store here and you spend $100 you get one meal,” Murray said.
At one point he did not have a car and had to purchase his groceries locally. He now worries about the seniors who do no not have transportation into Lethbridge.
“There are a lot of elderly people that live in Coalhurst and have absolutely no means of transportation. They have the Coalhurst shuttle, but that’s pretty much all they have to get into Lethbridge.”
Duane Gilbert, the owner of the Coalhurst Grocery, did not want to appear on camera, but he did explain why his prices so high.
“We are a small, private business and we do not have the buying power of the big box stores,” Gilbert said.
However, after speaking with Global News, Gilbert said he’s in the process of lowering his prices.
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