Metro Inc. says it will not accept cost increases from its suppliers over a three-month period in order to keep grocery prices stable during the holidays.
The grocer says this is a long-standing practice at Metro to avoid retail price changes during the busiest time of the year.
Marie-Claude Bacon, a spokeswoman for the Montreal-based company, says this applies to Metro’s private-label brands and national brand products and runs from Nov. 1 to Feb. 5.
Metro’s comments come a day after Loblaw Companies Ltd. said it would freeze prices on all its No Name products until next year as double-digit food inflation sends grocery bills spiralling.
Loblaw said it locked in prices of the popular house brand, which includes more than 1,500 grocery items, until Jan. 31, 2023.
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However, Metro’s comments suggest it’s not without precedent for grocers to hold the line on prices during the holiday shopping season.
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