Posted by: Theodora Lamb, Executive Director
Each December, I eagerly await the release of Canada’s Annual Food Price Report. Led by Dalhousie University in collaboration with research teams across four Canadian universities, this report uses historical data and analytical tools to forecast Canadian food prices for the coming year.
Why is this report so important to Quest?
$800 More-A-Year is Coming
Right away, I look to see the projected percentage increase in grocery costs. For 2025, food prices are expected to rise between 3% and 5%. Knowing the percentages is helpful, but understanding how they are going to impact people’s lives means understanding the increase or decrease in dollars. 2025’s increase essentially means that your average Canadian household of 4 is going to spend an additional $800 per year on groceries.
While the report’s projections provide insight, things can vary and change over the course of a year. Take 2024, for example, the report forecasted a 2.5% to 4.5% increase, but the actual rise turned out to be slightly lower. That doesn’t mean individuals and families felt any more relief at the grocery check-out. In fact, just about anyone and everyone would probably tell you they felt an increase in the cost of their food.
Canada’s Youngest Adults Hit Hardest
The report goes on to confirm that 8.7 million people, including 2.1 million children, are struggling to afford the food they need. At Quest, we’re seeing the same trend reflected in our markets. Gen Z—those born between 1997 and 2021—are feeling the pinch and economic pressure of rising food costs with 40% of them relying on their savings or borrowing money to buy food.
The Rising Cost of Groceries
In 2024, Quest released its first Cost of Groceries Report. Using our grocery and food data, Quest Non-Profit Grocery Markets is working to better understand how Metro Vancouver households living paycheck to paycheck are impacted by rising grocery costs. We explored how our market clients, including families and children, are hit hardest when faced with the growing challenge of affording food. This involved analyzing our annual Community Referring Partner and Client Engagement Survey results, as well as insights from our operations across five non-profit grocery markets serving over 10,000+ unique individuals.
In British Columbia, a family of four earning $40,000—just around the poverty line—spends at least 40% of their income on food. Families or individuals with limited incomes are often reliant on government financial assistance. At Quest, 91% of clients receive some form of assistance, and 59% earn $25,000 or less annually.
While Canada’s Annual Food Price Report highlights areas of greatest need, it’s also a humbling reminder: despite efforts to track costs, rising food prices and stagnant incomes leave many families struggling to make ends meet. Without stronger support, countless households will continue to face the tough choice between putting food on the table and covering other basic needs.
A Solution, Not a Band-aid
2025 is going to be a challenging year that will bring new challenges to the cost and movement of our food. We will continue to support our client communities and referring partners alike because we understand when someone has access to the food they need and want at prices they can afford, they have agency. This is ultimately what disrupts cycles of poverty and food insecurity: the power to choose for yourself and provide for your family. At Quest, we trust British Columbians to know what belongs in their fridge and what nourishes their own families.
It’s our job to make sure they have access to the most fresh and affordable choices available.
