Rising grocery prices affect store owners and consumers

It doesn’t matter whether it’s inflation, gas, or groceries: The cost of living is going up,and along with it, the cost of doing business. 

Small business owners are concerned about losing consumers as a result of the latest round of cost increases impacting basic foods.   

“We understand when prices go up (and) why they go up, but we can’t always pass that increase on to our customers,” said Bill Sahota, manager of La Vern’s Market in downtown Windsor.  

“I know more or less my customer base here; if the prices are too high, my customers won’t be coming in.” 

The imbalance between supply and demand allows businesses to raise prices without seeing a sales decline. However, increased grocery store prices are forcing shoppers to make some concessions. Navjot Singh, an international student, is one of them and said the cost of living in Canada has left him struggling to make ends meet. 

“I’ve been here for like eight months, it’s really hard to survive in a new country,” Singh said. “All these prices are really high.”