cost of living ontario

Ontario shoppers shocked by the price of Halloween candy at grocery stores this year

Considering the inflated cost of countless other products on Ontario supermarket shelves over the last year-plus, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Halloween candy is being marked up this year, too.

Still, consumers are justifiably angry, if no longer shocked, about the rising price of everything at their local retailers, including spooky season treats, as shown in the response to one newly-viral TikTok video showing how expensive the goodies have gotten in parts of the province.

The user, who tagged the location of the post as North Bay, documented his find at his nearby Sobey's, which was selling a value pack of 16 chocolate bars for $23.99 before tax — a price that has garnered the video nearly 500k views.

"What the f*** am I looking at right now? $23.99 for 16 chocolate bars? Are you on f***ing crack?" the man asks, audibly frustrated. He then cuts to a stand near the self-checkout, where single bars are priced at $2.19 each.

@mitchum863 What the hell #sobeyscanada #sobeys #food #foodprices #galenweston ♬ original sound - mitchelkightley

While some are pointing out in the comments that the package of Snickers, Mars, Twix and M&Ms is indeed a deal based on the individual price for the full-sized bars, most seem happy to go off about the cost of living crisis in Ontario and Canada at large, especially when it comes to food bills.

Hundreds are reminiscing about when chocolate bars were far cheaper —and larger, too, before shrinkflation.

Others are noting how pricey that nation's big grocery stores have become compared to dollar stores and bulk stores like Costco, with one saying, "It's pretty sad that convenience stores are close to the same prices as the grocery stores…hence why I just go to Walmart or Costco."

Superstores like Costco have been proven to offer real savings when compared to grocery giants like Loblaws, Metro, and Sobeys, who are continuously accused of price-gouging and profiting off inflation.

Savvy customers have made it a point to boycott stores like the above and Shoppers Drug Mart after finding how much higher prices can be there compared to other outlets.

As the original poster of the footage said in a follow-up video, "I'm aware [that there are cheaper places], but the fact that they're charging $24 for 16 bars and then $2.19 at the register when there's a dollar store right next to them, as well as a Giant Tiger...that's the absurdity of the whole matter."

"I can't believe the gall that they would try to put that price on the shelf, that's all."

Lead photo by

@mitchum863


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