The Canadian Food Sentiment Index Spring 2025
Canadians Brace for Higher Food Inflation, Trust Rises in Independent Grocers, and Local Food Gains Ground: New National Report
HALIFAX, NS – May 6, 2025 – The Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University has released its Spring 2025 Canadian Food Sentiment Index, offering a timely snapshot of Canadians’ shifting attitudes toward food prices, values, behaviors, and trust in food systems.
Based on a nationally representative survey of 2,994 Canadians conducted in March 2025 and supported by Caddle, this second edition reveals growing anxiety around food affordability—especially as expectations of double-digit food inflation have surged to 28.5%, up nearly 10 percentage points since Fall 2024.
Despite these concerns, the report also uncovers positive trends. Trust in all food institutions has improved, with independent grocers showing the largest gain in public confidence. Furthermore, Canadians are increasingly voting with their wallets: over 43.5% now say they “always” or “often” buy local foods, up 10 percentage points in six months. Younger Canadians (Gen Z) are leading this charge, with more than half regularly purchasing local.
“This report paints a complex but hopeful picture,” said Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab. “Canadians are clearly worried about inflation, but they’re also adapting—making smarter choices, turning to trusted sources, and supporting local producers more than ever before.”
Other key findings include:
- Canadians are buying less food per person than a year ago, despite high inflation.
- Retail food spending per capita declined slightly, while restaurant spending increased modestly.
- Affordability remains the top food purchasing factor, but nutrition and taste are gaining ground.
- Use of coupons and switching stores to save money is decreasing, suggesting consumers may be reaching their limit on frugality.
- There is broad support for removing sales taxes on all food items, with strongest backing in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies.
- Value-driven shopping behaviors such as choosing store brands are on the rise, while interest in plant-based proteins has slightly declined.
The Canadian Food Sentiment Index is released twice per year and tracks trends over time to help inform policymakers, industry leaders, and the public about the state of Canada’s food system.
For interviews or media inquiries, please contact:
Sylvain Charlebois, sylvain.charlebois@dal.ca (French and English)
Stacey Taylor stacey_taylor@cbu.ca
Samantha Taylor Samantha.Taylor@dal.ca
Armagan Ozbilgea ozbilgea@dal.ca
Methodology
The Spring 2025 edition of the Canadian Food Sentiment Index was developed by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, with the support of Caddle, to assess Canadians’ attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions surrounding food-related issues. This bi-annual survey provides trend data by repeating core questions from previous waves while introducing timely additions based on evolving market dynamics and policy debates.
Survey Period
Data collection was conducted between March 4 and March 5, 2025, using an online survey platform administered by Caddle.
Sample and Representativeness
The survey captured responses from 2,994 Canadians across all provinces and territories. The sample was designed to be representative of the Canadian population, applying quotas based on age, gender, region, and education level. To further ensure national representativeness, survey data were weighted using the most recent Statistics Canada census data.
Survey Instrument
The structured questionnaire was inspired by Purdue University’s Consumer Food Insights Report, adapted for Canadian context. Respondents answered a mix of Likert scale, multiple-choice, and categorical questions covering:
- Perceived food price inflation and affordability
- Food purchasing behaviors and diet choices
- Trust in food institutions and regulatory bodies
- Attitudes toward local food, sustainability, and food safety
- Food-related financial hardship, including borrowing or drawing from savings
Data Analysis
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Year-over-year comparisons were made with Fall 2024 results. Where appropriate, cross-tabulations and subgroup analyses by region, age cohort, and dietary pattern were conducted.
Margin of Error and Limitations
As the survey was conducted online using a non-probability sample, a traditional margin of error does not strictly apply. However, for reference, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of ±1.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Limitations include the exclusion of Canadians without reliable internet access and the potential for self-reporting bias on sensitive topics such as food waste, health, or household hardship.