June 9, 2025 – Canadian shoppers who love Folgers coffee might be disappointed the next time they visit Loblaw stores. Loblaw, one of Canada’s biggest grocery chains, has decided to stop selling Folgers coffee products because of a disagreement with the coffee’s maker, The J.M. Smucker Company. This fight is about rising coffee prices, and it’s affecting what you’ll find on store shelves. Here’s what’s happening, explained in simple terms.
Why Did Loblaw Stop Selling Folgers Coffee?
Loblaw says the J.M. Smucker Company wanted to charge a lot more for Folgers coffee. After weeks of talks, Loblaw decided the price hikes were too high and not fair. They believe the extra costs don’t match the real reasons, like the price of coffee beans. So, Loblaw chose to remove Folgers from all its stores, including Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
A Loblaw spokesperson, Catherine Thomas, said the company is trying to help customers who are struggling to afford groceries. “We’re standing up for shoppers and working to keep prices low,” she explained.
Why Are Coffee Prices Going Up?
The J.M. Smucker Company says coffee costs more because growing coffee beans has become harder. Bad weather, like too much rain or heat, hurt coffee crops this year. This made green coffee beans—the raw beans used to make coffee—very expensive. Loblaw agrees that coffee prices are rising worldwide because of these problems, but they think Smucker’s price increase was too much.
Coffee prices have been climbing for a while. Last year, Smucker raised Folgers prices twice because coffee beans cost more. Experts say coffee prices might keep going up in 2025 because of weather issues and other problems, like shipping delays and new taxes on imported goods.
How Will This Affect Shoppers?
If you shop at Loblaw stores, you won’t find Folgers coffee anymore. This might mean you’ll need to buy a different brand, like Maxwell House or Tim Hortons coffee, or shop at other stores like Walmart or Sobeys, where Folgers might still be available. Some shoppers are already upset about this change, saying they love Folgers and don’t want to switch.
People are also frustrated because grocery prices, including coffee, keep rising. Many Canadians are finding it hard to pay for everyday items, and this news doesn’t help. On social media, some shoppers pointed out that Loblaw’s own “No Name” coffee got $2 more expensive recently, which makes them question if Loblaw is really fighting for lower prices.
What Experts Are Saying
Sylvain Charlebois, a food expert from Dalhousie University, says fights like this happen often between grocery stores and the companies that make products. He remembers a similar problem in 2022 when Loblaw stopped selling Frito-Lay chips over a price disagreement. These fights can make prices higher for everyone because companies pass on extra costs to shoppers.
Charlebois thinks Loblaw is trying to look good by saying no to Folgers’ price increase. This comes at a time when many Canadians are mad at grocery stores for high prices. Loblaw has been in the news before for problems like fixing bread prices and selling meat that weighed less than advertised.
Why Coffee Prices Are a Big Deal
Coffee is a favorite drink for many Canadians, and it’s not easy to stop buying it, even when prices go up. Experts call this “inelastic demand,” meaning people keep buying coffee no matter the cost. But with Folgers gone from Loblaw shelves, shoppers might try cheaper store brands or switch to other companies’ coffee.
The coffee problem isn’t just about Folgers. Other brands, like Nestlé and Lavazza, are also charging more or making packages smaller to save money. This is happening because growing coffee is getting tougher, and it costs more to bring coffee to stores.
What’s Next for Loblaw and Folgers?
For now, Folgers coffee is off Loblaw’s shelves, but things could change if Loblaw and Smucker come to a new agreement. Until then, shoppers will need to find other options. Loblaw is also dealing with other price problems, like higher costs for bananas because of a workers’ strike and new taxes on imported foods.
Loblaw says it’s trying to protect customers by marking products affected by taxes with a “T” symbol and showing Canadian-made items with a maple leaf sticker. But some shoppers aren’t sure if Loblaw is really on their side, especially after past issues like the bread price-fixing scandal.
What Can Shoppers Do?
If you’re a Folgers fan, here are some ideas:
- Check other stores like Walmart, Sobeys, or Costco for Folgers coffee.
- Try other coffee brands at Loblaw, like their “No Name” or President’s Choice coffee.
- Look for sales or buy coffee in bulk to save money.
- Keep an eye on news to see if Loblaw and Folgers solve their disagreement.
This fight between Loblaw and Folgers shows how tricky it is to keep grocery prices low when costs are rising everywhere. Canadian Updates will keep watching this story and share any changes that affect your shopping.
