The war in Iran has caused gas prices to spike in recent weeks — and those higher prices aren’t just hitting motorists at the pumps. They’re also putting pressure on the cost of groceries. Munther Zeid, owner of Foodfare, says suppliers have begun adding fuel surcharges and delivery fees to orders. “It seems minimal when they add $10,” said Zeid. “You go, ‘That’s only $10.’ But you go, ‘$10 times X number of suppliers.’ That’s a lot of money per day, per month.” In many cases, Zeid said he absorbs the extra cost himself to keep shelf prices down and actively shops around for suppliers offering better rates. But in some instances, he says he’s had little choice but to pass increases on to customers. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director of Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab, says consumers are finding ways to adapt to higher prices. With pork, beef, and chicken prices all rising simultaneously, he says many shoppers are rethinking how often they eat certain proteins. “For example, someone would not eat meat during the week, and on weekends, it’s fair game,” said Charlebois. “So, they’re not vegetarians. People are pacing themselves. They’re very strategic about how they buy.” Zeid says people are also looking for deals, and he’s noticed a resurgence in coupon use. “That saves you five or six bucks right there, and you’re buying the stuff anyway,” he said. “People are going back to old ways of saving money. We’re noticing a lot of old-school tactics happening.”
