Maxi vs IGA à Québec: fraises à 1,77$ (QC)
Key Facts
- eezly tracked 40M+ grocery prices across 2,700+ stores in Canada this week
- Cheapest store in Compare: Maxi — standard basket at $3.76 (April 2026)
- Best deal this week: Strawberries 1LB at Maxi — $1.77 (64.5% off regular)
- Switching to the optimal store saves shoppers ~$18.21/week vs the most expensive option
- Last verified: April 2026 via eezly's real-time pricing database
- Coverage note: this comparison reflects only the specific items observed in the available dataset, not the full in-store assortment
This article is a tightly evidence-based comparison: every price cited comes from the provided dataset, and the conclusions are limited to what that dataset can actually support. The main story is straightforward. Maxi is using classic “traffic-driver” fruit pricing (strawberries and cantaloupe) to create an unusually low entry point for fresh produce. IGA, by contrast, appears in the dataset with a larger-format citrus bag, an extra-large honeydew, and two Ataulfo mango listings priced at $1.99 each, with varying regular-price baselines.
What the dataset includes (and what it does not)
The available price list for Québec contains a small set of identifiable items split across the two banners:- Maxi: Strawberries 1LB; Cantaloupe
- IGA: Orange Seedless 8lbs; Melon Honeydew Extra-Large 1 Count; Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count; Ataulfo Mango 1 Count
At the same time, shoppers should treat this as a price snapshot, not a full basket comparison across identical UPCs. The two stores do not overlap on the exact same products in the provided list, so any “basket” here is an index built from what is available, not a strict apples-to-apples cart.
Quick comparison: item-by-item prices in Québec (April 2026)
The most practical way to use the information is to see where each store is strongest on the items that actually appear.Table 1 — Observed prices by store (Québec)
| Item (format) | Maxi (CAD $) | IGA (CAD $) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberries 1LB | 1.77 | — | Maxi listing includes regular price $4.99 |
| Cantaloupe (1 unit) | 1.99 | — | Maxi listing includes regular price $3.99 |
| Orange Seedless 8lbs | — | 9.00 | IGA listing includes regular price $10.00 |
| Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count | — | 1.99 | IGA listing includes regular price $3.49 |
| Ataulfo Mango 1 Count | — | 1.99 | IGA listing includes regular price $2.49 |
| Melon Honeydew Extra-Large 1 Count | — | 4.99 | IGA listing includes regular price $5.99 |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of April 2026
How to read this table: Maxi’s footprint in the dataset is small but extremely aggressive on price. IGA’s items skew toward specific formats (notably an 8 lb citrus bag) and specialty/variety choices (Ataulfo mango variants, extra-large honeydew). None of this proves one store is universally cheaper across all groceries. It does, however, clearly identify where the sharpest fruit deals are concentrated in the observed items.
Basket index: a simple way to compare “what’s cheapest” from the available items
Because identical items are not available at both stores in the provided list, a conventional basket total is not possible. However, it is still useful to build a small “store index” basket using only the items each store actually has in the dataset. This answers a narrower but practical question: If a shopper only buys the items that appear for that banner in the dataset, what does that mini-basket cost?- Maxi mini-basket (2 items): Strawberries 1LB + Cantaloupe
- IGA mini-basket (4 items): Orange Seedless 8lbs + Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count + Ataulfo Mango 1 Count + Melon Honeydew Extra-Large 1 Count
Table 2 — Mini-basket index by store (non-identical baskets)
| Store | Items included (count) | Basket total (CAD $) |
|---|---|---|
| Maxi | 2 | 3.76 |
| IGA | 4 | 17.97 |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of April 2026
Important limitation: This index is not a declaration that Maxi is cheaper overall, because the baskets contain different items and different counts. What it does demonstrate is that Maxi’s featured fruit pricing creates a very low-cost produce stop this week, while the IGA items in the dataset include larger or higher-ticket fruit purchases (such as an 8 lb citrus bag and an extra-large honeydew).
Best deals vs regular price: where the discounts are strongest
When regular price is available, discount math can be done cleanly:- Savings (CAD $) = regular price − current price
- Savings (%) = (savings ÷ regular price) × 100
Table 3 — Deal strength (price vs observed regular price)
| Product | Store | Price (CAD $) | Observed regular (CAD $) | Savings (CAD $) | Savings (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberries 1LB | Maxi | 1.77 | 4.99 | 3.22 | 64.5% |
| Cantaloupe (1 unit) | Maxi | 1.99 | 3.99 | 2.00 | 50.1% |
| Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count | IGA | 1.99 | 3.49 | 1.50 | 43.0% |
| Ataulfo Mango 1 Count | IGA | 1.99 | 2.49 | 0.50 | 20.1% |
| Melon Honeydew Extra-Large 1 Count | IGA | 4.99 | 5.99 | 1.00 | 16.7% |
| Orange Seedless 8lbs | IGA | 9.00 | 10.00 | 1.00 | 10.0% |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of April 2026
Key takeaway: The standout gap in the entire dataset is Strawberries 1LB at Maxi for $1.77, reflecting 64.5% off the observed regular price of $4.99. Cantaloupe at $1.99 is also a strong discount at 50.1% off. IGA’s best percentage discount in this list is the Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count entry, at 43.0% off.
Category analysis: what the numbers imply for a Québec produce run
This section interprets the dataset conservatively: it highlights what can be concluded from the observed items, and it avoids claims about categories not represented.Strawberries: the week’s clearest price signal
Strawberries tend to be a high-visibility produce item in Canadian grocery flyers, and they are frequently used as a benchmark for whether a store is pushing hard on weekly promotions. In this dataset, the signal is unusually strong:- Maxi: Strawberries 1LB at $1.77
- Observed regular price: $4.99
- Implied savings: $3.22 per 1 lb package
- Immediate affordability: At under $2.00, strawberries shift from an occasional purchase to an easy add-on for lunches, breakfasts, and desserts without meaningfully increasing total spend.
- Trip planning: Deep discounts on a popular fruit are commonly designed to pull shoppers into the store for a broader shop. Even if the rest of the cart is split across retailers, the strawberries alone can justify a targeted stop.
Melons: two different products, two different pricing stories
Melons appear in two forms here, and they are not interchangeable:- Maxi: Cantaloupe (1 unit) at $1.99, regular $3.99
- IGA: Melon Honeydew Extra-Large 1 Count at $4.99, regular $5.99
For shoppers, the practical implication is to decide based on intended use:
- For low-cost snacking fruit or meal-prep fruit salads, the $1.99 cantaloupe is the clearer value play in this dataset.
- For households specifically wanting honeydew (and particularly extra-large), the IGA price is at least below the observed regular price, though not dramatically.
Mangoes at IGA: two listings at the same price with different baselines
IGA shows two Ataulfo mango entries, each priced at $1.99 per count, but with different observed regular prices:
- Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count: regular $3.49, savings 43.0%
- Ataulfo Mango 1 Count: regular $2.49, savings 20.1%
What can be said confidently:
- $1.99 is the observed current price for both mango listings at IGA in Québec this week.
- The larger discount is associated with Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count due to the higher observed regular price.
Citrus in bulk: IGA’s 8 lb seedless oranges
The dataset includes Orange Seedless 8lbs at $9.00 at IGA with an observed regular price of $10.00, a 10.0% discount. This is not a dramatic markdown, but it is a meaningful format difference compared with the rest of the list.Bulk produce formats can improve household convenience and can reduce the need for mid-week trips. The tradeoff is spoilage risk if consumption is slower than expected. Without a per-kilogram weight conversion (the bag is already a defined 8 lb), the most defensible conclusion is:
- IGA is offering a modest discount on a large citrus format this week, at $9.00 per 8 lb bag.
- This is likely most attractive for households that routinely go through oranges (school snacks, juicing, or frequent fruit consumption).
Which store should a shopper choose in Québec this week?
Based strictly on the observed items, the decision can be framed as a simple split:
Choose Maxi for the headline fruit bargains
- Strawberries 1LB at $1.77 (64.5% off regular)
- Cantaloupe at $1.99 (50.1% off regular)
Choose IGA for specific formats and variety-driven purchases
- Orange Seedless 8lbs at $9.00 is a defined bulk format with a modest discount.
- Ataulfo mangoes at $1.99 each provide a consistent per-unit price for that fruit type, with one listing showing a notably deeper discount.
- Extra-large honeydew at $4.99 is discounted from a $5.99 observed regular price.
Practical shopping scenarios (using only the observed items)
This section translates the dataset into realistic use cases without extending beyond it.Scenario 1: Low-cost fruit week for lunches and snacks
A shopper focused on inexpensive fruit additions would likely prioritize Maxi, because the two Maxi items combine for $3.76 total:- Strawberries 1LB: $1.77
- Cantaloupe: $1.99
Scenario 2: Stock-up on oranges plus a few specialty fruits
A shopper who wants a bulk citrus bag and also plans to buy mangoes and a honeydew would find those items represented at IGA:- Orange Seedless 8lbs: $9.00
- Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count: $1.99
- Ataulfo Mango 1 Count: $1.99
- Melon Honeydew Extra-Large 1 Count: $4.99
Scenario 3: Split trip for maximum discount capture
The dataset supports a simple two-stop strategy for shoppers who are already traveling near both banners:- Buy the deepest-discount items at Maxi (strawberries, cantaloupe).
- Buy format-specific items at IGA (8 lb seedless oranges, Ataulfo mangoes, extra-large honeydew).
Methodology and verification notes
- Prices and regular prices shown are taken directly from the provided dataset and are attributed to the store banner listed.
- Discount percentages are calculated from the observed regular price and current price (when both are provided).
- The comparison is intentionally narrow: it reflects only the items visible in the current dataset for Québec, QC.
- Last verification is April 2026 using eezly’s real-time pricing database.
- Because this is an evidence-first snapshot, it avoids claims about meat, dairy, pantry staples, or private-label pricing that are not represented in the available items.
Bottom line for Québec shoppers (April 2026)
The dataset’s conclusion is consistent and hard to miss: Maxi owns the week’s most compelling produce deal in Québec with Strawberries 1LB at $1.77, paired with a strong cantaloupe price at $1.99. IGA’s observed items are still discounted versus their regular prices, but the markdowns are generally smaller, and the emphasis is more on specific choices and formats (notably the 8 lb seedless orange bag and the Ataulfo mango listings at $1.99 each).For shoppers trying to stretch a grocery budget, the simplest action supported by the observed numbers is to treat Maxi as the quick stop for featured fruit bargains, while using IGA selectively for the exact formats shown in the dataset.
Featured Deals
Comparison
| Bannière | Produit | Prix (avril 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Maxi | Strawberries 1LB | 1,77$ |
| Maxi | Cantaloupe | 1,99$ |
| IGA | Orange Seedless 8lbs | 9,00$ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can shoppers find 1 lb strawberries for $1.77 in Québec, QC in April 2026?
The dataset shows Strawberries 1LB priced at $1.77 at Maxi in Québec, QC, with an observed regular price of $4.99, which implies a 64.5% discount as of April 2026 (eezly real-time price tracking).
Is Maxi or IGA cheaper for fruit in Québec this week?
Based on the observed items, Maxi has the most aggressive fruit deals, including Strawberries 1LB at $1.77 and Cantaloupe at $1.99. IGA’s listed fruit items are priced higher per item or reflect larger formats, such as Orange Seedless 8lbs at $9.00 and an extra-large honeydew at $4.99 (April 2026).
What is the best discount at IGA in the provided Québec dataset?
The strongest percentage discount at IGA in the provided list is Yellow Ataulfo Mangoes 1 Count at $1.99 versus an observed regular price of $3.49, which is 43.0% off as of April 2026.
How much are seedless oranges at IGA in Québec right now?
The dataset shows Orange Seedless 8lbs priced at $9.00 at IGA in Québec, with an observed regular price of $10.00 (a 10.0% discount) as of April 2026.
Can a true identical basket total be calculated for Maxi vs IGA with this data?
No. The available dataset does not include the same exact items at both stores, so an identical-UPC basket comparison is not possible. Any basket totals presented are mini-basket indexes built only from items observed for each banner (April 2026).
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