Quebec Grocery Prices: IGA Strawberries for $3.49 (July 2026)

Key Facts

• eezly tracked 40M+ grocery prices across 2,700+ stores in Canada this week
• Cheapest store in Quebec: Maxi — standard basket at $45.12 (July 2026)
• Best deal this week: Quebec strawberries (1L) at IGA — $3.49 (42% off regular price)
• Switching to the optimal store saves shoppers ~$12/week vs the most expensive option
• Last verified: July 2026 via eezly's real-time pricing database

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the current grocery landscape in Quebec, comparing prices at major banners including IGA, Maxi, Super C, and Metro. We will examine the cost of a standard grocery basket, highlight the best deals available across the province, and offer strategies to help you reduce your food spending without compromising on quality. All prices cited are sourced from eezly's live pricing database, which processes 40 million price points weekly from 27 distinct grocery banners.

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Key Facts

• Quebec strawberries are on sale for $3.49 per 1L basket at IGA locations like the IGA extra des Sources de Cap-Rouge, a 42% savings from the regular price of $5.99. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• Maxi currently offers the lowest price on boneless, skinless chicken breast in Quebec City at $14.99/kg, which is over 34% cheaper than the price at IGA ($22.99/kg). (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• A sample basket of seven grocery staples costs $45.12 at Maxi, compared to $58.03 at IGA, representing a potential savings of over $12 for you on a single shopping trip. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• Salmon fillets are currently 33% off at Metro, priced at $21.99/kg, down from a regular price of $32.99/kg. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• The price of a dozen large eggs in the Quebec City area ranges from $3.99 at discount banners like Maxi and Super C to $4.39 at conventional supermarkets like Metro. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• Discount banners Super C and Maxi offer the lowest prices on pantry staples like bread, with a loaf of whole wheat costing just $2.99 compared to $3.99 at IGA. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)

This Week's Headline Deal: Quebec Strawberries at IGA

If you've been waiting for the right moment to enjoy fresh, local produce, this is it. The standout deal for Quebec shoppers this week is the special on Quebec-grown strawberries at IGA. You can find a 1-litre basket for just $3.49, a steep discount from the usual $5.99. This promotion is available at various locations, including the IGA extra des Sources de Cap-Rouge in Quebec City, making it an accessible deal for many residents. This price point makes IGA the most competitive option for strawberries among the major conventional supermarkets this week.

How does this compare to other stores? According to eezly's real-time price tracking, Super C is offering a similar 1L basket of strawberries for $3.79, on sale from $5.49. Meanwhile, at the discount banner Maxi, you'll find strawberries priced at their regular price of $3.99. Metro has them on sale for $4.29, down from $6.29, and Walmart's price is currently $3.97. While Super C's price is close, IGA's special at $3.49 remains the lowest price available for this seasonal favourite. This demonstrates the importance of comparing prices before you shop, as even a seemingly small difference of $0.30 to $0.80 per basket can add up, especially when buying multiple items.

July is the heart of strawberry season in Quebec, a time when fields are abundant and prices typically become more competitive. This sale at IGA is a classic example of a "loss leader"—an item priced aggressively to draw you into the store, with the hope you'll do the rest of your shopping there. By taking advantage of such deals, you can significantly lower your grocery bill, particularly on high-quality, in-season produce that enhances your summer meals. While IGA may not have the lowest price on every item, this specific deal makes it a mandatory stop for strawberry lovers this week.

The Sweet Science of Strawberry Season in Quebec

The term "fraises du Québec" is more than just a label; it's a cultural phenomenon. For Quebecers, the arrival of local strawberries marks the true beginning of summer. The season is famously short, running from mid-June through late July, which makes their appearance in grocery stores and at roadside stands an anticipated event. This brief window of availability creates a rush to enjoy the berries at their peak, a stark contrast to the year-round availability of imported strawberries that often travel thousands of kilometres.

The IGA special at $3.49 is a direct result of this peak harvest period. When supply is at its highest, grocers can negotiate better prices from producers and often use the popular berries as a key feature in their weekly flyers. This benefits consumers who get access to incredibly fresh, flavourful fruit that hasn't spent days in transit. Beyond the grocery store, the season also fuels the tradition of "autocueillette," or U-pick farming, where families can visit farms and pick their own berries, further connecting them to the local food system.

To make the most of the season and deals like this one, here are a few tips:
* Selection: Look for berries that are bright and glossy red from tip to stem. Size is not an indicator of flavour, but a strong, sweet fragrance is. Avoid baskets with mushy, bruised, or mouldy berries, as the spoilage spreads quickly.
* Storage: Do not wash your strawberries until you are ready to eat them. Store them unwashed in a single layer on a paper towel-lined plate or container in the refrigerator. This allows for air circulation and prevents moisture from accelerating spoilage. For best results, they should be consumed within two to three days.
* Preservation: For longer-term storage, you can freeze them. Wash and hull the berries, pat them completely dry, and arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Once frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer bag. This way, you can enjoy the taste of Quebec summer in smoothies, baking, or desserts well into the winter months. Making a simple strawberry jam or coulis is another excellent way to preserve the harvest.

Price Comparison: Discount Banners vs. Conventional Supermarkets

A headline deal like IGA's strawberries can be a powerful lure, but how does the rest of the basket compare? To understand the full picture of grocery costs in Quebec this week, we analyzed the price of a basket of five staple items across four major banners: IGA, Maxi, Super C, and Metro. The results highlight a clear and consistent divide between conventional supermarkets (IGA, Metro) and discount banners (Maxi, Super C).

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of July 2026

As the table illustrates, the total basket cost at IGA ($67.75) is the highest among the four retailers, driven by elevated regular prices on key proteins like chicken and salmon. The basket at Maxi ($55.95) is $11.80 cheaper, representing a potential saving of 17.4% on this selection of items. Super C follows closely behind Maxi as the second most affordable option.

This data underscores a fundamental truth of grocery shopping in Quebec: for everyday staples, discount banners consistently offer lower prices. The trade-off often comes in the form of a smaller product selection, fewer premium or organic options, and a more basic in-store experience. However, for budget-conscious shoppers, the savings are substantial and undeniable. The nearly $12 difference on just five items can easily translate into savings of $50 or more per month for a family.

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This Week's Top Grocery Deals in Quebec

While a full basket is often cheapest at discount stores, targeted deals can be found across all banners. Shoppers who are willing to visit more than one store or use a price-tracking tool like eezly can unlock significant savings by focusing on these weekly specials. Here are the top data-backed deals in Quebec this week, ranked by percentage savings.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of July 2026

The 42% discount on strawberries at IGA is the clear leader this week, making it a worthwhile stop for that item alone. This is a classic loss-leader strategy, designed to bring customers in the door. However, Metro's 33% reduction on salmon fillets is also a substantial saving on a typically expensive protein. This demonstrates that even conventional stores can offer deep discounts that outperform the regular prices at discount banners. A savvy shopper would note that buying salmon at Metro this week for $21.99/kg is significantly cheaper than the regular price of $29.99/kg at Maxi or Super C. This is a prime example of how flyer-led shopping can lead to greater savings than store loyalty.

A Closer Look at Protein Prices: Chicken and Fish

Protein is often one of the most expensive categories in a grocery budget, and prices can vary dramatically between stores. This week, the difference is particularly stark in the poultry aisle. According to eezly's data, boneless, skinless chicken breast at Maxi is priced at $14.99/kg. At a nearby IGA, the very same cut costs $22.99/kg. That's a difference of $8.00 per kilogram.

To put that into perspective, if you were to buy a standard family pack of chicken breasts weighing 1.5 kg, you would pay $22.49 at Maxi versus $34.49 at IGA. This single purchase results in an immediate saving of $12 by choosing the discount banner. For a family that consumes chicken weekly, switching from IGA to Maxi for this one item alone could save over $600 per year. This price gap highlights the core value proposition of discount grocers: offering essential staples at a significantly lower baseline price.

The story is different for fish this week. While IGA has the most expensive salmon price at $32.99/kg, Metro's promotional price of $21.99/kg makes it the clear winner. This is $8 cheaper per kilogram than the regular price at Maxi and Super C ($29.99/kg). This flip-flop in pricing leadership between protein types shows that there is no single "cheapest store for meat." The best value depends entirely on the promotions of the week, reinforcing the need for shoppers to compare prices before heading to the store.

Building Your Optimal Shopping Cart: A Multi-Store Strategy

The data clearly shows that no single store is the cheapest for every item, every week. The most strategic shoppers leverage this variability to their advantage. By unbundling your shopping list from a single store, you can build an "optimal cart" that combines the best prices from multiple retailers. This approach requires a little more planning but yields the maximum possible savings.

For example, a savvy shopper in Quebec City this week might plan a trip that includes:

• A stop at Maxi: To purchase boneless, skinless chicken breast ($14.99/kg), a dozen large eggs ($3.99), and a loaf of whole wheat bread ($2.99). These are everyday low-price items where Maxi consistently leads.


• A visit to IGA: To specifically purchase the 1L baskets of Quebec strawberries on sale for $3.49. It would be wise to resist the temptation to fill the rest of the cart here, where other items are more expensive.


• A trip to Metro: To capitalize on the salmon fillet deal at $21.99/kg, a price that beats all other competitors this week.

Conclusion: Navigating Quebec's Grocery Prices

The Quebec grocery landscape in July 2026 presents a clear opportunity for savings, but it requires a strategic approach. While discount banners like Maxi and Super C consistently offer the lowest overall basket prices on everyday items, conventional supermarkets like IGA and Metro fight back with aggressive, targeted promotions on high-demand products like seasonal produce and premium proteins.

This week's analysis confirms this dynamic. Maxi stands out as the most affordable option for a standard basket of groceries, particularly for staples like chicken, bread, and eggs. However, the single best deal is found at IGA, with its 42% discount on local strawberries, and the best price on salmon is at Metro.

The key takeaway for Quebec shoppers is that store loyalty can be costly. The path to meaningful savings lies in flexibility and information. By identifying the lowest-cost provider for each major item on your list—whether it's a discount banner for basics or a conventional store for a weekly special—you can effectively reduce your grocery spend without sacrificing the products you enjoy. Ultimately, the key to maximizing your grocery budget is information, and leveraging real-time price data is the most effective way to ensure you are getting the best possible price every time you shop.

Compare grocery prices in real time across every major Canadian banner with eezly.

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