Loblaw, Frito-Lay resolve high-profile pricing dispute that pulled chips from shelves
A high-profile pricing dispute that saw one of Canada’s largest food makers stop shipments of chips and snacks to the country’s largest grocer has been resolved.
Loblaw Companies Ltd. says brands like Cheetos, Doritos, Lay’s, Sunchips, and Ruffles will be back on store shelves by Easter weekend after it resolved the matter with Frito-Lay Canada.
Loblaw spokeswoman Catherine Thomas declined to comment on specific vendor negotiations but says the issue was about providing value to customers.
Advertisement
Several people took to social media throughout the months-long dispute to remark on the change in the junk food aisle with several popular products missing at stores such as Real Canadian Superstore, T&T Supermarket, No Frills, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Shopper’s & Superstore isn’t selling Frito-Lay’s chips because Lay’s wanted to hike their prices and the stores said no. Tthis has been happening since the end of FEBURARY. WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME?! While I was prepping, then recovering from surgery? I WANT SOME GOSH-DARN CHIPS! pic.twitter.com/6skXQGwvuc
— Nolan (@ItsMyDelorean) April 1, 2022
Since Lay’s chips is no longer available at Superstore, I went back to Old Dutch. Now I’m asking myself, why did I ever switch?
Umm, there’s no comparison.
Old Dutch hands down.
The chips I grew up with.Advertisement
— Evelyn Doll (@EvelynDoll5) March 12, 2022
Today‘s junk food was no name ripple potato chips. I do miss the Lays brand at Superstore. Pickings are slim.
— Frozendiva29 (@Frozendiva29) March 27, 2022
Advertisement
Thomas says products will begin shipping Monday and Loblaw expects to be fully stocked before the weekend, and says the grocer is happy to have a wider assortment in its chip aisles once again at varying prices to suit customer needs.
Frito-Lay spokesperson Sheri Morgan confirmed that the company has mutually resolved matters with one of its retail partners.
She says Frito-Lay is committed to Canadian manufacturing and operations and is looking forward to resuming product distribution from coast to coast in the coming days.
