Costco Ranks Top Grocery Store for New Canadians
The New Canadians Report 2026 finds Costco leads as the most-used grocery store among people who arrived in Canada from 2021 onward.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Shopping — General
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Costco ranked first as the grocery store new Canadians use most, with 29 per cent naming it, up from 26 per cent last year. Loblaw's banners ranked second at 24 per cent and Walmart rose to 17 per cent.
Why it matters
Cost of living was the top issue new Canadians raised without prompting, at 35 per cent, which helps explain the concentration of shopping among value-focused grocers. The findings point to how affordability shapes everyday purchasing decisions for recent arrivals across Canada.
The New Canadians Report 2026 surveyed 1,194 people who arrived in Canada from 2021 onward, with Costco at 29 per cent, Loblaw's banners at 24 per cent and Walmart at 17 per cent. Ontario shows Costco leading at 27 per cent, followed by Walmart at 17 per cent, and the survey does not explain shifts beyond last year's figures.
The players
The Strategic Counsel
An independent research firm that conducted the New Canadians Report 2026 based on 1,194 interviews with recent arrivals to Canada.
Costco
A membership warehouse retailer that ranked first among the grocery stores new Canadians use most in the survey.
The details
Costco, Loblaw's banners and Walmart together account for 70 per cent of new Canadians' most-used grocery stores. New Canadian households spend an average of $185 a week on groceries, and two in three loyalty members (67 per cent) want rewards that save money on groceries and everyday purchases.
Timeline
Arrivals surveyed: from 2021 onward
Previous report figures: last year (2025)
New Canadians Report 2026 published: 2026
Culture Shift
The shift toward value-focused grocers tracks the broader affordability pressures captured year over year in The New Canadians Report, where cost of living rose from 31 per cent to 35 per cent as the top concern. Costco's rise from 26 per cent to 29 per cent extends that trend within the same survey series.
New Canadian households spending an average of $185 a week on groceries may find savings-focused loyalty rewards and value-oriented stores especially relevant to their budgets. Two in three loyalty members want rewards that save money on everyday purchases, which points to practical benefits in choosing where to shop.
The takeaway
Comparing grocery prices across Costco, Loblaw's banners and Walmart can help households stretch a weekly budget. Checking whether a store's loyalty program offers savings on everyday items is a practical first step.
Further reading
Explore more on Shopping — General for other ways households are adjusting their everyday buying.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Insauga.
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