A Costco Wholesale warehouse in Quebec.
Going grocery shopping at the Costco Canada warehouse can be intimidating. The prices seem higher and the quantities are definitely larger than those you're used to seeing at more traditional supermarkets, like Maxi or IGA. But by stocking up at the wholesale giant, according to your needs, you can take advantage of limited-time sales, coupons and bulk discounts, saving money in the long run.
We've put together a list of our favourite discounted grocery items from the July Costco flyer, and compared the prices at Costco versus grocery stores to help you get more bang for your buck when it comes to buying food this month.
Of course, you don't have to stick with our eleven picks. Just follow the same process with the groceries that best suit you and your lifestyle.
Note that the special offers we've shared below are only valid until July 28.
Happy shopping!
Quaker - Harvest Crunch Cereal
Quaker's Harvest Crunch Cereal on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $8.99 instead of $11.49, a savings of $2.50
Quaker's Harvest Crunch cereal makes for a quick and delicious breakfast when combined with yogurt and berries. If this meal is one of your go-tos, the Costco discount gets you a 1.8-kilogram box for $8.99, while at Maxi and Walmart, the same original flavour costs $11.49 for 1.4 kilograms.
Kraft - Miracle Whip
Kraft Miracle Whip on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $6.99 instead of $8.99, a savings of $2
Miracle Whip is a popular item in many household refrigerators. To get the best deal on it, head to the Costco Wholesale warehouse. There, you can buy a 1.77-litre container for $6.99 ($0.39 per 100 millilitres), while at Maxi, the 1.5-litre version is $8.99, and at Walmart, the 890-millilitre version costs $5.77, or $0.65 per 100 millilitres.
Olivieri - Skillet gnocchi with real cheese
Olivieri skillet gnocchi on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $9.99 instead of $12.99, a savings of $3
You can use pan-fried gnocchi with cheese as an easy, gourmet weekday side-dish or — depending how hungry you are — as a full meal. To keep some on hand for a busy day or night, opt for Costco's offer, which includes two 480-gram bags for $9.99, equivalent to $1.04 per 100 millilitres. That's almost 50% less than the same item at Walmart or Maxi, where the bags cost $1.95 per 100 millilitres and $1.92 per 100 millilitres, respectively.
Balderson - 2020 Reserve Cheddar
Balderson 2020 Reserve Cheddar on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $11.99 instead of $14.99, a savings of $3
A good cheese can enhance many meals and snacks, so why not snag this 500-gram brick of cheddar for $11.99 at Costco? For reference, the same brand's sharp white cheddar is listed at $9.99 for 250 grams at Walmart. That means your bill would total $19.98 if you were buying the same quantity you can get at the Costco warehouse.
El Monterey - Chicken Chimichanga
El Monterey chicken chimichanga on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $15.99 instead of $19.99, a savings of $4
When time is tight, an easy-to-prepare meal always comes in handy. While El Monterey's chicken chimichangas aren't on sale in popular Quebec grocery stores, you can still consider whether or not they're a good deal for you, knowing that each stuffed tortilla costs $1.33.
Bibigo - Mini Wontons with chicken and coriander
Bibigo mini wontons with chicken and coriander on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $11.49 instead of $14.99, a savings of $3.50
Costco's five-minute mini wontons — frozen fully cooked — are must-haves. With the 1.36-kilogram box, you've got plenty of inexpensive snacks for busy days on the go.
Häagen Dazs - Vanilla almond ice cream bars
Häagen Dazs Vanilla almond ice cream bars on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $11.49 instead of $14.99, a savings of $3.50
For a creamy, chocolatey, crunchy dessert, Häagen Dazs vanilla almond bars, covered in hardened chocolate, are just the ticket. With Costco's special price, each ice cream bar costs you $1.28, which is about $0.40 less than if you buy the box at Walmart or Maxi.
Starbucks - K-Cup capsules
Starbucks K-Cup capsules on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $29.99 instead of $37.99, a savings of $8
Can't start your morning without a cup of coffee? Stock up on K-Cup capsules with Starbucks Caffè Verona or Pike Place boxes sold at Costco. At Maxi, a box of 24 is $24.49, so if you go to the warehouse, you can pay almost half that.
Red Bull - Energy drinks
Red Bull energy drinks on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $34.99 instead of $43.99, a savings of $9
Everyone needs a pick-me-up every now and then. Instead of paying full price at the depanneur or even the grocery store, buy a few months' supply of Red Bull energy drinks at the warehouse. That way, you can pay $1.46 per 250-millilitre can instead of $2.25 on special at Maxi or $2.17 at Walmart.
Sensible Portions - Pita Bites
Sensible Portions Pita Bites on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $6.49 instead of $8.49, for a savings of $2
As snacks, small pita crackers can be very versatile, and for the best price, Costco is the place to be. By way of comparison, Walmart's house brand offers a similar product for $2.44 per 100 millilitres. The warehouse box costs just $1.14 per 100 millilitres. With the special running until July 28, you know where to go to get your pita bites!
Beyond Burger - Frozen plant-based burgers
Beyond Burger frozen plant-based burgers on sale at Costco.Costco Wholesale
Price: $13.99 instead of $17.99, a savings of $4
As invitations to barbecues multiply throughout the summer, stock up on ready-to-cook plant-based patties by taking advantage of Costco's bargain. Knowing that Walmart and Super C price tags hover around $18 for two patties less, this $13.99 special is well worth the trip. Available in warehouse only.
This story was adapted from the article "11 des meilleurs rabais d'épicerie chez Costco pour économiser en juillet," which was originally published on Narcity Québec by Noémi Lincourt.