Retailer Membership

Equipping and enabling independent and franchised grocers for sustainable success.

Retail Membership is open to any full independent or franchised grocery store operating in at least four departments of the following: dry grocery, produce, meat, frozen, dairy, bakery, or deli.

Annual Fee Schedule

Store is Large (over 3500 sq. ft.)  
$669.00 plus applicable taxes

Store is Small (under 3500 sq. ft.) 
$339.00 plus applicable taxes

Application

Scholarship Award

This year, five scholarships totaling $28,000 are handed out to deserving students across Canada.

Awards

National Essay Scholarship
$15,000

Winner invited to annual Independent Grocer of the Year Gala in Toronto.

Four Regional Essay Scholarships
$3,250 each
Awards breakdown
2: university/college (East & West region)
2: high school (East & West region)

Benefits to the CFIG member

1. A plaque for the Store Sponsor of each scholarship recipient.
2. Personalized assistance with any publicity opportunities.
3. Invitation to accept the National Scholarship sponsorship plaque at Grocery Innovations Canada 2021.

Reasons to join

5 reasons your store will benefit from a CFIG membership:

Retail Membership is open to any full independent or franchised grocery store operating in at least four departments of the following: dry grocery, produce, meat, frozen, dairy, bakery, or deli.

Government advocacy

CFIG is the only Canadian association that represents
and protects the interests of over 6,900 independent and
franchised grocers at the provincial and federal
government level.

Staff Perk Programs

CFIG is proud to partner with Perkopolis to offer
our members and their employees never-ending perks
on shopping, travel, gas and more.

Build reputation

Get recognized through exclusive scholarships
and retail awards.

Keep up to date

Get instant alerts about food recalls, advocacy
and regulatory informs. Also receive our
6 times a year e-newsletter.

Esso/Mobil Fleet Discounts

CFIG has partnered with Esso to offer a Mobil
Fleet Discount to our members, putting
money back in their pockets.

Discounts on 3rd party services

On the services you need to succeed like training,
consultation, award entry, and
admission to our trade-shows.

Network and share best practices

Continue your professional development
at seminars, events, and tradeshows.

Testimonials

As a long-term grocery store owner/operator, I feel that the money I spend annually on a CFIG membership is money very well spent. I particularly value the Government and Industry lobbying work completed by Gary Sands, Tom Shurrie and the whole team at CFIG. Some recent examples of areas where I know CFIG has had tremendous influence are:

  1. If you already have an authorization to sell beverage alcohol in the Ontario market, you should thank the work done by CFIG for that opportunity. Without the input of CFIG in this process, this opportunity would be entirely in the hands of the large chain stores. Improvements to this program continue to accrue to independent grocers thanks to the work of CFIG;
  2. If you are a customer of the Ontario Food Terminal, you should thank CFIG for playing a major role in the retention of this facility in its’ current, convenient location;
  3. If you accept debit and credit cards in your business, you should thank CFIG for helping to keep us competitive versus our chain store competitors.”

— David La Mantia, La Mantia’s Country Fresh Market

CFIG is an over 50- year-old organization that deals with government advocacy. It’s very difficult for individual stores and companies to deal with all the issues they face. CFIG also provides various training opportunities, along with collaboration at conferences where you can learn from other businesses. If you’re not a part of CFIG, you’re missing a tremendous opportunity.”

—Darrell Jones, President, Overwaitea Food Group, Langley, British Columbia

 

A membership of CFIG is an essential tool in an independent grocer’s toolbox. From the educational opportunities to the policy and advocacy work that CFIG does on behalf of independent grocers across Canada, the membership dues annually pays for itself. As we’re truly a family-run grocer, CFIG has been there to help us through this competitive sector.”

—Joe Longo, Chief Development Officer, Longo Bros. Fruit Markets, Vaughan, Ontario

 

Through CFIG and their conferences, I have been able to develop relationships with other grocers and suppliers that would have otherwise been impossible.”

—Christy McMullen, Owner, Summerhill Market, Toronto, Ontario

 

Policy & Advocacy

Credit card fees: What’s in your wallet? 3 Hands

CFIG led the fight over the past three years in maintaining pressure on the government to bring forward further reductions in interchange fees. The credit card companies, banks and payment processors, the 3 hands in your wallet, continue to levy fees higher than other jurisdictions. Our efforts resulted in Visa lowering their grocery rates to 1.23% and MasterCard to 1.22%. In September 2018, Finance Minister Morneau announced further measures. An additional drop in the overall rate to 1.4%—along with cuts to premium card rates. This will help ensure that the lower rate for independent grocers to 1.22% will actually be realized. In addition, the government promised in the most recent federal election, to eliminate the interchange fees that are paid on the HST/GST. So 2020 will see further progress in the ongoing battle to narrow the gap between what is paid by small businesses and large chains. NEW RATES EFFECTIVE STARTING APRIL 2020.

Consolidation and Competition: The Squeeze Play

Retail and supplier consolidation has in some cases distorted fair competitive practices in the food industry. CFIG continues to raise the profile of this issue and the need to ensure that independent retail grocers are not singled out and treated unfairly in their dealings with suppliers. CFIG believes that a Code of Conduct for the grocery industry, will help provide more fairness and transparency in our industry.

Cheese Quota: Independents Get A Fair Slice

The implementation of the Canada-EU Trade agreement, known as CETA, will bring in several thousand tonnes of European cheese products into Canada with no tariff. Due to CFIG efforts, the government determined that 30% of the allocation would go to small- and medium-sized retailers and distributors, while 20% would go to the larger retailers and distributors. This is a five-year process and over this period, CFIG will be monitoring the implementation.

Beer and Wine – Here’s to You!

As the current Ontario government moves towards opening up the sale of beer and wine into all grocery stores in the province, CFIG is fighting to ensure fairness in the new framework. A system that in our view needs minimum pricing, increased margins and more flexibility for cross merchandising. Other measures that CFIG has already won include lower AGCO inspection fees (slashed for independents from $7000 to $1000) and exemption from providing a letter of credit.

Energy Support

In 2019, when it was announced that Loblaw had received a $12 million grant from Canada’s Ministry of Environment, we learned that the program they accessed had been concluded and in any event, there was a minimum $1 million spend on the part of the applicant. CFIG advocated vigorously to Ottawa that this was unacceptable. As a result, new energy support programs have been launched, geared largely to small- and medium-sized businesses.

CFIG & Coalition Win Tax Reduction

CFIG and the Small Business Matters Coalition we led, pushed for a small business tax reduction and further support for business investment. CFIG was invited to join the Prime Minister when the Federal government lowered the small business tax rate to 9% (now the lowest in the G7) effective in January 2019. As well, the government brought forward the ACCI which allows businesses to write off investments in the first year of purchase, as opposed to a multi-year write off.

In-Store Labelling Exemption

CFIG advocated to the federal government the need to recognize the unique challenges of a small business grocer. When new labelling requirements were imposed on the food industry, all products produced in-store or in a commissary for sale in a one-store operation, were exempted from nutritional and allergen labelling requirements. This has saved single- and multi-store grocers thousands of dollars annually. In January 2019, when the Safe Food for Canadians Act was proclaimed, CFIG’s efforts ensured that this exemption was maintained, in the face of opposition from some groups who wanted the exemption repealed

© 2024 Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers