Best Credit Cards for Groceries in Canada

If you’re a Canadian who does a lot of grocery shopping, the right credit card can turn every trip to the store into a rewarding experience. With the rising cost of food, maximizing your grocery spend has never been more important. A grocery reward card will allow you to earn valuable cash back, points, or other benefits while covering your daily expenses.

This guide breaks down the top grocery credit cards in Canada for 2025, compares their rewards potential, and helps you decide which one fits your spending habits.  

Why Choose a Grocery-Based Credit Card?

Shopping for groceries forms one of the biggest regular expenditure categories of most households. You can increase the value of your regular budget by using a credit card that earns a higher rate of rewards on your grocery purchases than on your other everyday spending.

In particular, a grocery-oriented card can:

• Earn a better rate of cash back or points on purchases at grocery stores
• Provide incentives or bonus plans based on food, eating, or home necessities.
• Make your reward redemption more rewarding when you shop frequently at some chains.

With that said, it is only profitable when the card aligns with your shopping location, the amount you spend, and what you value (cash back vs. points vs. travel). Pair your grocery card with the best gas rewards credit cards in Canada for 2025, and you’ll cover two of the biggest household expenses at once.

Best Credit Cards Picks for Grocery Spending in Canada

Keep in mind that the needs of every shopper are different. Certain cards excel at cash back, others at loyalty points, and some are a combination of both. Below are some options to consider in 2025.

1.  BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

Earn 5% cash back on groceries (up to $500/month). That’s $300 yearly on $500 monthly spends. Widely accepted, including Walmart.

• Receives 5% cash back on grocery purchases
• Annual fee: approximately CAD 120 (usually free during the first year)
• Accepted in most grocery stores (Mastercard network), including major chains

Advantages: Easy cash-back scheme, among the highest grocery cash-back rates available.

To have a closer view of the features and current deals of this card, visit the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®  website and compare it with other top‑competitor cards.

2.  Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Earn 6 Scene+ points per $1 at Empire stores (Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo) and 5 points elsewhere. For $500 monthly grocery spending, that’s $360 annually in rewards (1,000 points = $10). No foreign transaction fees sweeten the deal for travellers.

• Earns up to 6x Scene+ points per dollar spent in qualifying grocery stores (particularly those in the Empire/Sobeys portfolio) and strong rewards elsewhere.
• The annual fee is about CAD $120

Pros: Great in case of grocery shopping when you visit grocery chains that are included in the offer regularly; there are other benefits (e.g., travelling, no foreign transaction fee). Perfect if you shop Empire stores and want travel perks too—many readers pair it with our top travel credit cards for Canadians.

To determine whether this luxury grocery card is compatible with your lifestyle, visit the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card site to find professional comparisons and point breakdowns.

3.   American Express Cobalt® Card

Get 5x Membership Rewards points on groceries and dining. That’s $300 back on $500 monthly spends (5 points ≈ $0.05). Flexible points transfer to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy.

• Earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on most eligible grocery purchases (and restaurants/food delivery).
• Annual fee approx $$15.99/month (or $191.88 annually).

Advantages: The rate of points-earning on groceries is very high, and redemption flexibility (travel, transfer partners).

Wondering how to maximize Amex points on groceries? Go to the in-depth guide on the American Express Cobalt® Card site to learn about strategies and redemption tips. Learn exactly how to squeeze every cent out of this card in our guide on how to maximize credit card rewards in Canada.

4.   PC Financial World Elite Mastercard

Earn 30 PC Optimum points per $1 at Loblaws stores (No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore). That’s $180 back on $500 monthly (10,000 points = $10).

• Garners 30 PC Optimum points for each dollar at these stores. Particularly compelling among the people who shop mostly at the Loblaws group (Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, etc.)

• Annual fee: $0 in many cases

Pros: No annual fee, high value when you shop in the affiliated grocery chains.

To find out more about this card, which rewards regular Loblaws customers, you can read the card’s overview and perks offered at the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard site.     

How to Select the Appropriate Card for You

Choosing the best grocery card is not only about the best percentage, but also about fit. Here’s what to weigh:

• Where do you do most of your shopping? A card attached to a particular grocery chain can be of high value in case you shop there most of the time. In case you shop in numerous stores, it is better to have a broad-based reward card.
• Spending level: In case you spend a lot on groceries (e.g. big family, large-volume stores), a premium-fee card can pay off. In case of moderate grocery spending, a no-fee or low-fee card can be the best.
• Redeeming rewards: Cash-back cards are simple, providing fixed value. Loyalty cards/points can be more valuable—but this often requires redeeming them for high-value options like travel.
• Acceptance and categories: Ensure that your card is accepted in most of your grocery stores, as well as that the category of groceries is a bonus category (not all cards accept big-box (e.g., Walmart) or discount stores as groceries.
• Annual fee vs benefit: A high annual fee card can only be worthwhile when your rewards are considerably greater than the fee.

Final Thoughts

A strategically selected credit card can provide significant savings and value to the Canadian grocery shopper. Whether you prefer simplicity (cash-back) or maximum upside (points), what matters most is to make sure that you align the card to your spending patterns and grocery stores. It’s important to ensure that you take the time to analyse your grocery spend, identify where you shop, and read the fine print of any card offer.  With the right card, your grocery bill becomes not just a cost—but an investment in value.