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Grocery Credit Cards in Canada: How to Earn More on Food

By PointsExplainedLast reviewed

Add up your grocery spending

Use a few months of statements to estimate a year's spending at grocery stores.

Check coding and acceptance

Confirm that your usual stores are coded as grocery stores and accept your card's network.

Compare the net value

Apply FCAC's method: a year's grocery rewards minus the annual fee.

Add the store's program

Join the loyalty program at the stores you use, and load personalized offers where the program has them.

Where this comes from

Sources

The documents this guide relies on. If one has changed since we read it, the document is right and this guide is out of date.

  1. Tangerine - Merchant Category Codes for Tangerine credit cards

    MCCs assigned by the merchant's payment processor; Tangerine doesn't determine how merchants are categorized; grocery category covers MCC 5411 (grocery stores, supermarkets) and MCC 5462 (bakeries); drug stores (MCC 5912) may sell a limited supply of food.

    tangerine.ca · Accessed
  2. Amex Bank of Canada - Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions (PDF, form 50451591 (04/25))

    Bonus earn rates don't apply if a merchant category isn't identified, e.g. when paying with a payment account through a third party.

    americanexpress.com · Accessed
  3. Costco Canada - What methods of payment does Costco Canada accept? (published 09/10/2025)

    Costco Canada warehouses accept Mastercard, debit card, cash, Costco Shop Card, personal cheque and Apple Pay; Costco.ca accepts Mastercard and Visa.

    customerservice.costco.ca · Accessed
  4. PC Optimum - Program Terms and Conditions (current as of August 1, 2026)

    Participating Stores include Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart; 10,000 points = $10 at Participating Stores.

    pcoptimum.ca · Accessed
  5. Scene+ Help Centre - How do I earn and redeem Scene+ points at grocery, convenience, and pharmacy?

    Participating grocery stores list; scanning the Scene+ card doesn't earn base points per dollar; base points require a qualifying Scotiabank credit card; earning via marked items, flyer coupons, seasonal promotions and personalized offers; 1,000 points = $10 off groceries.

    help.sceneplus.ca · Accessed
  6. FCAC - Choosing a credit card (page dated 2025-10-15)

    Grocery rewards worked example: $25 fee, 10 points per $1, $10 per 10,000 points, $4,000 spend = $40, benefit $15.

    canada.ca · Accessed
  7. Office of Consumer Affairs (ISED) - Reward and customer loyalty programs

    Interest on a carried balance may outweigh a rewards program's benefits.

    ised-isde.canada.ca · Accessed
Questions

About this guide

What is the best credit card for groceries in Canada?

It depends on where you shop and how much you spend. /ca/credit-cards/groceries lists current cards with the rates and fees from each card's record; also check that your stores accept the card and are coded as grocery stores.

Do Costco purchases count as groceries for credit card rewards?

It depends on the merchant category code on the transaction and your card's terms, so ask your issuer. Costco Canada's warehouses accept Mastercard but no other credit card brand, according to Costco's list of payment methods; Costco.ca online also accepts Visa.

Do I earn Scene+ points at Sobeys without a Scotiabank card?

You can earn on specially marked items, flyer coupons and personalized offers, but Scene+ says scanning your card alone doesn't earn base points per dollar on groceries; base points require paying with a qualifying Scotiabank credit card.

Is it worth having a separate card for groceries?

Use FCAC's method: estimate a year of grocery rewards, subtract the annual fee, and compare the result with what your current card already earns on groceries.
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