Saveurs - Épicerie urbaine — Local services in Gatineau

Was going to give it 4 stars (keep reading for reason) but gave it 5 to counter the absolutely ludicrous 1-star complaints.

Saw someone complain about paying $9 for a "loaf of wheat" (not sure what that is but I assume they meant bread). Totally inaccurate - fresh bread from their bakery is delicious and about $4, or it's closer to $5 for the prepackaged and less quality stuff.

Prices are pretty good, and selection is decent, though I'm sure there are some growing pains and things will be resolved over time.

Some things are more expensive than Maxi, but others are right on par with most larger stores (examples follow): $3 for a can of olives $7-15 for high quality cheese depending on the type, or closer to $4-$5 for prepackaged St. Albert cheese blocks Fresh produce is pretty comparable to IGA but it all seems of good quality. Not a big selection but the basics are there (bell peppers, potatoes, onions shallots, mushrooms, various greens etc) Dairy is right on par with IGA or Farm Boy prices (not overly expensive but not crazy cheap either, but the products are of good quality so I consider the bang-for-buck to be good). fresh meat is pretty affordable compared to IGA prices (got two steaks for $25) but the quality is significantly higher. fish is pretty identical to Farm Boy pricing (about $30/kg for Salmon fillets) coffee and sandwiches are reasonably priced for local office lunches but I haven't tried them for quality yet)

Overall, living in the area this grocery store is a huge boon and very worth it. Not requiring to drive is a massive benefit for me and I will gladly pay slightly higher prices for some products if it means saving the difference in costs on not using gas and driving 15-20 minutes every time I need groceries.

Important note is also that they are very responsive on their info email inbox to product inquiries.

Great store but could use some more dietary alternative options. Overall it is a super valuable addition to Hull, and...

Very happy that we finally get a grocery store in vieux hull. Some items that i would usually purchase at a Walmart or a maxi I couldn’t find but I may have missed them myself. This would be things like block cheese, Anjou pears (instead of bartlett), etc. Nothing too crazy but it would still be nice to not need to go elsewhere for these things.

After I got home I compared the prices for the same exact items but at Walmart and Maxi, the two closest grocery stores.

What I found is that my total came out to be less than what I would usually pay for. Some items are more expensive (like mayo) and some are far bellow (porc).

All that said the while experience was very pleasant and it was nice to be able to walk to the grocery store instead of driving. The staff were very nice and helpful, I appreciate the self checkout. I’m sure that with time they will add certain items if the demand is there.

Will definitely be doing most of my shopping here...

Let me start off with the good. The store is very clean, organized well and the staff are great. Very friendly and helpful. They are not at fault here at all.

However, what is with the prices? I am aware the cost of food has gone up everywhere but some of these prices are ridiculous. This is a predominantly low-income neighbourhood. Who can afford this? I've lived here for 4years and we finally have a grocery store and I am happy about that, but I'm very disappointed. This is Whole Foods/Farm Boy level of pricing but without the quality. These are items of food that can be found anywhere but for double the price.

Update: changed to a one star because as I was at the self-checkout, the cashier stood right at my shoulder watching me. I understand theft prevention, but it's very uncomfortable having someone breathing...