Winnipeg low-cost grocery program seeing increased demand amidst high food inflation
Posted August 17, 2026 5:54 pm.
Last Updated August 18, 2026 9:56 am.
As food prices surge, the demand for food banks and low-cost grocery programs has continued to grow in Manitoba.
According to Statistics Canada, the province continues to have one of the highest year-over-year food inflation rates in the country at 5 per cent in June.
But one Winnipeg affordable grocery program is still managing to keep its head above water.
“It’s been huge. The cost of groceries is very high, and a lot of people can’t afford it and are being squeezed out, so having a program like this does cut costs for those who are struggling, and the demand for the program is growing exponentially,” said Christian Sweryda, the project manager of the Jason Schreyer Memorial Grocery Affordable Access Program.
The Jason Schreyer Memorial Grocery Affordable Access Program aims to bridge the gap between a store and a foodbank, and last week, they served between 500 and 600 people, reflecting a 20 per cent increase from the previous weekend.
“Last weekend was very chaotic. So we had about five people going on the checkout; the lineup was about a half-hour to 45-minute wait. When we opened, the lineup was going around the building,” said Sweryda.
The program runs through three locations, and the one CityNews visited on Monday is stationed within a Manitoba housing seniors high-rise, something that residents and community members are grateful for.
“For the people in the building that are on a lesser income, and they can come down, and just the people in the whole neighbourhood, not just this building, and so it’s an important program,” said Will Gange.
Lori Klassen added, “This program there should be more programs like this available throughout the city; there should be. And knowing Chris, he’ll probably grow it up to that.”
Sweryda worked with the late city councillor Jason Schreyer for three years, and they started the program together. Now, Schreyer’s protege is planning to run for city council in the Elmwood-East Kildonan Ward.
“Hopefully we’ll see if this program becomes a sustainable model and spreads out throughout the city. And just keep helping people. There’s been multiple requests for new locations, so if we ever get the funding to open up more, we will expand and grow this,” said Sweryda.
