For most Canadians, groceries are one of their largest purchase categories. Everyone has to put food on the table. Unfortunately, healthier food options are expensive and not getting any cheaper with the current inflationary economic environment.
Credit cards are one of many ways to save money on food and groceries in Canada, and they should not be overlooked by anyone who can use them responsibly. Many powerful credit cards offer strong grocery category bonuses, meaning you will be earning significant rewards on all grocery purchases.
But which credit card should you use to buy groceries if you want to maximize the return on your purchases? Let’s look at the best credit cards for groceries in Canada for August 2026.
The Best Credit Cards for Groceries in Canada
Grocery purchases are a common bonus category seen on many Canadian credit cards, so we have narrowed down the best options below based on credit cards that we personally use for our grocery purchases in order to maximize the return on spend.
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card: Up to 6x Scene+ Points
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is the undisputed best credit card for grocery purchases in Canada as it earns up to 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at Empire grocery stores. This card currently has a welcome bonus of up to 50,000 Scene+ points with an annual fee of $120.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns an impressive 6x Scene+ points at Empire-affiliated grocery stores, 5x at all other grocery stores and restaurants, and 3x on gas, transit, and streaming. Plus, the card offers no foreign transaction fees.
Scene+ points are redeemed at a rate of 100 Scene+ points = $1 against any travel purchase, making this a powerful everyday card for those who want strong earning rates without the complexity of transfer partners.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
50,000 Scene+ points
$7,500
$650+
$120
No
Nov 1, 2026
Eligible Empire grocery store chains where this card earns 6x Scene+ Points per dollar spent include Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry, and Co-Op.
When shopping at any of these stores, you can think of the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card as earning effectively 6% cash back on all purchases. This is because Scene+ points have a value of 1 cent per point, and can easily be redeemed towards travel, groceries, liquor, and more.
In addition, the card earns 5 Scene+ points per dollar spent at restaurants (including food delivery), other grocery stores not under the Empire banner, and entertainment (including movies, theatres, and ticketing agencies).
Furthermore, the Scotiabank Gold American Express card is one of the few credit cards in Canada that has no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for international travel or online purchases made in a currency other than Canadian Dollars.
Between the high earning rates, ease of redeeming Scene+ points, and low annual fee, this is flat-out one of the best cards in Canada and one that we recommend adding to your wallet sooner rather than later; see our Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review for more details.
American Express Cobalt Card: 5x Membership Rewards Points
The American Express Cobalt Card is still one of the best credit cards for grocery spending in Canada as it earns 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar spent on grocery purchases. This card currently has a welcome bonus of up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points with an annual fee of $191.88.
The American Express Cobalt® Card gives cardholders the opportunity to earn 5x Membership Rewards on eligible restaurant, food delivery, and grocery store purchases in Canada. With the American Express Membership Rewards® program, it makes for an excellent everyday credit card.
15,000 Membership Rewards points
$9,000
$300+
$191.88
Yes
–
The American Express Cobalt Card also earns 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar spent on food delivery, restaurants, bars, and convenience stores. Ultimately, this should be considered at least 5% back on groceries and these additional categories, as Membership Rewards points are easily worth at least 1 cent per point when redeemed.
Of course, many would still argue that the American Express Cobalt Card is the best credit card for buying groceries in Canada because Membership Rewards points can be transferred to many other valuable frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs, including the popular Aeroplan, Flying Blue, and British Airways Avios loyalty programs.
When transferring Membership Rewards points to any of these programs for award flight redemptions, you can certainly get better value than 1 cent per point, particularly if you are booking a business class fare. Membership Rewards are the most powerful transferable currency in Canada, so don’t sleep on acquiring as many of these valuable points as possible. Check out our review of the American Express Cobalt Card for more details as to what this powerhouse of a card can offer your wallet.
Now, you might be thinking, “But I shop at Loblaws stores, which don’t accept American Express!” Fret not, as there are workarounds to use American Express cards at Superstore and Loblaws.
Neo World Elite Mastercard: 5% Cash Back
The Neo World Elite Mastercard has one of the highest earning rates on grocery purchases in Canada, as it earns 5% cash back on grocery purchases for up to $1,000 in spend per month.
The Neo World Elite Mastercard offers 5% cash back on groceries, 4% on recurring bills, and 3% on gas purchases.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
$0 cash back
$0
$100+
$149
Yes
–
The Neo World Elite Mastercard does have an annual spending cap of $12,000 on the grocery category, so ensure that this limit will be enough for your household before applying. Any grocery purchases once the $12,000 bonus spending cap has been reached will earn at the normal earning rate for all other purchases.
See our Neo World Elite Mastercard review for a complete look at everything this card offers.
BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard: 5% Cash Back
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard earns 5% cash back on grocery purchases for up to $500 in spend per month, making it a great option for those who have smaller monthly grocery budgets. This card currently has a welcome bonus of up to $480 cash back with an annual fee of $139.
The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* earns up to 5% cash back on grocery purchases, plus elevated cash back earning rates on other popular spending categories.*
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
$480 cash back
$24,000
$605+
$139 (FYF)
Yes
Oct 31, 2026
Any grocery purchases made past the monthly bonus earning cap will only earn 1% cash back, meaning it would be better to select a different credit card if you plan on spending more than that monthly.
However, if you are interested in a Mastercard since they tend to have higher acceptance than American Express or want to earn cash back directly as opposed to a rewards currency, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard can be a great option to add to your wallet.
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard also has strong bonus earning rates in several other spending categories:
- 4% cash back on transit (on the first $300 you spend monthly)
- 3% cash back on gas and electric vehicle charging (on the first $300 you spend monthly)
- 2% cash back on recurring bill payments (on the first $500 you spend monthly)
Receiving your cashback earned each billing cycle is easy and flexible. You can either have your cashback applied as a statement credit or deposit it into a BMO bank account or Investorline account as long as you have a balance of at least $1 cash back.
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard also offers two additional notable benefits: an extended manufacturer’s warranty of 2 additional years for eligible purchases, and free roadside assistance (provided by Dominion Automobile Association and the benefits of their BMO Roadside Assistance Program – Basic Coverage). Read our BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard Review for more details.
National Bank World Elite Mastercard: 5x À la Carte Rewards Points
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard earns 5 À la Carte Rewards points per dollar spent on grocery purchases.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard offers benefits that include an annual $150 travel credit and access to the National Bank VIP airport lounge in the Montreal Airport International terminal.
0 À la carte Rewards
$0
$0+
$150
Yes
–
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard also earns:
- 5 À la Carte Rewards points per dollar spent on restaurant purchases
- 2 À la Carte Rewards points per dollar spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, and recurring bills
- 1 À la Carte Rewards point per dollar spent on all other purchases
There is a spending cap on the 5X earn rate of $2,500 monthly. This means once you spend $2,500 in a monthly billing cycle (on any purchase category), you will earn only 2X on grocery and restaurant purchases thereafter.
National Bank A la Carte Rewards Points can be redeemed towards travel through their travel agency at a rate of 1 cent per point, or a rate of 0.833 cents per point if used for “Book Your Way” travel.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard also has several valuable benefits:
- Exceedingly strong extended warranty coverage which triples the manufacturer’s warranty, up to 2 additional years, on eligible purchases.
- Travel credit of $150 per calendar year, redeemable towards airport parking, baggage fees, seat selection, airport lounge access, and airline ticket upgrades.
- Complimentary lounge access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard: 5x MBNA Rewards Points
The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard earns 5 MBNA Rewards points per dollar spent at grocery stores. Since it is a Mastercard, it is also widely accepted by many Canadian grocery stores and supermarkets. This card currently has a welcome bonus of up to 30,000 MBNA Rewards points with an annual fee of $120.
The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard earns 5x MBNA Rewards points on restaurant, grocery, digital media, memberships, and household utility purchases.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
30,000 MBNA Rewards points
$2,000
$400+
$120
Yes
–
This card has a high annual category spend limit of $50,000 per category. This means you can not only earn 5x MBNA Rewards points on up to $50,000 in grocery purchases, but also 5x on up to $50,000 in restaurant, digital media, memberships, and household utility purchases. This can add up to a ton of MBNA Rewards points if you are strategic with your purchases.
Cardholders will also receive “birthday bonus points” when holding this card, which can be up to 15,000 MBNA Rewards points (calculated as 10% of the total amount of points earned in the last 12 months leading up to the cardholder’s birthday).
MBNA Rewards points can be redeemed towards travel purchases at a rate of 1 cent per point. Points can also be redeemed for a statement credit, merchandise, and gift cards, but the value per point is far worse. See our review of the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard for all the reasons why you should consider adding this card to your wallet.
Alternatively, if you do not meet the income requirements or are looking for a no annual fee credit card, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is an excellent choice that offers 2x MBNA Rewards on grocery purchases up to $10,000 spent per calendar year.
PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard: 40x PC Optimum Points
The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard earns 40 PC Optimum points per dollar spent on all purchases made at Loblaws banner grocery stores. This card currently has a welcome bonus of up to 20,000 PC Optimum points with an annual fee of $120.
The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard earns 40 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Loblaws grocery stores and offers cardholders a complimentary PC Express Pass for free grocery delivery and pickup.
20,000 PC Optimum points
$6,000
$20+
$120 (FYF)
Yes
–
The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard also earns 50 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart stores, up to 7 cents per litre in points at Esso and Mobil gas stations, and 10 PC Optimum points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
PC Optimum points can be redeemed towards products at any participating PC Optimum retailer at a rate of 10,000 PC Optimum points for a $10 credit. This means using this card at Loblaws grocery stores results in an effective earning rate of 4%, before any additional promotions or in-store bonuses.
The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard also comes with a very valuable benefit in the form of free and unlimited online grocery delivery and pickup with a complimentary PC Express Pass (valued at $99.99 per year), valid on eligible orders of $35 or more. If you already utilize a grocery delivery service, this is a great card to add to your wallet to save even more.
If you are interested in learning more about this card, give our PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard review a read.
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card: 4% Cash Back
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card is another strong cash back earning credit card that earns 4% cash back on grocery purchases. This card currently has a welcome bonus of up to $300 cash back with an annual fee of $120.
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card earns 4% cash back on grocery purchases, eligible recurring bill payments, and subscription purchases.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
$300 cash back
$2,000
$450+
$120 (FYF)
Yes
Nov 1, 2026
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card also earns 4% cash back on recurring bill payments and subscription services, such as insurance premiums, utilities, gym memberships, meal kits, Netflix, and other streaming services.
Furthermore, the card earns 2% on gas and daily transit purchases, including Uber and rideshare. It earns 1% on everything else.
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card has only an annual cap of $25,000 on spending before the earning rate drops to 1% cash back across the board. This means, depending on your spending habits, you might choose it over the BMO CashBack World Elite even though the latter technically earns 5% on groceries.
See our review of the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card for all the details.
RBC ION+ Visa Card: 3x Avion Points
If you don’t like annual fees, an honorable mention among the best credit cards for grocery purchases is the RBC Ion+ Visa Card, which earns 3 Avion points per dollar spent on grocery purchases. This card currently has a welcome bonus of up to 28,000 Avion points with an annual fee of $48.
The RBC ION+ Visa Card earns 3x Avion points on groceries, restaurants, food delivery, daily transit, digital gaming purchases, and more.
28,000 Avion points
$1,500
$532+
$48
Yes
Nov 4, 2026
The RBC ION+ Visa card also earns 3 Avion Rewards points per dollar spent on dining, food delivery, transportation, including gas, rideshare, daily public transit, electric vehicle charging, streaming, digital gaming, and subscriptions. It earns 1 Avion Rewards point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The Avion Rewards program is a flexible points program where points can be redeemed towards travel, gift cards, or merchandise. If you also hold an Avion credit card, like the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can even transfer your Avion points to frequent flyer programs including American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Avios, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
Summary of the Top Credit Cards for Groceries in Canada
We’ve compiled a comparison list of the top credit cards for groceries in Canada, sorted by the value offered by the welcome bonus and the exclusive FlyerFunds Rebate available when applying through Frugal Flyer.
| Credit Card | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
50,000 Scene+ points and $150 FlyerFunds Estimated value: $650 Ends Nov 1, 2026 |
|
 |
$480 cash back and $125 FlyerFunds Estimated value: $605 Ends Oct 31, 2026 |
|
 |
28,000 Avion points Estimated value: $532 Ends Nov 4, 2026 |
|
 |
$300 cash back and $150 FlyerFunds Estimated value: $450 Ends Nov 1, 2026 |
|
 |
30,000 MBNA Rewards points and $100 FlyerFunds Estimated value: $400 |
|
 |
15,000 Membership Rewards points Estimated value: $300 |
|
 |
None and $100 FlyerFunds Estimated value: $100 |
|
 |
20,000 PC Optimum points Estimated value: $20 |
|
 |
None Estimated value: $0 |
|
The Value of Earning Rewards on Grocery Purchases
The reality is that if you pay with anything but a credit card when buying groceries, you are effectively foregoing 4-6% in cash back or rewards on all grocery purchases.
Considering groceries are often one of the biggest monthly expenses for Canadian families, it only makes sense to add a credit card to your wallet that rewards this spending category with bonus points.
While you can often optimize for every spending category if you are interested in keeping several credit cards in your wallet, groceries are the one category we absolutely recommend optimizing as the thousands of dollars spent every year will add up to significant rewards with the right credit card.
For example, if you spend $1,000 monthly at Safeway and use the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you would earn 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent. This would result in monthly rewards earnings of 6,000 Scene+ points, or 72,000 Scene+ points earned per year.
Scene+ points are worth 1 cent per point and can be redeemed towards grocery and travel purchases, which means you would receive an extra $720 in rewards per year just for using the right credit card while shopping!
Many of the best credit cards for grocery purchases that we have listed also offer valuable benefits which further increase the value proposition offered by these credit cards.
Conclusion
Since there are so many good credit cards that earn bonus rewards on grocery purchases, the best credit card for groceries in Canada will depend on your financial situation, spending habits, and preferences.
For example, if you tend to shop at Empire stores, the Scotiabank Gold American Express card is hard to beat with its effective 6% cash back on all purchases. On the other hand, Costco shoppers are tied to Mastercard and might find the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard more attractive.
People who want to maximize return and/or rack up travel points will lean towards the American Express Cobalt card, whose points can then be transferred to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer partners to be redeemed for exceptional value. Regardless of what card ends up being right for you, we hope this article has helped narrow down your decision of which credit card to add to your wallet next to maximize rewards.
Reed Sutton
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the FAQ should be updated. No Frills does accept Visa. I haven’t encountered any No Frills where my Visa was not accepted. I believe them not accepting Visa was before….
Thanks!