IGA, Maxi, Instacart — la livraison d'épicerie s'est largement développée au Québec.
1. Online grocery delivery options in Quebec
Online grocery delivery has grown considerably in Quebec in recent years. Main options:
| Service | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IGA en ligne | Direct supermarket delivery | Order online, delivery 1–2 days or same-day in-store pickup |
| Maxi / Provigo | Direct supermarket delivery | Available in most of Montréal and suburbs |
| Instacart | Third-party delivery (multiple stores) | Delivery in 1–2 hours; shops at various stores |
| Goodfood | Meal kit subscription box | Pre-portioned ingredients + recipes delivered weekly |
| Costco (members only) | Bulk delivery | Available in Quebec for members |
2. Fees and cost comparison
Fee comparison:
| Service | Delivery fee | Free delivery threshold |
|---|---|---|
| IGA / Maxi / Provigo | $5–15 depending on area and speed | Generally at $75–100 order minimum |
| In-store pickup | Free or reduced vs home delivery | Depends on chain |
| Instacart | $5–10 variable + 5–10% service fee | Possible price markup vs in-store |
| Goodfood | Included in subscription | $8–13 per portion depending on plan |
Note: online grocery prices are generally similar to or slightly higher than in-store, reflecting the operational costs of order preparation and delivery.
3. Practical tips for saving on online grocery
Tips for reducing online grocery costs:
- Choose in-store pickup over home delivery — often free or cheaper, and you avoid the delivery tip
- Order in one large purchase rather than several small ones to reach the free delivery threshold
- Check weekly promotions — online stores run the same weekly deals as physical stores
- Use welcome offers — most services offer a free first delivery to new customers
- Check in-app promotions before making your shopping list — best savings come from current deals
- For Goodfood / meal kits: compare cost per portion against what you'd spend buying the same ingredients separately — the advantage is convenience and waste reduction, not necessarily price
4. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Finding home-country ingredients in Quebec — for products not found in standard grocery chains.
- Food delivery in Quebec — for evenings when you don't cook at all.
- Family budget for immigrants — planning your monthly food budget.
5. Official sources
IGA online: iga.net. Maxi online: maxi.ca. Provigo online: provigo.ca. Instacart: instacart.ca. Goodfood: makegoodfood.ca.
Author's Note: in-store pickup is my favourite online grocery format — I order the night before, pick up the next morning without queuing or searching for products in aisles. For very busy weeks, it's a considerable time-saver for often zero or very low cost. I reserve home delivery for truly impossible situations — illness, bad weather, heavy drink orders.
