Why does the U.S. have so much variety in their stores?
Posted by Keylime-19377@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 329 comments
I’ve been to the States and despite spending more due to the exchange rate, I always end up getting different brands I’ve never seen in Canada/bigger sized products etc. Is it just due to the regulatory environment being more lax? Wish we had a Trader Joe’s or Target here.
Outside_Complaint755@reddit
A lot of it is the illusion of choice. A small number of conglomerates control a multitude of smaller companies thanks to mergers and acquisitions, so about a half dozen corporations control nearly all of our food supply, as each of them own several dozen brand names.
BIPS2000@reddit
The personal hygiene section might appear to have 40 different brands. But in reality, 35 of them are just Proctor & Gamble with different labels.
ClickClick_Boom@reddit
That doesn't mean they're all the same product...
soldiernerd@reddit
Most people aren’t picking their product based on holding companies. It’s still choice even if both choices are P&G.
Outside_Complaint755@reddit
The problem is that there isn't any actual competition. When 6 different brands of the same product are owned by the same company, prices go up because there is no pressure to keep them down.
soldiernerd@reddit
But that has nothing to do with the topic, which is a wide variety of choices, or distinct variations, of the same product. Think flavor, quality/price range, style.
Outside_Complaint755@reddit
The variety is there because the mega conglomerates have bought up smaller successful companies which offered their product in a small region, degraded the quality of the product while keeping the name, and spread it nationwide.
SnooRadishes7189@reddit
Even when that is true some of those companies have both higher end well recognized brands and cheaper brands to sort of balance out the portfolio. Gatorade and Power Aid for instance.
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
A better example here is with pasta sauce.
Prego is a mainstream cheap-ish brand and Rao's is a super premium expensive brand...
...both owner by Campbell's.
Outside_Complaint755@reddit
Gatorade and Powerade are actually competitors.
Powerade was developed by Coca-Cola in the late 80s and is still owned by Coca-Cola.
Gatorade was developed at the University of Florida in the 1960s, and in the early 70s they made a deal with the canning foods company Stokely-Van Camp to produce and bottle Gatorade. This division eventually grew larger than the rest of SVCs portfolio. SVC was acquired by Quaker Oats in the early 80s after a bidding war with Pillsbury. Then in 2001, PepsiCo acquired Quaker Oats primarily to get control of Gatorade, and still owns it.
So its basically Pepsi vs Coke.
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
It's not an illusion though.
Having 20 different varieties or oreo's is still variety even if it all goes back to Mondelez in the end.
Likewise with having Oreos and chips ahoy and nutter butters and fudge stripe etc etc etc. it's all variety even though it all goes back to the same parent company.
ShiftlessRonin@reddit
This is the correct answer. The other answers are all living in the 70's.
killer_sheltie@reddit
\^\^\^\^ This
hitometootoo@reddit
The better question is why other countries don't (though this really depends on the country, this isn't really unique to America). Who doesn't like variety, and if you can supply stores with options, that's always going to be better for customers.
But to answer the question, it's a large country with many companies that have similar products. Stores can offer similar competing products for all types of customers and spending limits. Customers want options and will shop at stores with variety.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
Well in Europe the belief is quality over quantity and environment over choice.
Unique_Statement7811@reddit
Your comment implies that you can’t have quality and quantity which isn’t true.
10 types of chips doesn’t negatively impact the environment nor does it reduce the quality of any single type of chips.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
Well I explained to you how it is elsewhere. Of course it doesn’t matter for chips but for fresh food.
Unique_Statement7811@reddit
Why would it matter for fresh food? Are 10 types of fish at the market somehow lower quality than when you have two types?
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
If you have two native fish in the lake next to you and the next ocean is 300miles away, yes.
hitometootoo@reddit
Wait, but you're talking about Europe which many countries in Europe are not next to the ocean and yet, to you, would have better quality fish, when both could be transported 300 miles away to its destination.
You're also ignoring modern preservation and transportation technology that makes such issues non-existent.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
What? I don’t understand what you are trying to say. I said the two native fish in the lake are better than the transported ones. Yes, it’s better, yet fresh fish right our of the water still tastes better.
hitometootoo@reddit
But this applies everywhere, Europe and America.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
Yes?
hitometootoo@reddit
So why are you acting like this is somehow worst in America when the same can and does apply?
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
Because people shop differently and we don’t have 20 fish from 300 miles away. We would not mind only having the two fish from the lake.
Unique_Statement7811@reddit
People shop differently because they have fewer options. It’s a supply chain constraint, not a choice.
hitometootoo@reddit
You're making a lot of assumptions. You don't mind having 2 fish from a lake because you are used to having less. Give people more options than take it away and see how quickly people care and have more of an opinion on this.
Having more fish, does not lower quality nor is it a bad thing. Modern technology makes transporting and freshness stay essentially the same regardless of 1 mile or 300, and this applies to Europe and America.
You believe otherwise, but you seem to be coming from a place of assumed bias and not reality.
hitometootoo@reddit
You can have both but it's nice to know what Europe believes.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
Sometimes, yes but often it’s leaning in one direction. For snacks it’s less important, they probably all bad, but for fresh food it makes quite the difference.
Unique_Statement7811@reddit
You’d prefer just a couple varieties of fresh food over multiple varieties? How does that make sense?
I like going to the grocery story and having 20 species of apples to choose from.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
I‘d rather have one apple if it was the most delicious one of my life than 20 ones that taste like soap.
We can buy strawberries in winter too but they taste awful. So I only buy local and seasonal produce and if that is just one type of apple so be it (it’s usually 5 or so still or I go to a market and they have some older varieties too).
Unique_Statement7811@reddit
Why would your apples taste like soap? Do you not get good fruit where you live?
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
The ones I had in the Us did.
Unique_Statement7811@reddit
Europe imports most of its apples from the US. Perhaps you tried a variety you didn’t like and wasn’t available in Europe.
The reason you fewer food options in Europe is the supply chain logistics are less developed. The US has the most developed freight rail network in the world by volume, distance and goods moved per capita. An orange picked in Florida on a Sunday will be on store shelves in California on Thursday.
GreenBeanTM@reddit
Probably bought red delicious, good thing we sell more than one type of apple here right?
hitometootoo@reddit
You realize that different people have different taste, right?
You think x is the most delicious, I think y is, others think a, b, c, d, etc. is instead. And all of those are just as healthy as the next.
Why is having more options to cater to more taste (and helps that it helps lower pricing due to competition), seen as a bad thing to you?
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
I did not say that wasn’t the case. But if you ship fruits from miles away, they are less good because you need to harvest them earlier and transport them for long.
hitometootoo@reddit
But that's an assumption that they are even being shipped from far away, or that the preservation methods aren't good enough to keep quality during transport.
Again, why is variety bad, now assuming that the quality is all the same.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
IF the quality is the same, no problem. It’s just not always the case. Also I think it’s just a deeper cultural difference. I simply don’t need that. I grab an apple on my walk to work. I don’t visit huge supermarkets that have many different things that I don’t need. We have smaller shops and shop more often.
hitometootoo@reddit
But that just sounds like because you don't have the option for more, that having less is better. I'm sure if those where you lived had more variety, most wouldn't complain about it as if it's a bad thing.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
Well there are others reasons too of course. More products = more transport = more CO2 - Also more food waste; the more you stock the more choice you have the more will wither. Like I said in my initial answer environmental thinking is a big factor in how and what we shop.
Other reasons would be time, people don’t want to spend much time in a supermarket looking for the one thing amongst the many. Decision fatigue too.
hitometootoo@reddit
Not necessarily since companies use distributors who transport a plethora of goods on the same truck, so they may not be using "more transport" just because there is more variety of goods.
Waste is debatable. When you have the same percentage of people, the waste may be on par. Remember, America may have more variety and goods but it also has several times more people consuming those goods. Ignoring the large food waste problem seen through Europe too.
You might get fatigue from such things but that isn't really a problem here. People know what they need to buy and get it. Having options doesn't give them worry or stress, by and large that is. Though if you have this problem, you probably would feel this way in any store.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
It’s actually a pretty big problem in the US compared to Europe.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/13-numbers-about-food-waste-in-america-5119244
https://www.epa.gov/land-research/farm-kitchen-environmental-impacts-us-food-waste
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es702969f?utm
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-022-00531-w
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/field-fork-global-food-miles-generate-nearly-20-all-co2-emissions-food-2023-01-25_en
hitometootoo@reddit
I never said it wasn't, it's also a big problem in Europe, and not just in comparison. Ignoring that it's not a competition, both places have problems with food waste but you're confused if you think it's due to variety of all things.
https://theconversation.com/why-european-households-throw-away-so-much-food-and-how-to-curb-the-waste-mountain-282198
https://www.eufic.org/en/food-safety/article/food-waste-in-europe-statistics-and-facts-about-the-problem
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20240318STO19401/food-waste-in-europe-facts-eu-policies-and-2030-targets
https://foodrise.eu/results-of-eu-food-waste-survey-2024-edition/
https://www.foodtimes.eu/food-system/food-loss-waste-europe-eea-report-2025/
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
It is one everywhere but because of the American supermarket infrastructure it is much bigger in the states
hitometootoo@reddit
Per capita America is on par with most European countries when it comes to food waste.
America actually produces less per capita than the UK, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Italy, etc.
Yes, America is bigger, so it will have an overall higher number than most of the world (it is one of the largest populated countries) but per capita, it produces among the lowest rates.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/food-waste-by-country
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
That’s not what I read but ok. I think we can close this conversation now, I also want to do other things today.
hitometootoo@reddit
Well now you have proof that the US produces food waste on par with other European countries.
o93mink@reddit
This is not true. All of Europe has one taste: the best. Everyone knows this.
hitometootoo@reddit
Well, that is your opinion 🤷♂️🤷♀️🤷
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
Well yeah.
pawsplay36@reddit
If we could only buy the three most popular chips in any given store here, I would just never eat chips.
GlassCommercial7105@reddit
Well but enough other people would and not eating chips is better for your health anyways.
ChemsDoItInTestTubes@reddit
Lax regulatory environments breed innovation, because the cost of bringing a new product to market is lower. I have some limited experience with this, professionally speaking. Registration of a new product in the US costs us a fraction of the time and money that it does to register the same product in the EU, Australia, or Canada. And don't even get me started on regulatory audits.
tokin098@reddit
It depends. Regulation can also drive innovation. Look at the lightbulb. Manufacturers made them one way for decades, they were cheap, easy and needed to be replaced often. Then regulation forced them to become more efficient and in a short amount of time hundreds of new designs emerged.
ChemsDoItInTestTubes@reddit
I understand what you're saying, but, at the same time, they forced the prices through the roof in order to pay for that expedited innovation. I'd contest that we were well on our way to breakthroughs in LED technology, and if we had let the market get us there, we wouldn't have had to suffer through a decade and a half of toxic, mercury-laden CFLs going into landfills.
My point is that it's a trade-off, not that regulation is universally bad.
tokin098@reddit
"Lilely on our way to breakthroughs in LED tech.." possibly or possibly not. There are countless areas where tech is held back in favor of industry maintaining standards. When you have industrial plants designed and built around a technology retooling that industry to a new, unproven technology is a gamble and not an inevitability. Prices went up, for a very short period of time, however it the assertion is that regulation can drive innovation and in this case, despite your nitpick you cant deny thats exactly what regulation did.
ChemsDoItInTestTubes@reddit
If the destruction of an entire industry with a single piece of legislation is a nitpick...
This article explains some of the advancement in LED technology and the economics. If you're in the mood for some more history, this video goes into depth. We were on track for white LEDs, and if they had been practical at the time of the legislation, we wouldn't have bothered with CFLs. I only harp on this because you're not acknowledging that regulation often has severe downsides that are hand-waved. If advancement is your goal, then incentivization (even subsidization) is often far more effective than regulation and bans.
tokin098@reddit
Ok I understand you dont like cfls. Thats irrelevant.
Claim: regulation can drive innovation lightbulbs are an example. Fact: regulation in lightbulbs did drive innovation.
Everything else is a nitpick and not relevant to the claim.
"I only harp on this because you're not acknowledging that regulation often has severe downsides"
Pretty much everything in life has downsides. You know what has a great deal of severe downsides thats often handwaved? A lack of regulation. The thing is this is irrelevant to the point being made by me.
GrowlingAtTheWorld@reddit
And now they more expensive and they do not last as long as advertised
tokin098@reddit
Modern bulbs have better lighting, last far longer, are far more efficient, far more reliable, and while an incandescent was like $0.5-1 a basic led is like $1 so upfront cost is hardly more expensive.
Educational-Big-6609@reddit
Good point. We had the CFL for like 5 years and now like every kind of LED you can think of is sold here in 863 different forms.
tokin098@reddit
Yeah CFL was a undesirable bridge but it cant be denied that regulation in this case drove innovation.
Background-Cod-7035@reddit
I think it might actually be a few companies that put out products with different labeling and just slightly different flavors. For example most micro-breweries have been bought out by just five conglomerates. Me and my husband just discovered Mission tortillas and Guerrero tortillas, the two primary rival tortillas in the supermarket, are owned by the same company.
The U.S. is a nation based on the concept of “individualism” to our benefit and dismay, and part of that is wanting variety so that you can identify with certain brands. But you can’t all identify with the same brands.
Except Heinz ketchup, I think most of the country backs that one 😂
HR_King@reddit
Most microbreweries? Absolutely not the case at all.
Alternative-Pear9096@reddit
(BTW, Trader Joe's Organic is the only off-brand I've had that tastes right, like Heinz. Bonus, it's HFC-free)
Alternative-Pear9096@reddit
Are Guerrero also lard-free?
hitometootoo@reddit
It is usually that, though it is still very common to see local brands in nationwide stores.
Not sure about this. We are a country where it's easy to start a company and promote competition. We like variety because we like options, but we also have those options so it's easy to want something more vs less.
And the individualism argument only goes so far especially when compared to Asian countries that have hundreds of variations of chips for example, despite having a more shared culture. But they also have plenty of companies that promote competition and thus variety too.
I doubt most Americans identity with a chip brand due to culture, they just like that brand and the different flavors available. It's not anything more than that.
cat_prophecy@reddit
The thing I love about Aldi and Trader Joe's is that they only have a couple options for everything.
Last time I counted at a supermarket (Hy-Vee) there was FORTY different types of pasta sauce. That's just tomato sauce too, not even including Alfredo or vodka sauce. Why would anyone need that level of choice in freaking pasta sauce. Stock sitting around like that is what drives up prices.
GrowlingAtTheWorld@reddit
But I am not a fan of Aldi pasta sauce so I’m at Walmart buying one I actually enjoy.
dcgrey@reddit
Whether we need it or not is irrelevant. They do sell. We struggle with what you’re describing with produce, offering choice but throwing out a lot if it because for some reason we only buy perfect-looking produce, but pasta sauce? Every brand sells. They don’t sell at the same pace of course, but it’s not like a store restocks the same number of units the same day every month. They and suppliers track inventory and replace as needed.
And if one product’s sales slip, it gets replaced by another.
LadyMRedd@reddit
So you believe that too much competition drives up prices?
cat_prophecy@reddit
No, it's not the competition. Competition is good for prices. It's that there are hundreds packages of products that will never be sold and eventually will get thrown in the trash.
AKA-Pseudonym@reddit
It's pretty unique to America and one if the things I like about being back there.
archseattle@reddit
It reminds me of an economics professor I had in college who spent some time in the Soviet Union. She said Americans spent so much time evaluating alternatives because we have so much variety here. We could choose dozens of options for toothpaste while in the Soviet Union it wasn’t something people really thought about since there were only two options.
Alternative-Pear9096@reddit
I spend time evaluating variety once, or maybe three times if I don't like what I picked the first time. Once I have sorted what I want (which is a complicated complex of ethical and environmental and health calculations) I don't vary much in my selections.
When some company changes their formula or design (I could literally kill Lee Jeans for deciding freaking "Classic" jeans had to come in 6 different cuts, wtaf do they think Classic means, and it hadn't changed in 20 years, jfc) then I have to make all those decisions all over.
If there were no options, I guess I wouldn't have the luxury of avoiding food coloring, plastic packaging, slave labor, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, ingredients I can't pronounce, etc. etc. etc.
hitometootoo@reddit
Variety is not unique to America. Go to stores throughout Asia, especially China, and you'll see just as much variety. Bigger populations, with more companies, will have more competition and thus more variety in stores. America is not the only large country.
Educational-Big-6609@reddit
Yeah, I think a lot of the answer is just “there are lots of people and money here”. China is similar.
ablatner@reddit
Don't forget the insane popularity of Costco in Asia!
NekoMao92@reddit
Just go into a big Asian Market and look at the canned food, see over a dozen different brands for the same item .
Reasonable_Mood_5260@reddit
Asian stores are all trying to do the same thing. America has all kinds of stores that will be out of business in 5 years because they are too niche or bad business. I just had a "sustainable" store open where I have to supply my own containers then pay more for inferior product to say I am "green".
Asian stores are about either low prices or the latest technology and brands and fads run by good businesspeople.
sgtm7@reddit
According to your link, Targets in Canada had higher prices and a limited selection of products compared to US stores.
hiddentalent@reddit
Canada has roughly the population of Los Angeles spread over a landmass larger than the entire United States. Logistics costs alone mean it's very difficult to maintain parity in pricing and product variety between the two economies.
Educational-Big-6609@reddit
Canada has 40M people or something. That’s 4x LA County.
Kalikasphyxia@reddit
But all the brands are a lie, and most are all owned by a few companies.
Herakles1994@reddit
Target fumbled their launch so incredibly hard. Everyone was pumped for target, and what we got was overpriced Walmart with empty shelves
DeathByAttempt@reddit
I don't know how common it is in other countries but most big stores here have a generic brand the store itself supplies along side other name-brand products, which I think helps to not only keep prices lower because companies have to complete with the generic that can be sold very cheap/at a minor loss because it's still within a singular supply chain, but also forces brands to offer a greater variety of products then what generics can offer.
MaleficentExtent1777@reddit
Good call, and even the generics can have different levels like Kroger has the Kroger brand, Simple Truth organics, and Private Selection.
FewRefrigerator374@reddit
Kroger brand breakfast sandwiches are better than the Jimmy Dean.
NekoMao92@reddit
Smart Way is a Kroger label too, cheaper than the Kroger brand.
Kroger owns their own floral and jewelry brands too.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
We have a pretty massive regulatory environment here and only like 3 major Canadian cartels (I mean grocery chain). I genuinely don’t know why else.
brumac44@reddit
One thing it might be is provincial trade barriers. I don't think the US has the same restrictions between states as we do. I noticed a lot of different products and brands when I went from one province to another.
big_sugi@reddit
The US doesn’t allow interstate trade barriers, with some very limited exceptions.
big_sugi@reddit
The US doesn’t allow interstate trade barriers, with some very limited exceptions.
Physical-Incident553@reddit
I was shocked when I recently found out about the provincial trade barriers. Confused the heck out of me.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Yeah that is a huge one.
TheStrigori@reddit
The major chains are probably the biggest limiter of the variety. Another factor is store size. The supplier companies have priority lists of their items, and a certain amount of space means a certain product set. Those two factors work together, as the chains absolutely love to have their stores look very similar. So, if a supplier has something like 40 cereal options, but the store set will only let them have 20, they'll take something like the top 18 SKUs by volume, and about 2 new items. A bigger store allows for a bigger set, and more options.
There are also fewer suppliers than most people think there are. Lots of brands fall under the same corporate owner, and might have different nameplates depending on where they are sold. And that will factor into what I mentioned above. If Brand E isn't in the top 20 items that company makes, it probably won't end up in a set.
The only real regulatory issue that might really matter is if there is a qualifier for the percentage of items that must be Canadian made, like I know radio up there used to do that type of things with who was played.
Language reqs on packaging wouldn't be that big of a deal, really. Same product, different box.
hitometootoo@reddit
Again, why would this limit variety? It's not like America has not food regulations (one of the strictest in the world actually), but companies just work around it, like anywhere.
superkt3@reddit
People in other countries, especially Canada, Australia and European countries are obsessed with the idea that regulation around food and drink in the US is somehow very loose, usually siting “all the chemicals“ listed on our food packaging and refuse to accept that those lists are so extensive because of our strong regulations.
ablatner@reddit
Yeah there are plenty of easy criticisms of the US but that is a dumb one. US regulations just require more specific/granular ingredient labeling.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Depends on regions. In Alberta we have more US firms but you won’t find as many in another provinces. I suppose what I mean more is the brands for those companies. There are more brands in US stores compared to Canadian ones, I’ve seen it first hand lol, you have more choice, more flavours etc. And better value packs. It’s also a population thing. That’s a hugeeee factor over regulation for sure.
reyadeyat@reddit
Our population is 8.5x your population, so I think it makes sense that our market can support more variety in stores. Even if a flavor isn't super popular, the percent of the population that has to be interested to make it profitable to carry is lower.
TheyMakeMeWearPants@reddit
I'm not sure the margins work out in your favor unless it's popular on a per capita basis. Yes your total sales can be profitable, but if you have to store it at multiple locations. If it's perishable it you need to worry about spoilage. Basically it still needs to hit a certain threshold, and I'm not sure that would be a very different theshold in US vs Canada.
Athrynne@reddit
It's exactly this. It's the same reason that you see more limited color options for cars in Canada vs the US. The US simply has more people to buy things.
MaleficentExtent1777@reddit
I do miss President's Choice being sold in the US. 😞
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Don’t worry we’ll send you No Name as reperations. Enjoy “COOKIE”.
hitometootoo@reddit
Are you purposely avoiding why you think American companies would have a hard time opening stores and keeping variety in Canada simply because of a different set of regulations?
TooManyDraculas@reddit
The problem is that there mostly isn't a different set of regulations.
We've spend 4 decades trying to unify that sort of thing to foster trade.
That isn't how that works.
For one if I am a producer and Canada wants it. I just send it the hell to Canada, just like any US State which may very well be further and more expensive than parts of Canada.
For another a given supermarket chain orders regionally, and ships to distribution centers. So if your far enough to not have local delivery already going to each store. You'll either ship in bulk to a local wholesaler, or ship to a big regional distro center and the chain handles it from there.
In either case local and regional logistics are outsourced.
If an American chain is opening stores in Canada they'll avail themselves of that, which is what those American stores that are in Canada do. And what those Canadian stores in the US do.
hitometootoo@reddit
A company shipping over products, whether through post or truck, is going to pay tariffs and import fees for doing so. You as an individual shipping a 1lb item might not always, but a company sending over tons of inventory will
TooManyDraculas@reddit
The cost was marginal, no more than pricing and shipping differences between states.
Not anymore.
And yeah it was harsher on smaller companies but entirely doable, regulations weren't the hold up, but logistics costs and complications. Depending on where you were located it might make more sense to sell in Canada than a distant US state. So like PA or NY to Cali was a worse idea that Eastern Canada. And I've worked for alcohol companies where leadership was Canada based just cause that was convenient.
Cause if headquarters in in Europe or Asia, than Toronto makes about as much sense as New York, Miami or San Diego.
But not anymore.
But even now. For these sorts of products. US and Canada are treated as a unified market and the overall rules are the same, costs are the same, and it's all just tracked as part of the same business.
It's really just the particular corporate interests on the retail side, and Canada just has it's own block of monopolies. Same way the the North East US, South East, Mid West etc have their own. Just a little harder up North.
hitometootoo@reddit
I'm not talking about shipping between states, I'm talking about shipping from America to Canada.
TooManyDraculas@reddit
So am I.
It costs no more than shipping to other parts of the US, and has barely any regulatory hurdles.
The distance from NYC to Montreal is 1/5 the distance from NYC to LA. It costs incredibly more to send shit across the US than to nearby parts of Canada.
Because the current tariff situation can potentially layer multiple heavy tariffs on something, ever time it crosses the border. And they will cross repeatedly. It changes things. But until Lizard People, it was all a unified market. Most grocery things were tariff free because NAFTA and everything from emission standards and financial reporting to beef grading and dairy standards were unified over the last 40 years. So often enough there wasn't even a single piece of paperwork.
There wasn't a hurdle, I could just call a man a send a truck full of stuff. I can still do that, it just pumps the retail price in a truly stupid way at the moment.
But none of that effects what name is on the grocery store sign.
Plus all of those American brands have (or had) plants up in Canada. The particular brand of shampoo I've been using for 20 years was mostly made in Montreal up until the last 2 years.
This is why the tariff situation is as big of a problem as it is. It's fundamentally disrupted base logistics in really obnoxious way. Brexit had a really similar fuck you to sensible shipping over in Europe.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I don’t get why you keep arguing with me man, I just asked a question. I wasn’t taking a dig or anything at your country. American firms probably don’t like operating in a smaller market, that has special rules for Canadian content, has a government that is bought up by Canadian oligopolies, the logistical costs, SPM, CRTC (TV regulations), and the list goes on and on etc.
hitometootoo@reddit
It's not a argument. You made a statement which doesn't stop many other US companies from going to, staying in Canada and providing variety there, but are making a statement about regulations without providing why that would stop US companies, especially when it hasn't stopped hundreds of US locations from thriving in Canada thus far.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I’m not saying US companies can’t operate in Canada, clearly hundreds do, and some do well. The question was about why there’s noticeably less variety on shelves compared to the US (fewer flavors, sizes, niche products). Market size plays a huge role, no denying that, regulatory costs for SOME make it less likely certain brands are on the shelves. It’s not that American firms are banned, it’s that the extra hassle and smaller payoff means they bring fewer options north of the border. Many Canadians notice this when traveling to the US and seeing way more flavors/sizes of the same brands. Not a dig, but an observation.
Flimsy_Security_3866@reddit
I think for a number of American companies that want to try expanding north of the border it isn't so much the small payoffs or extra regulatory hassle but really it is going against the big 3 grocery conglomerates that dominate Canada.
All the prime locations are already going to be taken. Even if an American store tries to expand many times existing stores will have restrictive covenants in their leases to not allow a competitor in the same shopping center. Basically any attempt for an American grocery company that wants to start in Canada would need to somehow find a decent location to open a store(s), set up a warehouse as a central storage facility and then set up supply chains for every single product on their shelves which in Canada are almost exclusively owned by the big 3 grocery conglomerates.
As to why Canadian stores limit their variety? Costs is the simplistic answer. Adding more variety means needing more shelf space, more storage space is needed in back of the store storage areas as well as distribution centers. This means more trips for trucks bring merchandise between locations since there is more variety of products to sell.
This all means you need a bigger store to handle the larger store which means extra business and property taxes as well as other incidentals like heating and cooling costs. You also have to have more staff dedicating time stocking the shelves which again adds costs. And on and on and on.
Why the Canadian grocery stores choose not to go down a path towards more variety is likely to keep costs low (initially) as they saw that as the value they felt customers wanted.
hitometootoo@reddit
The thing is you're assuming it's an extra hassle or that Canada has more regulations for different foods.
Every country has different food regulations yet US companies still thrive in other countries, including Canada. Regulations are most likely (anywhere not just Canada) not the reason for lack of variety within Canada for foods.
It's probably because there are less businesses in Canada and thus there would be less variety / competition. Less American businesses would sell in Canadian stores because it isn't worth it for them to export to Canada (paying tariffs and transportation cost).
So you have Canadian businesses that aren't producing more and American businesses that don't see profits in shipping to Canada. But it isn't due to regulations of all things, when that is something to consider with any country and just simply worked around and adjusted for.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
i agree that market size and transportation costs are big factors. Canada is 1/10th the US population, so the demand for any specific flavor/size is much smaller. That alone lowers variety, no doubt.
But regulations do play A meaningful role on top of that.
Bilingual labeling + Canadian-specific rules: US products need entirely new packaging with English + French labels, different nutrition tables, mandatory allergen declarations (e.g. mustard), front-of-pack warning symbols for high sugar/fat/salt, and ingredient restrictions from Health Canada’s Hotlist. Many US formulas have to be changed. Companies only bother for their top sellers. And then as for Supply Management, just dairy, chicken, eggs, and turkey have extremely high tariffs (often 200-300%+) on anything above tiny import quotas. This is why you see way fewer American cheese varieties, yogurts, chicken products, etc, in Canada compared to the US. This isn’t true in most other countries. So while you say Canada doesn’t have different regulations for different foods, that’s not fully accurate. But to your point, US companies absolutely do operate here and many succeed (Coke, Pepsi, Kellogg’s, etc.), but they bring fewer SKUs, because the extra compliance cost isn’t worth it. But overall you are correct it’s more than that.
TooManyDraculas@reddit
US and Canadian regulations are largely the same. Over the last 40 years there's been an ongoing project of unifying rules to simplify trade.
In terms of like business licensing it's different, but no more difference than between US states. And outside of fuck nut's tariffs things just just operate across boarders pretty easy.
You're grocery scene is far more consolidated than our, and out conglomerates are on watch not to start monopolizing Canada and Mexico the way they had most of the US.
But as far as labelling requirements, those English/French Labels are constantly on US shelves, and Canada is already in our logistic software. Canada is just part of the US as far as wholesale consumer packaged goods in concerned. Like I've literally had product shifted from Canada as easy as I did from Maryland.
Until fuck nut's tarrifs anyway.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I go to Costco and Walmart over Canadian Superstore and Sobeys. It’s often more expensive.
_badwithcomputer@reddit
Everything is just Loblaws, President's Choice is best choice lol
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Literally
jvc1011@reddit
There are really only a couple of major grocery chains in the US.
Trader Joe’s isn’t a full grocery store.
joe_canadian@reddit
To be fair, the rollout of Target Canada absolutely sucked.
The Canadianized version of Target was a slightly nicer Walmart - the Zellers (a defunct Canadian low cost retailer) feel was still there in a lot of stores - with the same products at Walmart at noticeably higher prices. That is if there was products on shelves.
It was Target in name only. I like Target. The Canadian Targets did not look, feel like a US Target or sell US Target products. It felt like a knock off of Target.
7h4tguy@reddit
Terrible take. The reason this started was cereals. The bliss point. Getting a nation hooked on endless varieties of sugary junk. It was literally corporations starting the capitalist roller coaster we now can't get off of
CroweBird5@reddit
I always heard with Target that it was an issue of their distribution system. Cities are much further away from each other and it’s harder to reach enough of the population
hitometootoo@reddit
Many believe it was because they rushed to market but didn't have the logistics in place to get products to fill up shelves, so many stores appeared empty.
They went in and assumed they could just get goods over from America in the meantime while getting distributors in Canada. But importing from America was too costly, and they didn't get enough distributors in Canada that allowed them to profit or at all since those distributors had deals already with other stores
The prices were higher, which they are in America too for Target, but America has a demographic willing to spend more at Target despite having Walmart and other similar stores to choose from.
But Canadians weren't willing to spend more just to shop at Target, especially with empty shelves.
pseudonym7083@reddit
If we're talking same product different brand, some people prefer the specific taste of one type of one brand vs something else despite being the same thing essentially. Wright's, Hill's and Daily's bacon all come to mind just off the top of my head and those are just the premium brands. Then there's Oscar Meyer, Bar S, and Hormel. All sorts of in-between and below too. One store might have 20+ types of bacon in the cooler just to satisfy price point, style, flavor and whatever other metric.
Sloth_grl@reddit
It’s in everything. Drives me crazy. I want mayonnaise. Not mayonnaise with siracha, ranch, ghost pepper, dog shit, etc. you have to spend ten minutes staring and finding what you want,
GrowlingAtTheWorld@reddit
But the people that want mayonnaise with Siracha have to do the same.
Sloth_grl@reddit
Yes. But I feel like they need aisle of just plain things, or at least make them stand out
sean8877@reddit
Duke's dogshit mayo is the best through.
Hey-Bud-Lets-Party@reddit
I do know that even the biggest grocery store chains do stock products from small, local businesses. It’s common to find pasta sauces from a neighborhood Italian market or a salsa from a Mexican restaurant.
jvc1011@reddit
Canada has about 1/10th of the population, highly concentrated in the south. That’s the main reason.
The population of the metropolitan area that I am from is over 18 million people. That’s about two and a half times the population of metropolitan Toronto (7 million), which is the most populous in Canada.
It’s just not as profitable a market for many companies.
wvtarheel@reddit
Everything you said is correct, but even small markets in the US have access to a target. OP is begging for a target.
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
What funny is Target tried to expand into Canada and flopped, hard. It sort of ruined Target.
GreatValueProducts@reddit
Even funnier the shelves were half empty just one month after opening, Sears before bankruptcies had more stock than them.
wvtarheel@reddit
Was it after their rainbow debacle ? Or just because of the business model?
In the US some people swear them off because of their mishandling of pride issues but a lot of shoppers (especially middle aged women) will still drive past cheaper alternatives to go to target
Smooth_Fall2382@reddit
This was prior to that debacle. One of the things that went wrong when Target decided to expand to Canada, they also implemented brand-new storage, ordering, and point of sale software for the Canadian stores. So they tried to open \~150 stores, 3 distribution centres, and replace most of their existing software in a 2 year time frame in a country where they had no established leadership or customer base. Turns out you maybe shouldn't change that many things simultaneously without some trial runs. Basically they just bit off more than they could chew and didn't have a leadership team that could fix it.
shoresy99@reddit
No, in Canada showing support for LGBTQ people is popular and isn't risky for a brand. We are about to start pride month and companies here compete to who can incorporate the rainbow into their corporate logo.
lufan132@reddit
You'll say that and then not take trans refugees yesterday.
Either save us from the concentration camps or I hope I get to laugh when y'all wind up in them someday in the good future where karma exists.
wvtarheel@reddit
It was Target taking the rainbow stuff out that I am referring to as a debacle. People saw them removing it as disrespectful to LGBTQ and stopped going there.
bmiller218@reddit
It was before the LGBTQ Pride SNAFU
I don't understand the boycott of Target, as if WalMart is any better on LGBTQ issues? I kinda of get black people seeing through the PR part of Black History month/MLK holiday (come buy your "I have a dream keychains")
lyrasorial@reddit
I don't shop at either. None of my friends do.
Overall_Occasion_175@reddit
I'm not going to lie, I don't get where people are buying things without Target. I've cut back a lot but if my toddler needs socks my options are Target or Walmart or driving 45+ minutes to pay 3 times as much at Carters and that's about it.
osteologation@reddit
id have to drive 45 minutes to goto target. or just about anything other than walmart or marshalls
wvtarheel@reddit
yeah same, I don't love everything about Walmart, but if I need groceries, and underwear, and a new TV all three, my options are Walmart or drive almost 90 minutes further and paying a lot more, I'll go to walmart
Combat__Crayon@reddit
I think Wal-Mart wasn't trying to seem like they were "better", its all about low prices. People aren't always logical, and do react emotionally. That's basically how I felt. I knew their pride stuff etc was a marketing ploy, but changing that policy because of online outrage from people who weren't shopping at the stores anyway and trying to chase that dollar rather catering to the customer base you had irritated me. I'm not going to be one of those, I'm never spending my money at some store because they don't align with me politically. Hell, if I took that stance, I don't think I could buy anything, my DIY would definitely suffer.
However, if they all are basically endorsing the same politics, its solely going to be based on price. For me Target and Wal-Mart are down the street from one another, I can buy which every things are cheaper at Wal-Mart then on my way home hit the ones that are cheaper at Target. I'm only buying their loss leaders. Where before the DEI shift, I probably would have just gone to Target, unless there was an item that Wal-Mart had, but Target didn't. So for me its less of a hard boycott and more of a shift to only buying based on price.
i_have_your_answer@reddit
I think a lot of it comes down to competition I doubt target can be competitive with their prices and still turn a profit. My only experience in Canada is in rural Saskatchewan where the only choice I had was COOP or travel an hour to be able to shop at dollarama, Walmart etc. Target is more expensive here in the states and would probably be the same way in Canada so why would anyone choose to shop there.
Alternative-Pear9096@reddit
I've lived in places in northern NY with nothing but dollar stores and grocery stores. We wished we had to only travel an hour to buy underwear. (WalMart eventually moved in, and it's the only time I've ever seen people fight FOR a WalMart)
jvc1011@reddit
Economies of scale.
Jcamp9000@reddit
I’m 73. My son recently took me to Trader Joe’s. Holy cow!!!! I fell in love with when I was checking out I mentioned I was a TJ virgin and they loaded me up with cool bags for free! Five or six employees came over to high five me. I learned it’s just never too late!!
up2knitgood@reddit
Different countries have different brands/stores/products. The US is a huge market, so we may have more, but some of what you are experiencing is just that there are different things in different places.
Examples of other things like this are really common in snack products. For instance, Japan is known for having a wide variety of Kit Kat flavors. I have friends in the US who, when they go to Canada, get ketchup flavored potato chips because we don't really have those in the US. Similarly in Europe I always get the paprika flavor of Pringles because those aren't available in the US. In the US Schwepps basically is just ginger ale, seltzer, and tonic water; but in Europe there are so many more offerings from them.
GrowlingAtTheWorld@reddit
I find they are harder to read under, the bulbs do not last as long as advertised on the box, and I used to could get a book of 4 normal bulbs for 99¢ now a box of 4 is about $6.
ToggleMoreOptions@reddit
This is a really complicated question. Some of the "variety" is just repackaged under the store brand, literally the same product with a different label and price.
Not sure how you feel lax regulation would answer your question though
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
Same recipe sometimes, almost never the same quality. The production lines and QC definitely get a lot more lax when they switch over to private label.
ToggleMoreOptions@reddit
In my personal experience it's the store brands that are superior. Their ginger ale actually tastes like ginger etc
HR_King@reddit
Ugh. Target. Nope. Never. Chain stores in general are a blight on our land and a major contributor to the shitification of this country.
Impossible-Taro-2330@reddit
Because we demand it.
Significant-Pack-108@reddit
God bless America, and God bless your right to choose from 8 different offerings with little to no discernible product differentiation
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
You'd rather live in a place where your options for chips are Original and Sour Cream & Onion?
Or the only apples you can get are Red Delicious?
Or the only yogurt you can get is plain and blueberry?
The only bread you can get is white sandwich bread?
Or the only dog food you can get is one that makes your dog fart and have diarrhea?
Yes, God bless our right to choose between those products. We don't have that variety because people don't buy it, we have it because people do.
yournorthernbuddy@reddit
I get what youre saying but like, its canada not the USSR we have 100 yogurt flavors too, just not a whole 2000sqft yogurt mega centre.
We are not starved for choice up here
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
I know, in that particular response I wasn't speaking of Canada specificall. I've actually been in a few of your grocery stores and they were fine albeit expensive (and this was pre COVID lol). That person was just trying to AmericaBad about us having too much choice which I'm sure probably would have spun into some stupid-ass capitalism/late-stage capitalism diatribe.
osteologation@reddit
i think they meant more brand varities not flavor varities.
Impossible-Taro-2330@reddit
It may seem like that to you.
However, If a brand doesn't sell, a retailer won't carry it. It is there for a reason.
I have family in Sweden, and visit every few years. When I go to their grocery store, I see cereal options as 5 different types of granola.
I love granola and don't eat garbage cereal. But if I decide to - at least the option exists here.
When my family comes here, they are always amazed by our options. I've never heard them complain that Publux has too many types of cereal.
hitometootoo@reddit
The biggest difference being price because there's more competition. Oh, and ingredient list usually means less sugar and salt in cheaper / off brand products. But other than that, yeah, no discernible difference.
RiverFrogs@reddit
Target tried in Canada but completely flopped. Closed it down in 2015
BigSlongGoy@reddit
americans don’t put up with BS like canadians do
RogerRabbot@reddit
We have the illusion of choice. Most stores have been bought and consolidated with the name remaining the same. Maybe 4 or 5 big national companies control about 200+ brands.
The majority of our stuff is made in the ecact same factory, split into two lines. One with some fancy expensive name brand, the other with a boring generic store brand. Maybe the fancy line gets shipped to Italy so they can sew on the last strap to qualify as being "made in italy"
JustMyTypo@reddit
It’s the spice of life, fool.
Soggy-Attempt@reddit
Yep. Capitalism is made for competition.
allochthonous_debris@reddit
Many Canadian industries are unusually concentrated due to the country’s geography and regulatory environment.
Canada’s low population density and harsh winters make transporting goods and building infrastructure more expensive. This gives an advantage to larger companies that can better absorb these costs through greater access to capital, national logistics networks, vertically integrated warehousing and trucking operations, and the ability to negotiate lower shipping rates at scale.
Canadian policymakers have also historically favored the creation of corporate “national champions” capable of competing with large American firms. This has often involved a more permissive stance toward mergers and acquisitions, as well as restrictions on foreign ownership that limit entry by foreign competitors into certain Canadian industries.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Honestly the logistical challenges part makes sense, and the national champions thing to create our oligopolies has been proven, but I didn’t think about it as a way to compete with major American firms before!
blbd@reddit
It's a tricky scenario. Barring the US's weird turn towards Clockwork Orange lately, which is a whole other level of bizarre, Canada faces a bit of a "free trade zone imbalance" challenge.
There a similar dynamic happening between New Zealand and Australia. On the one hand with a small population and geographical isolation a free trade zone with a big nearby country is a helpful boost. On the other hand it can be a drain. You can't experience one without the other.
https://youtu.be/uBpgTgFF1ek
AccountantRadiant351@reddit
In general, it's because the US is a larger market.
Canada has just a slightly larger population than California... But spread out a LOT more. That means it costs more to ship things all over Canada, but there are less people in each place to buy them.
There is a difference between availability of goods in high- and low-density areas in the US, but it's not as noticeable because low-density areas still tend to benefit from supply chains built for a higher-density population here.
LowBumblebee5286@reddit
One thing that would be contributing is Many Americans, including my family, are pushing back on name brands (Pepsi, frito lay, unilever, nestle) as they are the chief driver of higher prices, shrinkflation (gotta drive that YoY growth) and nasty chemicals in our food. As an example aldi has a knock off for most branded products - they taste as good and usually have way less toxic chemicals.
Alternative-Pear9096@reddit
I've seen pictures of grocery aisles in other countries that make the US variety on offer seem like a corner bodega. Not everywhere, and not every category. but it's not just the US.
SmokedPumpkin@reddit
Because they can.
mtnviewguy@reddit
Why doesn't everyone's stores have variety? Welcome to America.
Educational-Big-6609@reddit
Big country, lots of people from varying backgrounds, high income by global standards.
Bitter_Ad8768@reddit
Customers like variety. The stores want to cater to as many customers as possible to maximize sales.
waywardflaneur@reddit
Customers don’t like variety (after a point). It has been repeatedly shown that too much variety causes low level anxiety and difficulty with decision making.
Dextron2-1@reddit
Customer don’t deal well with variety, but they still respond well to knowing it’s there. It’s a weird contradiction where doing what is provably best for the customer gets a negative response.
aagusgus@reddit
This, and the answer is because we can and companies have built the supply chain to do so. Other countries have not.
Secret_Dance_7870@reddit
Canada has a significantly smaller population than the US. In less populated areas of the US, there is also much less variety of stores and their merchandise.
Slight_Manufacturer6@reddit
Target tried to move into Canada but failed miserably due to supply chain issues.
Kalikasphyxia@reddit
It's how they convince us we have choices. By giving us 1000s of choices of the same thing just under different brands names all owned by one major company
True-Selection-6437@reddit
I’ve seen Cuban refugees cry in Walmart because they’re overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices and it makes me grateful that I can go to Walmart and get what I want when I need it.
To answer your question: We can have the same product slightly varied and produced by 30 different brands/companies and you will see every option of that brand in the same space competing with the same products and varying prices. You like the Cinnamon Toast Crunch because it taste better but it’s a little more expensive? Get that one. You like the great value (Walmart brand) cinnamon crunch toasts because it taste damn near the same and is 2/3 of the cost? You get that one. It’s all competitive to gain the profit of our vastly larger population.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I do wish we had more options here. I guess the small Canadian market doesn’t really demand it.
reyadeyat@reddit
It also seems like American companies might not want to try expanding into Canada - or increasing the amount of products that they sell if they're already in the Canadian market - at the moment given the boycotting of American products.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Idk who’s boycotting apart from Reddit Canadians and boomers. I went to the U.S. last summer, had a nice time with my American cousins.
hitometootoo@reddit
Tourism is down 42% in Canada to the US since Trump took office again and started making threats to Canada and tariff wars.
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/42-drop-canadian-visits-u-140500016.html
There has been boycotts all across Canada to not stock US products for the same reason.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%932026_Canadian_boycott_of_the_United_States
I figured this is big news in Canada.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Canadians have this weird superiority complex that aggravates me. I really don’t care, I’ve seen all there is to see here, I don’t mind spending my money across the border, nor do I care who your President is. Though, I suppose the tariffs are not popular here, but we have had decades to diversify and we haven’t. I live in Alberta so we aren’t doing the liquor boycott anymore, they’ve put them back on the shelves. The sentiment here is usually different from the rest of the country I find.
ArcticRanger154@reddit
Talk to people in real life, nobody has this superiority complex outside Reddit
True-Selection-6437@reddit
Props to you for the details and sources.
True-Selection-6437@reddit
I love some of the same brands that we share with different flavor options only available in Canada. I like a lot of the ruffles chips flavors there!
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I love the Ruffles All Dressed
True-Selection-6437@reddit
Ketchup flavored is fire too 👌
Ok-Entertainment5045@reddit
Ketchup flavored is rare in the US
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
No we say chips, pretty sure the Brits say crisps? Or is that the Australians?
Historical_Bike_9061@reddit
Lived in both. It has to do with Canada having strong economic protections for Canadian goods and a stronger regulatory environment, especially regarding labor unions.
Aldi doesn’t exist here bc it would cost too much money for them to sell goods according to Canadian regulations and they won’t do it.
Personally, I prefer a well-cared for workforce with bargaining power instead of the US capitalist hellscape. But also, fuck Loblaws, lol.
Patrizio_Argento@reddit
Freedom baby!
GSilky@reddit
It's a combination of things driven by people like it like that when they can have it like that.
Ol_Grey_Mare@reddit
We have the illusion of variety. All of those products are manufactured by the same three companies.
TrashcanDev@reddit
Cultural differences.
Ask an American about choice and variety in drinks and we'll show you 20 kinds of Coke.
Wheras in other places, ask the same question about choice and variety in drinks and you'll get shown water, orange juice, two kinds of soda, beer, tonic water, coffee and tea.
cats-n-cafe@reddit
I am failing to understand how the exchange rate has anything to do with the variety or the size of items in stores. Do you want less variety?
Plus, I’m sure if I went to Canada, I would see tons of brands not seen in the US. Why is that strange?
caserock@reddit
It's the illusion of choice for the most part. All of that crap is produced by like 3 conglomerates
Prestigious-Dog-2150@reddit
It's one way to sell more products: make everyone believe that, although Oreos are the best-selling cookies in the universe--there might be an even MORE delicious version of Oreos.
BecauseImBatmanFilms@reddit
It's called capitalism.
GooseyDuckDuck@reddit
Canada is capitalist as well.
No_Subject_343@reddit
Capitalism
cam4587@reddit
People are saying a lot about because we can but a lot of it is fake and just a different branding on the same food by the same company
SphericalCrawfish@reddit
I've often considered that this is the answer to most of the questions on this sub. Like we have 12 varieties of pre-sliced bread in an aisle and then a whole bakery right next to it. Kraft Singles in 3 sizes right below 20 varieties of sliced real cheese in 3 different brands and then a cooler down the aisle of every cheese in blocks. That's two items, at Walmart.
koolaidman456@reddit
That's one of the many benefits of capitalism, baby 😎🇺🇸
MsPooka@reddit
Maybe because of the size of the economy compared to other countries there are enough consumers to keep them open.
wiserTyou@reddit
That's my thought as well. We're about the size of Europe as a whole. I find it unlikely we have more variety than Europe. We do probably have much better distribution across state borders to increase selection locally.
Cereal____Killer@reddit
Trader Joe’s is an exception just like their cousin Aldi, all of their products are their store brand.
Target used to be in Canada… Sam’s Club is but announced they’re closing all Canadian stores. I think it speaks more to Canadian shopping preferences compared to US.
I live in the States and shop in Canada periodically. The regulatory environment is just different, for example Canadian chocolate doesn’t have the same restrictions on the amount of milk fat allowed in chocolate… so it tastes WAY better.
Specific to size of packaging I think the biggest thing you’re seeing is Canadians have been living with shrinkflation for quite a while.
8qubit@reddit
Capitalism
woodzy93@reddit
Variety of people
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
It's doesn't have anything to do with regulations or government involvement. The government doesn't say "Grocery chains can only have 4 varieties of cheez-its!"
It's all dictated by what customers want, what manufacturers are making/selling, what those manufacturers are willing to pay for shelf space, and what the retailer wants to sell.
Variety is huge to American shoppers because once you get a taste of it it's hard to go back, and people will absolutely choose stores based on that variety. Also consumers have been trending towards larger sized items for a while and that has only gotten moreso with all this inflation.
Source on all this: Me, I work in consumer analytics in the grocery industry
MustacheSupernova@reddit
We have more people in CA and NV than you have in your entire country. We need more stuff…
peesoutside@reddit
Because the market supports the competition. If people don’t buy, the product will be removed from shelves and something will take its place
Breakfast_Pretzel@reddit
Unregulated capitalism
0le_Hickory@reddit
The US is a country the size of a continent.
houdini31@reddit
I think it is because our spending supports it. We spend way mote on things like that than other countries.
Top-Put9975@reddit
It’s an illusion
sneezhousing@reddit
You guys had Target for like less than a year. They lost their shirts and closed. They lost so much money they sold off the pharmacy to CVS to make up for it. Canadians didn't want to shop at Target
Curious-Cranberry-27@reddit
It’s an illusion of variety. Almost all of the stuff is owned by the same few brands.
drnewcomb@reddit
There’s a big variety of stuff that’s all the same. The reason folks shop at Amazon and AliExpress is to get bigger variety.
PastaM0nster@reddit
Part of Trader Joe’s shtick is that they don’t have a variety. At most 2-3 options and that’s just flavors usually
Superb-Fail-9937@reddit
Free Market.
Icy-Ad-7767@reddit
Lower food standards
PrickASaurus@reddit
Total addressable market
Otherwise-OhWell@reddit
LOOKS LIKE CIRCLEJERK IS BACK ON THE MENU, BOYS!
river-running@reddit
As has been pointed out in a lot of answers about American business culture, this is a country that encourages and rewards innovation. The attitude is "why not?" rather than "why?" This leads to a lot of experimentation and a view of "if we can offer something and people are willing to pay for it, then why shouldn't we?"
Hence, 20 flavors of Oreos.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I could use more than 3 flavors of Oreos up here I can’t lie.
ReplacementActual384@reddit
A big reason is that the US is such a massive economy. Like a Canadian company would love to have access to the US market, but not every US company wants to bother dealing with an entirely new set of regulations and laws just to have access to a market that like Canada has a smaller GDP than some US states.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Yeah that’s where I landed. It’s not just regulation, it’s a myriad of factors including market size, and spending power. It just makes more sense to have greater variation in the largest economy in the entire world
Inner_Tadpole_7537@reddit
Jesus wait till you see a Costco
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Oh we do got Costco over here. I go there frequently
Hefty-Average2899@reddit
Because due to some historical events some Americans were accidentally exposed (oops) to all crunchberries and now some Americans only want to eat all crunch berries regardless of chain of command.
Think about if maples in Canada were originally an oops but now Canadians hunger for maple everything. Now without them there would be riots.
This is why Americans require access to a dedicated cereal aisle in all stores with hundreds of options. Otherwise there would be riots.
Bubbly_Delivery_5678@reddit
I think this is , in part, a real estate question. We have bigger stores with more variety because we have plenty of land to do so.
Fun_Machine7346@reddit
Because
Onyx_Lat@reddit
Because enough people buy all those things for the store to make a profit on them. If no one bought them, they would stop selling them.
makerofshoes@reddit
I’m from the US but have been raising my kids in Europe (CZ). We went back to visit this Christmas and my kids were in awe at the selection in the supermarket. Just a regular local supermarket, not even a big chain place.
Americans don’t know how good they have it. Produce sections are often just plain awful. CZ in particular. In fact it’s a common issue that often drives political discussions: why does produce suck here so much? It’s like we get the discarded stuff from Germany or something
Anyway I first noticed it because one time I went to a grocery store and got some fruit, and they had a couple different varieties (apples I think). The fruit was unlabeled so when I got to the cashier I told her what variety they were so that she could mark them up correctly. But she just kind of rolled her eyes and said that she can tell the difference
Part of that is classic Czech customer service, but I also realized that part of it is that they only have a few varieties of each fruit, so it’s not really hard to tell the difference. I feel like in the US the supermarkets have like 20 different kinds of apples so you’d have to be pretty good to tell them apart at a glance
PositivePristine7506@reddit
Largely its because stores carry a lot of different brands of the same shit. How many different versions of Elbow Macaroni pasta can there possibly be? I donno but we have two whole shelves dedicated to it.
A lot of it is the illusion of choice. Many of these items are the same company that has two (usually way more) brands right next to one another.
Footnotegirl1@reddit
I mean, amusingly the whole success of Trader Joe's is that it doesn't offer much choice at all. I mean, they carry a lot of things, but they only carry their brand of each thing or, occasionally, a name brand (like Barebell) when they don't have their own version.
Beneficial_Zone_6883@reddit
The same can be said vice versa, Canada also has brands not found in the USA. Even many things that are available in both countries by law have different ingredients. As a Canadian I eat KD like once every 2-3 years so when I have it I want the neon orange crap made for the US market as it’s closer to what I grew up on before food laws got to where they are today. However chocolate for the most part is way better in Canada and healthier too, their biggest companies source cocoa in places with high concentrations of heavy metals and usually process it with even more fillers than we do
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I assumed the FDA was similar to our environment in terms of food quality, I don’t think it’s all that different imo, but otherwise I attributed Canada’s greater lack of variety to small market, and other regulatory constraints.
Beneficial_Zone_6883@reddit
It’s not as strict in many regards, Canada is basically in the middle between EU and USA standards.
Unique_Statement7811@reddit
Depends on the category. The FDA is stricter than Canada and the EU in some areas. The US has the strictest food traceability standards in the world meaning each ingredients origin must be documented. One reason this is important is for people with food allergies like peanuts or soy.
bimboheffer@reddit
You did have Target Canada, but Target US screwed up the expansion. They had bought Zellers and suddenly had a bunch real estate that they didn't know how to fill. Also, Vancouver had a fake Trader Joe’s, I think called Faker Joe’s or something. Guy would drive down to Washington go to various Trader Joe’s and fill up a freezer truck and haul it back and then re-sell it. Trader Joe’s started to refuse to sell in bulk to individuals because of this guy.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Funny enough, we finally got Zellers back in this mall in my city, one step at a time
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Funny enough, we finally got Zellers back in this mall in my city, one step at a time
MinMaxDemSoc@reddit
Land of excess and needless bullshit.
taskforceslacker@reddit
Variety is the spice of life and we don’t squander spices like the Brits. (Love my UK family)
StardustOasis@reddit
The irony there is British supermarkets probably have as much, if not more, variety of spices as ones in the US.
pawsplay36@reddit
Target has thrived in the past because it is very localized. They partner with clothing designers who design for the American market. Different stores stock different; the two closest to me are so different in floor plan and inventory they are almost different stores.
Trader Joe's is actually a German adventure into the American market. One of the Aldi guys acquired an upmarket grocery store and started replicating it all over the country.
bapanfil@reddit
Thats funny, same in reverse for me when I come to Canada. I was just in southern Ontario yesterday and we remarked at the fact that we love shopping in Canada so much more than at home. So many different brands and products, and we definitely appreciate the exchange rate.
Funny, it's almost as if bilateral trade is a good thing for people from both countries. Too bad our government doesn't see it that way
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Have you seen the No Name😂
bapanfil@reddit
You mean the yellow "No Name" boxes? Or President’s Choice and Compliments? Lol honestly either way there are approximately 0 butter tarts in the states so I still appreciate the selection. I got my priorities 😂
And don't get me started on the chocolate or the beer. I mean, we get Molson still in Buffalo but your craft beer is second to none. Stopping at an LCBO before going home... I might as well be stopping into church on Sunday
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
What’s wild is the No Name and the President Choice and Compliments are all owned by Loblaws the Grocery giant. Fuck em. I live in Alberta so we don’t actually have an LCBO, it’s only in Ontario. Yea we can’t even trade between our own provinces😂
bapanfil@reddit
Yea I thought they were all loblaws. Do you still get those in Alberta? I've come to love LCBO lol it's what's available. 10 minutes over the border to ft Erie.
It's always been fascinating to me how much more apparent federalism/local governance is in your country despite the intent for it to be in the US, but instead we get an over zealous federal government, and a homogenous approach to states rights. Not to be taking us down that rabbit hole...
Also not to change topics here but genuinely curious, how's it going with that whole secessionist movement? Are you for/against it? Do most in your area seem on the same page? What's the end game, just more autonomy in Canada or ultimate sovereignty? Or US statehood?
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Loblaws is mostly Canadian wide, so we do get them here, No Frills/Superstore are Loblaws owned and then there’s Loblaws the store itself.
And as for the secessionist movement I personally am Canadian first, not Albertan despite having been born here. I’m of Asian descent but I’m in medical school so nobody in my immediate circle is for it. However, the way I’ve seen its around 25-30% support it, and they do so because it’s not a surprise that the Federal government supports Eastern Canada and has regulations that hurt Alberta’s oil industry, which for many Albertans is their livelihood. But then they want less overreach while simultaneously crying about why the Feds won’t help them. Also if they think the U.S. would just let a oil rich Alberta be independent without turning it into a territory, they are mistaken. A lot of the separatists I’ve spoke too (they’re always around my University), are genuinely just “we want to be our own country but want a $500B line of credit from the United States”). Basically: they don’t even know what they want.
bapanfil@reddit
Thats great insight. Even as an American, its not lost on us that the emphasis is on eastern Canada, specifically ON and QC, and occasionally BC when the mood strikes.
Yea, I can't imagine what the benefit would be long term. Just like you said, the US would take without giving any benefit... look at Texas (and Louisiana). I mean, they joined well before oil was a priority there, but still, same results. I can't imagine the US would just bankroll Alberta with no consequence or strategic long term cost, especially with the current administration. Lol. I guess we'll see how this plays out
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
You hit the nail on the head. I’ll give an example, the Federal Government and Alberta signed a pipeline deal but BC has said they don’t permit the pipeline being built so it’s basically dead on arrival. But if anything, maybe in 10 years, Alberta might be a territory of the U.S. :/
kitzelbunks@reddit
Canada did have Target. I couldn’t figure out why Canadians hated them, but I saw a photo of the stores, and they were empty. It’s like Target didn’t figure out how to ship merchandise to Canada before they expanded. Obviously, Costco, Walmart, and Whole Foods did it, so I am not sure where Target messed up.
I know what you mean, though. It’s not so much the variety, depending on whether you are in the city or not, but the paper products are smaller. Like we have monster rolls of paper towels. I think it might be that we are too lazy to change them. I don’t know, but Canada’s Whole Foods had much higher-quality ready-to-eat food, because I think people are less willing to pay for so-so food. I think it’s just different. The cheese is really expensive, but there are upsides to Canada as well. :)
Ms-Metal@reddit
I always thought it was just a function of the free market system. But Canada presumably has that as well so I'm not really sure. But the many times I've been to Canada I have seen many different brands of items as well. Maybe not quite as many and then again when I'm on vacation or doing business up there, I'm not usually going to grocery stores. I think one thing that comes to mind is that American Business tends to believe that and I agree with this, if you're going to compete up against somebody, you're better off competing against yourself! For example Kellogg's and General Mills both have several number one brand cereals and they compete them against each other. Coke and Pepsi do the same thing with various drinks. I don't know that that's unique to the United states, but I also don't know that it's not. It strikes me as a pretty American tactic. As for just sheer numbers of brands, it also probably has to do with this your size of our grocery stores and even our everything stores like Walmart or Target and how much collective shelf space there is. I think the United States has some of the physically largest stores in the world. That said, I'm not an economist, those are just 2 things that pop into my head immediately. The third one is that I wish it wasn't this way, I find it exhausting! I'm not the best decision maker to begin with and having to choose between three brands is hard enough but when you suddenly have a choice of 20 different brands it gets mind boggling.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
The regulations in the US are hardly more lax than Canada. Fuck off with that bs
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I don’t know why the hell you’re getting so angry. Jesus Christ. And no, we have way more regulations here that do nothing. Do you have a supply management system? French language requirements? We even have rules against US imports. This country is a regulated mess.
hitometootoo@reddit
You're describing some basic food guidelines that most modern / developed countries would have.
Like language requirements for foods is standard in America where labels have to have English translation for nutrition facts, which is why foods from Asia (imports, not made for American markets) will have a sticker label over the packaging showing the translated nutrition facts.
Again, modern / developed countries have rules against imports from certain countries and certain products from certain products. America, like most places, have these standards.
As for a supply management system, that's common anywhere. I'm not even sure why this would be a bad thing.
These are standard worldwide and is the opposite of a "regulated mess".
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
What are you talking about? You said so much and hardly any of it is accurate.
hitometootoo@reddit
Food language guidelines: https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/Food-Labeling-Guide-%28PDF%29.pdf
"If a foreign language is used anywhere on the label, all required label statements must appear both in English and in the foreign language."
Food import guidelines into America: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-imports-exports/importing-food-products-united-states
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/import-export/import-export-library/eligible-u-s--establishments-country
Now you tell me which thing I said that is not accurate.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
“you're describing some basic food guidelines that most modern / developed countries would have.“
This is inaccurate. I never said anything about food language guidelines. Honestly nothing you said has anything to do with what I was talking about. Took me less than 3 seconds. I’m honestly not going to reply to you again. I feel like we are having different conversations
hitometootoo@reddit
I'm sorry, you think other countries don't have basic guidelines for importing of food and languages on products, which is what we're talking about, among other guidelines. Really?
If you think these basic food guidelines aren't a thing in other countries, than you can't be helped.
You should have never replied in the first place.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
Okay, you’re just making shit up now.
“If you think these basic food guidelines aren't a thing in other countries, than you can't be helped.”
Never said this. I don’t even have an opinion on this. That’s why I said we are having different conversations. I legit do not give a fuck about what your taking about.
“You should have never replied in the first place.”
I agree. Never realized how retarded you were. Genuinely leave me alone
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
The US is up there with Canada when it comes to food safety. And you’re asking why I’m so defensive when people mock our food quality? Because users like you find some mundane thing they don’t lien and then attribute it to us having shitty quality control. Tired of the willful ignorance
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Did I even say anything about your food quality? You got mad an issue you created yourself. That takes a special type of attitude. I think it’s BETTER you have more variety and I think our regulaations are shitty. But hey, you do you. Have a good one.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
“Is it just due to the regulatory environment being more lax?”
Dude. 🤦♂️
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
You took that as a dig? Holy shit😂😂
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
What else is it supposed to be? Explain to me like I’m five…
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
There’s nothing to explain, it wasn’t a dig. Like at all. If you took it that way, that says a lot more about you than it does about me. I was curious. It’s Reddit. Hence I asked.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
You would have to be a moron to think we would not be offended by that. We have more selection because we have a larger economy and more people/higher demand.
You thinking it’s because more lax regulations is just preposterous and plays into that Canadian smugness that has turned many Americans against Canada. You can’t rely on the US for essentially most of your economic success and then pretend we are inferiors when it comes to basics like food.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
There are bigger things to be offended at than a simple statement. Which, factually is true. You have less regulations than we do, and as such, your business environment is better. You getting mad at me liking the U.S.’s economic policies. I didn’t even say a thing about inferiority or smugness. You read it that way.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
“Which, factually is true. You have less regulations than we do, and as such, your business environment is better.”
Such an oversimplification it’s nonsense. Amount of regulations means nothing. And if you look at Canada in the context of how it rests along the border of the largest consumer economy in the world it’s less impressive.
“You getting mad at me liking the U.S.’s economic policies.”
Reread my other responses to you. It’s clearly you’re lying.
“ I didn’t even say a thing about inferiority or smugness. You read it that way.”
Throwing stones and then hiding your hands.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Did I tell you to fuck off? Lmao
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
Why are Canadians like this?
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Idk man, but you should come up some time. See the variety.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
I have been. Generally nice people and clean cities.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I live in Alberta but I take a trip to the Rockies every now and then, definitely a beautiful place (I think it’s the best but I’m biased). I went to Great Smokee and Zion last year, had a blast. The geography of the US is pretty diverse. See how much easier it is having a chill convo
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
Nah, be fr. Who wouldn’t be tight when a foreigner asks if the reason another country has more options is due to lax regulations? You aren’t being honest here with how that comes across. I’m way more familiar with Canada’s perception of the US than the average American is. That’s like me asking why are so many Canadian dishes are really just American food with minor alterations, if any (Hawaiian pizza being the most obvious example).
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Look I admit it was a bit facetious but the intent was not to offend. I can see how it can come across. Especially seeing how Europeans and Canadians talk shit while also being protected under the U.S. security umbrella. I’ve seen it, and I personally think it’s dumb, I have lots of family in the States so I don’t view them that way. Like it’s weird, why do we take pride in not being American/US. Is that our identity because if so, it’s pretty lame. Our politicians haven’t helped our cause. The last PM went on MSNBC and talked about how a huge thing for Canadians is that we aren’t Americans. And yes, from an American perspective esp on the sub, I could see how that could cause offense.
ClickClick_Boom@reddit
Reddit constantly rags, often on the US for "lax food regulations," often on this very subreddit - we're reading your comments with that context.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Well it wasn’t my intention, so telling me to fuck off with that BS is a weird arguement.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
You know exactly what you’re doing and most Americans are too nice to call you out but I will.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
lol okay a lot of people on this sub have been able to have a nice discussion and I’ve learned a lot. You can feel however you want
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
Like I said Americans are nice and likely won’t call you out. But you deserve to. Canadians just steal American cuisine anyway. The arrogance of a country that would be poverty stricken without the US giving it so much trade having this much arrogance needs to be studied.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Yeah ur right bro.
ClickClick_Boom@reddit
I haven't told you to fuck off yet, you might be confusing me with someone else.
luckystrike_bh@reddit
FDA is the gold standard for global acceptance.
nsbsalt@reddit
“Free market”
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I wouldn’t mind more of that here. (I know ur probably being sarcastic but still)
nsbsalt@reddit
Partial sarcasm, the United States does make it easier to stat your own company. We have had some presidents that really pushed consumer protection and anti monopoly, presidents like Teddy Roosevelt were big on that. Right now government is more big business and companies care not about shareholders (fiduciary responsibility) but it’s still easier to start a small business compared to other some other countries.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
I like reading US history and Teddy is probably one of my favourite Presidents of all time. Truly American. Created the national parks, which are awesome to visit, the trust busting and oversaw the Panama Canal construction. He’s on the Mount Rushmore for a reason.
nsbsalt@reddit
As an American I would love another Teddy. “Speak softly and carry a big stick” is exact opposite of current situation. Our national parks are probably the best thing about my country and they are at risk to being sold to private companies, would love another round of monopoly busting.
Keylime-19377@reddit (OP)
Yeah he really did care about the little guy. I get he had some controversies but all Presidents do so it’s a moot point. Overall, he remains top 3-4 imo, though I’m not American.
IndividualRelation49@reddit
Some of it is the diverse customer base these companies are competing for. There are brands for all income levels and then brands that have target markets based on region and income or even the racial backgrounds of the region.
According-Union382@reddit
We are a larger market with higher disposable income.
jacowab@reddit
Americans cook a variety of food, even the whitest midwesterner so cooking Asian and Latin dishes, and reguardless of how unauthentic they are you can't make bad tacos or fried rice without chillies and soy sauce respectively
TooManyDraculas@reddit
I've spent a lot of time visiting Europe. Those stores were the same.
You'll see different things in the US because it's in the US, brands don't tend to stretch across borders.
You're not seeing the same stores in Canada because you're a smaller market and the chains in question just haven't gone there yet. Trader Joes is Aldi, specifically Aldi Nord, a German super market chain. Which will tell you about what's going on in US supermarkets.
The North American grocery market is really, really, really, consolidated and regionally monopolized. Canada somewhat especially, giving worked in consumer packaged goods. There's nothing regulation wise that different. Canada is just monopolized as hell, Loblaws owns all of it, maybe a couple of slightly smaller companies. And they're actually expanding in the US as well.
To the extent that American conglomerates like Kroger and Giant Ahold/Giant Eagle aren't expanding North, it's probably just because they're already under heavy scrutiny at the state level in the US. But where these companies already own all the stores, the selection tends to be terrible and prices go up. They're gonna carry 40 sizes of one brand of mayo cause that's better for their corporate dealings. If you've seen better selection at particular stores in the US than it's because they have competition where you looked. But seriously Target and Trader Joes are terrible for that. Target is at least cheap, but has very limited selection. TJs is mostly about it's store brand convenience food.
tem83202@reddit
Capitalism!
aquay@reddit
capitalism.
rockettaco37@reddit
Probably regulatory, plus Americans generally like variety. A lot of people (at least that I know) generally have their go-to brands though.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
Keep in mind the US has one of the strictest food standards in the world. Don’t let Europeans fool you
rockettaco37@reddit
I’m not saying our system is bad by any means. The original post mentioned regulations. I think it’s more from a nutritional standpoint than a safety standpoint.
LongRodVaughnDong@reddit
You think you can’t find junk food in Canada? At a certain point you blame the individual than the system.
paka96819@reddit
Trader Joe’s has less variety than most stores. And Canada had Target stores, sort of, but they closed. And I think big stores are more a France developed thing.
Emergency_Coyote_662@reddit
we have a lot of conglomerates and parent companies so i’m not sure it’s as diverse as you think. for example, johnson & johnson or pepsico
Champsterdam@reddit
Americans are born and raised to be diligent consumers. The economy and society functions on the idea of overconsumption, you don’t realize it until you move away. A lot of it is luxury, a lot of it is quality and a huge amount of it is garbage but the idea is to buy buy buy.
There’s also the factor where a lot of the “variety” is simply the same source of items that are packaged differently. For instance my husbands old company sourced all the store brand grocery items. The exact same product is sold to Wal Mart, Hy-Vee, Jewel, etc. Your local store brands nationwide, but it all comes from the same huge vat of food, just packaged in 20 different packages and shipped off.
We moved to Netherlands a few years ago and it’s true the variety is FAR less here but you get use to that very quickly and it actually makes life much more simple. You are presented with 10 options for cereal, four of ketchup, three of pickles, five of butter, etc. It all works out fine. I go back to the USA now and I’m kinda floored, anxious and also laughing a bit when I see over 100 different types of cereal in a massive aisle. It can easily be overload at times.
LoetherS@reddit
I not an economist, but I suspect it has to due with our huge consumer base. The amount of money then US citizens combined spend on stuff is staggering.
We/Stores can afford to have niche product that don't appeal to a board section of the population. Even if you sell your product to only 0.1 percent of the population you have a huge booming company.
MzSea@reddit
Because we like lots of options lol
Trick_Owl8261@reddit
Because we’re number one. Duh.
BigDamBeavers@reddit
Because that's the expectation we've put on our markets.
We are the most demanding consumer-base in the world. We want it in our favorite color with wifi and ice-cream on top. The more we demand a new variety the more quickly someone steps up to provide it. Stores don't have a choice but to carry all the Mountain Dew flavors or else their customers will wander. It's not great. Despite the infinite options we don't actually need more than one or two choices and the really important things are almost always a monopoly.
Fluffy-Mine-6659@reddit
Americans are very enterprising. There are probably thousands of brands of sodas and tens of thousands of beauty product brands. All are vying for shelf space. Many (but not most) are successful in getting it.
The big brands also test a lot of varieties of products and flavors to get people to buy new/more stuff.
Significant-Pack-108@reddit
I think you answered your question, my friend. Americans are willing/able to pay for differentiated product offerings. So we have 15 luxury jean brand options, and christ only knows how many "gourmet" dog food brands.
Hallucino_Jenic@reddit
Consumerism and overconsumption. And who doesn't like a little variety?
tsukiii@reddit
Bigger stores have space for more variety on the shelves. And American consumers like variety.
fakesaucisse@reddit
There are products made for the US market, so you wouldn't see them where you live.
Less-Load-8856@reddit
We have 350,000,000 citizens in 50 States and territories, and states have a lot of autonomy by design, the States are like little Countries in various ways, and the size of the Country is large enough and the population is spread out enough that many regional differences exist, by culture, necessity, and coincidence.
Basically.