New Canadian App Revolutionizes Grocery Shopping for Savings

A new app developed in North Bay, Ontario, aims to assist Canadian shoppers in navigating rising grocery prices by offering a comparison of prices across various stores. The app, named Gofer.run, helps users save money by identifying the cheapest combination of products and stores based on their shopping lists. With food prices continuing to rise, this tool seeks to make grocery shopping more affordable for Canadians.

According to Mark Sherry, co-founder of Gofer.run, the app is designed to scan online prices and calculate the best shopping options tailored to the user’s preferences. “We created a previous app called One Red Maple that helped people find local options for goods,” Sherry explained. “We realised groceries were an area where we could significantly assist people, given the challenges of comparing prices across multiple retailers.”

Grocery prices in Canada have recently surged, with the January 2026 consumer price index report indicating food inflation at 6.3 percent, following increases of over 25 percent in the past five years. While Canada’s overall inflation rate has moderated, food prices are rising at their fastest rate in nearly two years. Experts predict that food prices will remain volatile in the coming years, impacting the budgets of many households.

How Gofer.run Works

Users can enter or upload their grocery lists into the Gofer.run app, which then compares prices for each item across nearby stores. The app gathers real-time data by checking store websites and analyzing products based on unit prices, such as cost per 100 grams or millilitres. Sherry elaborated, “If you have cherry tomatoes on your grocery list, we take that item and shop for it in every store in your neighbourhood, which you define.”

Once the app collects the relevant data, it employs artificial intelligence to ensure the accuracy of the results. “We use AI to confirm that the results match the requested item,” Sherry added. This process allows users to identify the most cost-effective combination of products and stores, saving valuable time and money.

Developing the technology took approximately two years, as the team focused on creating a system capable of processing large volumes of data quickly. Sherry noted, “If you have 50 items on your grocery list and 10 grocery stores in your area, it could take four hours just to visit all the websites to find matching products. Nobody wants to spend that much time.”

The Gofer.run app is available across Canada on both iOS and Android platforms, and it is free for users.

Environmental and Privacy Considerations

While the app leverages artificial intelligence, David Eliot, a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, points out that AI’s environmental costs should be weighed against those of other industries. “AI uses a lot of water and energy, which is concerning,” Eliot explained. “However, when compared to industries like coffee farming, the environmental impact of AI is relatively negligible.”

Eliot also emphasised the need for consumers to consider privacy implications. “We generate data about our shopping habits, and it’s essential to discuss how much change in price would prompt us to alter our purchasing behaviour,” he noted. As digital tools become more integrated into retail, the implications of AI on consumer decisions become increasingly significant.

The emergence of apps like Gofer.run reflects a broader trend in the grocery sector, with retailers beginning to implement digital pricing that can change throughout the day. This shift highlights the growing importance of data in the shopping experience and raises questions about consumer privacy and the extraction of value from shopper habits.

As Canadians grapple with rising grocery costs, innovations like Gofer.run may prove essential in helping them make informed purchasing decisions while navigating the evolving landscape of retail technology.