For Immediate Release: Loblaw’s Galen Weston Jr. winner of Leadnow’s Canadian Profiteer of the Year Awards
February 27th, 2025
Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territories (Vancouver, BC) — Over 7,000 people across Canada voted in Leadnow’s inaugural Profiteer of the Year Awards. With 35% of the vote, Canadians named Galen Weston Jr., Chair of Loblaw Companies Ltd., the top profiteer of 2024.
As more and more people struggle with skyrocketing grocery prices, and a record number of Canadians are accessing food banks, Loblaw and Galen Weston Jr. have been in the hot seat in recent years. In 2018, while Weston was still the CEO, Loblaw was at the forefront of a bread price-fixing scandal—and since the start of the pandemic, they have drawn public outrage for laying off workers, policing customer receipts, and selling underweighted meat products.
Last year, Loblaw Companies were the target of an independent consumer boycott over inflated food costs and price-gouging. Emily Johnson, lead organizer of the Loblaws Is Out of Control Reddit forum and 2024 boycott said: “Congratulations to Galen Weston Jr. on his well-earned title of ‘Profiteer of the Year.’ After decades of price gouging and record-breaking profits, it’s good to see him finally recognized. As we approach one year of the Loblaw boycott, the message from Canadians is clear: we haven’t forgotten, and we won’t be fooled. While Mr. Weston celebrates his ‘accomplishments,’ millions of Canadians are still struggling to afford basic groceries—and that’s exactly why the fight continues.”
The Profiteer of the Year Awards nominated six Canadian executives across industries, including oil and gas, telecommunications, and real estate. This year’s contenders also included: Richard Krueger, CEO of Suncor; Tony Staffieri, CEO of Rogers Communications; Michael J. Cooper, CEO of Dream Unlimited; Dave McKay, CEO of RBC; and Firat H. Gezen, President of General Dynamics.
“It is clear that our economy is rigged in favour of corporate interests. Corporations like Loblaw are jacking up prices to increase their profits and line their shareholders’ pockets, at a time when most of us are struggling to pay rent and put food on the table. While they profit, we’re paying the price,” said Leadnow Campaigner, Nayeli Jimenez.
Leadnow has been calling on the federal government to impose a corporate profiteering tax on corporations’ excess profits. A petition targeting Prime Minister Trudeau has garnered over 10,000 signatures. “It’s long overdue that our federal government started working for us and prioritizing people over unchecked corporate greed,” added Leadnow Executive Director, Shanaaz Gokool. “The proceeds from a corporate profiteering tax should be used to address the affordability and climate crises, ensure Canada’s social safety net is robust, and to curb inflationary and reckless profiteering.”
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Media contact:
Nayeli Jimenez
media@leadnow.ca (*preferred*)
1-855-532-3609 ext. 4
About Leadnow:
Leadnow is a non-profit organization whose mission is to unite people across Canada in collective action to challenge the corporate and political power that maintains the status quo. By leveraging innovative digital tools and proven organizing techniques, we empower hundreds of thousands of people to take strategic actions when and where it matters. Visit leadnow.ca for more information on our campaigns.