Quest Non-Profit Markets Offer a Dignified Way to Double the Impact of CGEB Payments
VANCOUVER, BC – July 3rd, 2026: With the first Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) payments hitting bank accounts today, Metro Vancouverites struggling with food costs have a unique, local opportunity to make this financial relief go twice as far.
Twenty-four percent of Canadians are now living in a food-insecure household, according to a 2025 report from the University of Toronto. Quest Non-Profit Grocery Markets is tackling this crisis head-on. Unlike standard food banks, Quest operates four markets across Metro Vancouver that look, feel, and function like traditional grocery stores. This model allows individuals to choose the food they need, when they need it, without the stigma often associated with food assistance, and returns agency to the shopper.
Because Quest offers groceries at roughly half the cost of commercial discount grocers, clients using the upcoming CGEB payments can make their benefit dollars go twice as far while shopping with dignity.
‘The new CGEB benefit will make a difference but doesn’t solve the problem. Quest turns this federal support into a greater practical benefit for families,’ says Rob Gloor, Executive Director of Quest. “With the first payments arriving this week, we want to remind the community that those funds can be stretched significantly further at Quest Non-Profit Markets, which prioritize dignity, choice, and sustainability.’
Key Highlights of Quest’s Community Impact:
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Stretching Dollars: Groceries are priced 50% lower than at traditional commercial discount grocers.
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Community Reach: The organization serves approximately 1,500 households weekly, supporting over 10,000 active clients across Metro Vancouver.
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Zero Waste & Sustainability: Quest rescued nearly $5 million in perfectly good surplus food in the last year alone, diverting it from landfills and putting it directly on the tables of those who need it.
Local clients, including individuals like Olga and January, rely on Quest’s choice-based model to navigate economic barriers. By moving away from the traditional food bank and replacing it with a familiar shopping experience, Quest provides both tangible financial relief and a sense of normalcy during challenging economic times.
Quest Non-Profit Grocery Markets is a unique model in Canada, pioneering a sustainable and ethical approach to scaling affordable food options in major urban centres. By partnering with local food suppliers to rescue high-quality surplus food, Quest reduces environmental waste while offering groceries at significantly reduced prices to those facing economic barriers.
