Canada’s top 100 employers for 2025 were recently revealed, and Loblaw Companies Ltd. has made the list, landing high marks in several categories.
Mediacorp Canada Inc. released its annual list of the top 100 employers in Canada on November 14, and the grocery giant was recognized for the 14th year in a row.
Mediacorp evaluates companies using eight criteria: workplace, work atmosphere, social, health, financial, and family benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications, performance management, training and skills development, and community involvement.
The grocery giant received mostly A’s and A+’s for these criteria, with its lowest grade being a B- for the vacation and personal time off category.
Canada’s Top 100 Employers
Under the work environment category, Loblaw received an A+ grade. The report noted that the company’s four-storey head office features on-site perks like a “market-style” cafeteria, a fitness facility, massage chairs, and a “comfortable” employee lounge area.
The report added that Loblaw was recognized overall for several reasons, including its defined contribution pension plan, a share purchase program, employee development, and employee recognition programs.
A year of achievements and controversy
This isn’t the first time Loblaw has been recognized this year. In October, it was named one of Canada’s most responsible companies.
Loblaw placed 33rd in the Newsweek ranking, with an overall score of 72.72 out of 100; it scored 56.89 under environmental concerns, 80.66 for social concerns, and 81.74 for corporate governance.
Despite the recognition, Loblaw has faced significant customer backlash throughout 2024. In May, the company was subject to a massive customer boycott organized by the Loblaws Is Out of Control Reddit community.
Many members of the online group vowed to continue boycotting the grocery giant over frustrations with high prices.
The boycott even gained international attention, as the BBC published a report about the movement in June.
Consumers also continue to call out Loblaw on social media regarding product shrinkflation and quality issues.
However, the controversies don’t seem to impact the company’s bottom line.
According to Loblaw’s latest financial update, its net earnings available to common shareholders were $777 million for the quarter that ended on October 5.
That’s $156 million (25.1%) more than the $621 million the corporation made in Q3 last year.
With files from Isabelle Docto and Imaan Sheikh