A very popular feature on Rewards Canada has been The best credit cards to use at Loblaw grocery stores. Not too long after releasing that feature, one of our readers asked if we could create the same for Empire Company Limited group of grocery stores and we were more than happy to oblige.
2025 update:
- New values based on 2025 average spend of $16,833.67 (For a family of four)
- The new Neo World Elite Mastercard takes 10th spot in the high spend comparison which knocks the CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card off the list and 6th spot in the low spend comparison which knocks the Amex SimplyCash Preferred Card off the list.
Many Canadians are actually not familiar with the name "Empire Company Limited" but they are very familiar with the actual name brands of their stores including Sobeys, Safeway, FoodLand, IGA and more. The grocery giant held the loyalty spotlight in 2022 when they announced their switch from AIR MILES to Scene+, the latter of which they became one third owner of.
Now the question is, for those who are dedicated Empire Company Limited grocery stores shoppers, are the Scene+ credit cards issued by Scotiabank the best to use at Sobeys, Safeway, FoodLand or one of their other numerous brands?
Unlike the results in our features on the best credit cards to use at Costco and the best cards to use at Loblaws - where each of those store's own loyalty program credit cards are not the most rewarding, Empire's own Scene+ credit cards issued by Scotia are, in many cases, the best to use at their stores!
Comparing Apples to Apples
To make this comparison as fair as possible and applicable to the majority of Canadians we are only looking at comparable travel rewards and cash back options to the Scene+ credit card portfolio. This means we are excluding cards from programs such as Aeroplan and also the Cobalt Card's option to convert points to airline and hotel programs. These programs have the potential to provide even more value than any of the cards on this list thanks to outsized redemption options such as redeeming for business or first class flights.
It should be known that the American Express Cobalt Card's 5x points, when converted to Air Canada Aeroplan and other programs have to potential to provide upwards of a 30% or even higher return. That is not a typo. Simply put, the American Express Cobalt Card can blow any credit card in Canada out of the water when you combine it's 5x points earning with its conversion option to Aeroplan, Air France KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy and other programs.
Recommended reading: Loyalty Lesson: Is a 30% return on credit card spending possible? Yes, it sure is!
10 credit cards compared for a family of four
Let's start off by looking at the 10 best cards to use at Empire Company stores when purchasing groceries for a family of four. In this case we are utilizing the average cost of groceries for a Canadian family of four which has been predicted to be $16,833.67 in 2025 (Source)
With that in mind here's the value of the travel and/or cash back rewards you could expect to earn if you spent that $16,833.67 exclusively at Empire stores over the course of a year:
1. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
$890.02 in travel value
$890.02 in cash back value (when redeemed at Scene+ partners)
$553.35 to $585.33 in cash back value (statement credit)
- This card earns 6 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- You can redeem the points at a rate of 100 points to $1 towards any travel you book yourself or via Scene+ Travel. This provides an effective return of 6%
- You can redeem the points for cash back at a rate of 1,000 points to $10 at Scene+ partners like Sobeys, Home Hardware, Cineplex and more. This provides an effective return of 6%
- You can redeem the points for cash back statement credit that ranges from 3,000 points for $20 to 71,500 points for $500. This provides an effective return of 4% to 4.19%
- There is a $50,000 annual cap on the 6 points per dollar category for Empire stores that is shared with accelerated earn rates for other grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments, entertainment, gas and daily transit and streaming services.
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel yourself calculation: $16,833.67 * 6% return = $1010.02 | Subtract $120 fee = $890.02 travel value
Cash back calculation (Scene+ Partners):
$16,833.67 * 6% return = $977.83 | Subtract $120 fee = $890.02 travel value
Cash back calculation (Statement credit): $16,833.67 * 4% to 4.19% return
= $673.35 to $705.33 | Subtract $120 fee = $553.35 to $585.33 cash back value
2. American Express Cobalt® Card
$685.80 to $1,529.49 in travel value
$685.80 in cash back value (statement credit)
- This card earns 5 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- You can redeem the points at a rate of 1,000 points to $10 towards any travel you book yourself or towards cash back. This provides an effective return of 5%
- You can redeem the points for travel via American Express' Fixed Points for travel which provides value of up to 2 cents per point. Multiply that by the 5 points per dollar and you have an effective return of up to 10%
- You can also convert the points to airlines and hotel program such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France KLM Flying Blue and Marriott Bonvoy. These can provide returns of up to 6 cents per point or even higher. This provides an effective return of up to 30% or more or up to $5,050.10+ in travel value
- There is a $2,500 monthly cap on the 5 points per dollar category for eats and drinks (groceries, dining, coffee shops etc.).
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel yourself calculation: $16,833.67 * 5% return = $841.68 | Subtract $155.88 fee = $685.80 travel value
Fixed points for travel calculation: $16,833.67 * up to 10% return = up to $1683.37 | Subtract $155.88 fee = $1529.49 travel value
Covert points to airline & hotels calculation: $16,833.67 * up to 30% return = up to $5050.10 | Subtract $155.88 fee = $4894.22 travel value
Cash back calculation:
$16,833.67 * 5% cash back rate = $841.68 | Subtract $155.88 fee = $685.80 cash back value
3. MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
$721.68 to $805.85 in travel value
$581.46 to $650.98 in cash back value (statement credit)
- This card earns 5 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- It also has a 10% birthday bonus which can boost your earn rate to 5.5 points.
- You can redeem for travel booked via MBNA Rewards at a rate of 100 points to $1 providing an effective return of 5% to 5.5%
- You can redeem the points for cash back at a rate of 120 points to $1 providing an effective cash back rate of 4.167% to 4.58%
- There is a $50,000 annual cap on the 5 points per dollar category for groceries
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel with MBNA Rewards: $16,833.67 * 5% to 5.5% return = $841.68 to $925.85 | Subtract $120 fee = $721.68 to $805.85 travel value
Cash back calculation (Statement credit): $16,833.67 * 4.167% to 4.58% cash back rate = $701.46 to $770.98 | Subtract $120 fee = $581.46 to $650.98 cash back value
- This card earns 5 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- You can redeem the points at a rate of 10,000 points to $100 towards any travel you book via National Bank's À la carte Travel™ Agency. This provides an effective return of 5%.
- You can redeem the points for cash back at a rate of 6,250 points to $25 providing an effective cash back rate of 2%
- There is a $2,500 monthly cap based on ALL gross spending on the card to be able to earn 5 points. (For example if you spend $1,000 on a T.V. at an electronics store you will only be able to earn 5x points on $1,500)
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel yourself calculation: $16,833.67 * 5% return = $841.68 | Subtract $150.00 fee = $691.68 travel value
Cash back calculation (Statement credit): $16,833.67 * 2% cash back rate = $336.67 | Subtract $150 fee = $186.67 cash back value
- This card earns 4 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- Each point is worth 1 cent which provides an effective cash back rate of 4%
- There is a $25,000 annual cap on earning 4 points per dollar on groceries that is also shared with gas, pharmacy & utilities
- This card is only available to residents of Ontario
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Calculation:
$16,833.67 * 4% cash back rate = $673.35 | Subtract $99 fee = $574.35 cash back value
- This card earns 4% cash back at all Empire grocery stores.
- There is a $20,000 annual cap on 4% earning for grocery and gas/EV Charging combined (or $80,000 in total spend on the card)
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Calculation:
$16,833.67 * 4% cash back rate = $673.35 | Subtract $120 fee = $553.35 cash back value
- This card earns 4 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- Each point is worth 1 cent which provides an effective cash back rate of 4%
- There is a $20,000 annual cap on earning 4 points per dollar on groceries that is also shared with sustainable transit
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Calculation:
$16,833.67 * 4% cash back rate = $673.35 | Subtract $120 fee = $553.35 cash back value
- This card earns 4% cash back at all Empire grocery stores.
- There is a $25,000 annual cap on 4% earning on groceries that is also shared with recurring bill payments
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Calculation:
$16,833.67 * 4% cash back rate = $673.35 | Subtract $120 fee = $553.35 cash back value
- This card earns 5% cash back at all Empire grocery stores.
- There is a $1,000 monthly cap on 5% earning for grocery purchases
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Calculation:
$12,000 * 5% cash back rate + $4,833.26 * 1% cash back rate = $648.34 | Subtract $125 fee = $523.34 cash back
As you can see the best card to use at your local Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and other stores is Scene+'s own Scotiabank Gold American Express Card - well, for the most part it is. It is great for the basic book travel yourself option and for redeeming points for cash back at Scene+ partners including towards your groceries at Empire stores. However, for any other type of cash back or more flexibility with travel (ie. using points for outsized value business class travel) the American Express Cobalt Card comes out ahead.
10 credit cards compared for low spend
What if you don't spend that much on groceries? Let's look at someone who lives alone or perhaps at the most live as a couple that can get by on $500 of groceries per month. What are the best cards in this case?
1. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
$240 in travel value
$240 in cash back value (when redeemed at Scene+ partners)
$120 to $131.40 in cash back value (statement credit)
- This card earns 6 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- You can redeem the points at a rate of 100 points to $1 towards any travel you book yourself or via Scene+ Travel. This provides an effective return of 6%
- You can redeem the points for cash back at a rate of 1,000 points to $10 at Scene+ partners like Sobeys, Home Hardware, Cineplex and more. This provides an effective return of 6%
- You can redeem the points for cash back statement credit that ranges from 3,000 points for $20 to 71,500 points for $500. This provides an effective return of 4% to 4.19%
- There is a $50,000 annual cap on the 6 points per dollar category for Empire stores that is shared with accelerated earn rates for other grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments, entertainment, gas and daily transit and streaming services.
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel yourself calculation: $6,000 * 6% return = $360.00 | Subtract $120 fee = $240.00 travel value
Cash back calculation (Scene+ Partners):
$6,000 * 6% return = $360.00 | Subtract $120 fee = $240.00 cash back value
Cash back calculation (Statement credit): $6,000 * 4% to 4.19% return
= $240 to $251.40 | Subtract $120 fee = $120 to $131.40 cash back value
2. MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
$180 to $210 in travel value
$130.02 to $154.80 in cash back value (statement credit)
- This card earns 5 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- It also has a 10% birthday bonus which can boost your earn rate to 5.5 points.
- You can redeem for travel booked via MBNA Rewards at a rate of 100 points to $1 providing an effective return of 5% to 5.5%
- You can redeem the points for cash back at a rate of 120 points to $1 providing an effective cash back rate of 4.167% to 4.58%
- There is a $50,000 annual cap on the 5 points per dollar category for groceries
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel with MBNA Rewards: $6,000 * 5% to 5.5% return = $300 to $330 | Subtract $120 fee = $180 to $210 travel value
Cash back calculation (Statement credit): $6,000 * 4.167% to 4.58% cash back rate = $250.02 to $274.80 | Subtract $120 fee = $130.02 to $154.80 cash back value
3. Scotiabank American Express Card
$180 in travel value
$180 in cash back value (when redeemed at Scene+ partners)
$120 - $125.82 in cash back value (statement credit)
- This card earns 3 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- You can redeem the points at a rate of 100 points to $1 towards any travel you book yourself or via Scene+ Travel. This provides an effective return of 3%
- You can redeem the points for cash back at a rate of 1,000 points to $10 at Scene+ partners like Sobeys, Home Hardware, Cineplex and more. This provides an effective return of 3%
- You can redeem the points for cash back statement credit that ranges from 3,000 points for $20 to 71,500 points for $500. This provides an effective return of 2% to 2.097%
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel yourself calculation: $6,000 * 3% return = $180.00 | Subtract $0 fee = $180 cash back
Cash back calculation (Scene+ Partners): $6,000 *
3% return = $180.00 | Subtract $0 fee = $180 cash back value
Cash back calculation (Statement credit): $6,000 * 2% to 2.097% return
= $120.00 to $125.82 | Subtract $0 fee
= $120.00 to $125.82 cash back value
7. American Express Cobalt® Card
$144.12 to $444.12 in travel value
$144.12 in cash back value (statement credit)
- This card earns 5 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- You can redeem the points at a rate of 1,000 points to $10 towards any travel you book yourself or towards cash back. This provides an effective return of 5%
- You can redeem the points for travel via American Express' Fixed Points for travel which provides value of up to 2 cents per point. Multiply that by the 5 points per dollar and you have an effective return of up to 10%
- You can also convert the points to airlines and hotel program such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France KLM Flying Blue and Marriott Bonvoy. These can provide returns of up to 6 cents per point or even higher. This provides an effective return of up to 30% or more or up to $1,644.12 in travel value
- There is a $2,500 monthly cap on the 5 points per dollar category for eats and drinks (groceries, dining, coffee shops etc.).
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel yourself calculation: $6,000 * 5% return = $300 | Subtract $155.88 fee = $144.12 travel value
Fixed points for travel calculation: $6,000 * up to 10% return = up to $600 | Subtract $155.88 fee = $444.12 travel value
Covert points to airline & hotels calculation: $6,000 * up to 30% return = up to $1800 | Subtract $155.88 fee = $1644.12 travel value
Cash back calculation:
$6,000 * 5% cash back rate = $300 | Subtract $155.88 fee = $144.12 cash back value
- This card earns 5 points per dollar spent at all Empire grocery stores.
- You can redeem the points at a rate of 10,000 points to $100 towards any travel you book via National Bank's À la carte Travel™ Agency. This provides an effective return of 5%.
- You can redeem the points for cash back at a rate of 6,250 points to $25 providing an effective cash back rate of 2%
- There is a $2,500 monthly cap based on ALL gross spending on the card to be able to earn 5 points. (For example if you spend $1,000 on a T.V. via an electronics store you will only be able to earn 5x points on $1,500)
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Book travel yourself calculation: $6,000 * 5% return = $300 | Subtract $150.00 fee = 150 travel value
Cash back calculation (Statement credit): $6,000 * 2% cash back rate = $120 | Subtract $150 fee = -$30 cash back value
- This card earns 4 points per dollar spent at Loblaw family of grocery stores.
- Each point is worth 1 cent which provides an effective cash back rate of 4%
- There is a $25,000 annual cap on earning 4 points per dollar on groceries that is also shared with gas, pharmacy & utilities
- This card is only available to residents of Ontario
- Click here to learn more about and/or to apply for this card
Calculation:
$6,000 * 4% cash back rate = $240 | Subtract $99 fee = $141.00 cash back value
In this second scenario the same card comes out on top, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. Even with its $120 annual it still provides some of the best rewards for shopping at these stores thanks to that 6 points per dollar earned!
What about cards that have annual fee waivers with select bank accounts?
Select cards from the above list above will have their annual fees waived each and every year if you have a bank account that provides such a waiver. For example, if you have a Scotiabank Ultimate Package you do not have to pay the annual fee on the Scotiabank Gold American Express cards. Plus if you meet the minimum balance requirement of $5,000 monthly you don't pay any fees for the bank account and still get the credit card waiver.
Thus for the high spend scenario the Scotiabank Gold American Express would provide $1,010.02 in travel value as well as cash back value at Scene+ partners. For statement credit cash back it would provide $673.35 to $705.33 in value. And for the low spend scenario you can also add $120 to all the listed amounts.
You can still earn Scene+ Points at Empire stores if you use a non-Scene+ credit card
Remember, you will still earn Scene+ points at all the participating stores simply by swiping/scanning/showing your Scene+ loyalty card at the till. You do not have to utilize a Scene+ Visa or American Express Card. Just remember to load all your personalized offers before you shop at one of the Empire stores.
If you are a Rogers/Shaw/Fido customer you have one more option at your disposal to earn some decent cash back with their Rogers Red Mastercard® or Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard. When you are a customer both of these cards have their cash back earn rate elevated to 2% on all purchases including groceries. 2% won't crack into the Top 10 for high or low spend, however Rogers offers a 50% bonus on cash back redemptions when redeemed for Rogers products or services. That ultimately means a 3% cash back return and with no annual fees that provides $505.01 in cash back for high spend (just outside the Top 10) and $180 for low spend (tied for 3rd!)
Wrapping it up
I do want to heed a word of caution to the readers of this feature - one has to take into account many more factors than what is shown above and with everyone's spending habits being different, the above comparison is simply a snapshot of two grocery spending scenarios. When deciding on a card you also need to look at the purchases you make outside of groceries, the benefits and insurance you would like with your card and more.
However, even if you are to look at various spending scenarios I think what you can take away from this feature is that for many Canadians who are shopping at Empire's grocery stores your best payment option is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
Title Image via Empire Company Limited
Be sure to subscribe to the Rewards Canada News and RWRDS Bonus Bulletin email newsletters so that you don't miss out on any loyalty program news and offers! You can subscribe to our newsletters here: