Manitobans will notice lower prices at the checkout as the province’s expanded Provincial Sales Tax (PST) exemption on grocery food items officially takes effect.
As of July 1, 2026, the Manitoba government has removed the 7% PST from nearly all grocery food items sold at qualifying grocery stores. The change expands the existing tax exemption on basic groceries and now includes many everyday foods and drinks that were previously subject to provincial sales tax.
What’s Now PST-Free?
Many convenience and ready-to-eat grocery items that were previously taxed are now exempt from Manitoba’s 7% PST when purchased at qualifying grocery stores.
Examples include:
- Rotisserie chicken
- Prepared sandwiches
- Soups
- Sushi
- Salads
- Fruit and vegetable trays
- Cheese and deli platters
- Potato chips
- Corn chips
- Pretzels
- Cheese puffs
- Salted nuts
- Trail mix
- Candy
- Chocolate
- Chewing gum
- Carbonated soft drinks
- Sparkling water
- Fruit juices
- Single-serving baked goods
- Non-alcoholic beverages, including drinks containing 1% alcohol or less by volume
What Is Still Taxable?
The new exemption applies only to qualifying grocery food items. Some purchases will still have PST, including:
- Restaurant meals
- Fast food
- Food court purchases
- Coffee shops operating inside grocery stores
- Catering services
- Alcoholic beverages
- Dietary supplements
- Vitamins (with the exception of prenatal vitamins, which are also PST exempt starting today)
- Non-food items sold in grocery stores
Where Does the Tax Exemption Apply?
The expanded exemption applies to food purchased from qualifying grocery stores, including many supermarkets and their online grocery services.
However, the exemption does not generally apply to restaurants, food service counters, vending machines, or most prepared meals sold outside of grocery stores.
A Welcome Break for Manitoba Families
With food prices remaining a major concern for many households, today’s change means shoppers should immediately see savings on a wide range of grocery purchases that were previously taxed.
Whether you’re picking up a rotisserie chicken for dinner, grabbing a prepared salad after work, buying snacks for a road trip, or stocking up on soft drinks for the weekend, those purchases should now be free of Manitoba’s 7% PST when bought from qualifying grocery stores.
While GST rules remain unchanged, removing the provincial portion of the tax will help reduce grocery bills for families across the province. The Manitoba government estimates the measure will save consumers approximately $24 million annually.
