Where to Buy Caviar in Canada (2026 Guide)
Where can you buy caviar in Canada? Canadians can buy fresh sturgeon caviar from specialty seafood retailers, fish markets, luxury grocery stores, and online caviar shops that ship nationwide in temperature-controlled packaging.
While you may find caviar at fish markets or gourmet stores, availability can vary depending on local demand and seasonality. Dedicated caviar online retailers are often the most reliable source in Canada since caviar is their primary focus.
Each option offers different advantages in terms of quality, freshness, selection, and price. In this guide, we break down the most common places to buy caviar in Canada so you can choose the option that best fits your needs.
In This Guide
Buying Caviar Online in Canada
One of the most convenient and reliable ways to buy caviar in Canada is online.
Online caviar boutiques typically offer a large selection year-round, competitive pricing, and ship right to your door, typically within 24 hours.
You'll also find caviar gift sets, caviar serving accessories, and classic accompaniments such as blinis and crème fraîche.
At CaviarHub, Canadians can buy premium sturgeon caviar online with temperature-controlled delivery nationwide.
Our selection includes over 10 varieties such as Beluga, Ossetra, Siberian, and White Sturgeon - amongst the largest selections of sturgeon caviar available online in Canada:
Pros & Cons of Buying Caviar Online
PROS
- Large selection
- Convenient delivery
- Competitive pricing
- Caviar gift sets & accessories
- 24/7 shopping
- Complimentary products
- Fresher stock due to high turnover
CONS
- 24 hours+ to receive order
- Cannot receive same day or weekends
- Shipping costs for small orders
Many online caviar boutiques also offer complementary gourmet products such as red caviar, oysters, truffles, smoked fish, Japanese wagyu, oils, spices, and more.
This can be extremely exciting for foodies and those living in remote areas where gourmet products are difficult to come by.
Important: Beware of non-Canadian online stores
Non-Canadian online sellers will not ship to Canada, as it is not permitted due to food safety regulations. If you find a store that is willing to ship you caviar from outside of Canada, it is most likely illegal, and your product will get seized at the border!
Fish Shops & Fish Markets in Canada
Local seafood retailers are excellent places to find caviar products locally - especially if you're in a last-minute pinch.
Fishmongers typically have a fridge (or freezer) with 2 or 3 different caviars. However, it's important to ensure that the products are refrigerated and not frozen.
Although caviar can be frozen, it's usually a sign of an old and/or lower-quality product. If the shop is busy and the product is fresh and refrigerated, you're in the clear.
A great thing about these stores is that you can get caviar the same day (even on weekends!) and grab some of your favourite fish and seafood at the same time. You can also find a curated variety of gourmet products, spices, and more.
While you're at it, you can spark up a conversation with the shop owner and get personalized recommendations.
Pros & Cons of Buying Caviar at Fish Markets
PROS
- Available same day & weekends
- Most popular varieties
- Offers caviar spoons
- Fresh fish & seafood available
- Other gourmet products
CONS
- Small selection
- Pricing may not be competitive
- May not offer accessories or gift sets
- Products may be frozen
- No delivery option
Overall, buying caviar from a local fish shop or market is an amazing option, especially if there's a busy fish market in your area with a large selection of fresh products and competitive pricing.
Note that while it is common for fish and seafood stores to carry caviar, not all do. It may be worth calling your local store before heading there.
However, not all cities are fortunate enough to have a local fish market, which leads us to our next options – finding caviar in small and larger grocery stores in Canada.
Specialty Food & Organic Grocery Stores in Canada
Smaller, health-focused grocers, gourmet shops, butcher shops, and cheese stores in Canada may sell caviar. It's worth giving them a call to be sure they carry some.
Smaller grocery stores focusing on organic foods and specialty products are growing in numbers and in popularity as many of us move towards a healthier lifestyle and diet.
Gourmet shops are on the rise as well. Offering artisanal products, a highly curated selection of imported goods from oils, spices, canned goods, to fruits, veggies, cheeses, and meats.
In case you haven't noticed, large grocers are dominated by unhealthy packaged and frozen foods, soft drinks, alcohol, pet food, and household cleaning products, with a relatively small share reserved for fruits, vegetables, and fresh protein.
With growing awareness of caviar’s health benefits and the surge of amateur chefs and home cooks, many small, health-focused grocers are starting to introduce caviar in their stores.
Pros & Cons of Buying Caviar at Specialty Stores
PROS
- Available same day & weekends
- May offer accessories
- Large selection of healthy products
- May carry other gourmet products
CONS
- May not be available - call before
- Limited selection
- Pricing may not be competitive
- No gift sets
- Products may be frozen
- No delivery option
Overall, specialty food and organic grocery stores can be great places to source sturgeon caviar, should they sell it. We recommend calling these shops beforehand to make sure they have some in stock.
Large Grocery Chains in Canada
Can you buy caviar at the grocery store in Canada? No, larger grocery chains typically do not sell sturgeon caviar.
Most large grocers, such as Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Costco, etc, have fish and seafood counters where you'll typically find a variety of fresh and frozen seafoods ranging from salmon to oysters. However, the majority of Canadian grocers don't carry premium specialty products such as sturgeon caviar.
We are observing an increasing amount of larger chains offering fish roe such as salmon, trout, lumpfish, and masago, which are inexpensive and have a long shelf life. They may, however, sell them frozen.
It's essential to find non-frozen products as freezing them negatively impacts their texture and flavour.
Certain stores in upscale neighbourhoods and Costco may carry a very limited selection of caviar around Christmas only. If you find yourself needing caviar at the last minute on Christmas Eve, it's worth a try, but don't hold your breath.
Pros & Cons of Buying Caviar at Grocery Stores
PROS
- Fresh fish & seafood available
- Might offer delivery option
CONS
- Not available/Poor selection
- Pricing may not be competitive
- No gift sets
- Products may be frozen
Large grocery chains are not a great place to find caviar. These stores like to sell common products in large volumes. However, they do bring in specialty products from time to time or if persistent demand exists, so if you get lucky and find some caviar, it’s worth picking some up.
Best Place to Buy Caviar in Canada
The best place to buy caviar in Canada is from caviar specialty stores online or local seafood retailers.
When determining the best places to find caviar, we primarily consider availability - will I find caviar here year-round? We then consider selection, quality, and price.
For example, local cheese stores or butcher shops may carry caviar, but on average, they do not. It would be wise to call them before heading over, unless you need some cheese or meat anyway.
Where to Buy Caviar in Canada: Best Options Compared
The table below compares the most common places to buy caviar in Canada based on availability, product selection, price, and freshness.
| Where to Buy Caviar | Availability | Selection | Price Level | Freshness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Caviar Shop | Fresh | |||
| Seafood Retailer | Fresh or Frozen | |||
| Gourmet Store | Fresh | |||
| Grocery Chain | Fresh or Frozen | |||
| Cheese Store | Fresh | |||
| Butcher Shop | Fresh or Frozen | |||
| Bakeries | Fresh |
Key Takeaways
- Online caviar stores typically offer the highest availability and the largest selection of sturgeon caviar in Canada, often with competitive pricing and consistently fresh inventory.
- Seafood retailers are your best bet locally, depending on location and demand, usually with a smaller selection and mixed availability of fresh or frozen products.
- Gourmet food stores sometimes stock caviar as a luxury specialty item, though availability and selection are usually limited, and prices tend to be higher.
- Large grocery chains typically do not carry caviar, but may during the holidays with a very small selection and limited availability.
- Specialty cheese shops, butcher shops, and bakeries may occasionally stock caviar as a gourmet add-on, but availability is generally low, and product selection is minimal.
How to Choose a Reputable Caviar Seller
A reputable caviar seller will always be transparent about the following:
- Fish origin & species
- CITES certification
- Sustainability practices
- Cold chain management
- Product net weight
- Expiration date
- Fair labelling
It's important to find a highly reputable and transparent company for both ethical and legal purposes.
The wild sturgeon population is an endangered fish species, which makes buying a sustainable, CITES-certified product ever so important. In fact, caviar from a sturgeon caught in the wild is strictly illegal in Canada, with very few exceptions.
CITES-certified products will have a CITES code, which indicates the species, source, country of origin, year of production, and may include lot number, plant, and branch number. A CITES code would typically look like "BAE/C/IT/2026/", which translates to Siberian (Baerii) species, Aquaculture (farmed), produced in Italy in the year 2026. You'll usually find this at the bottom of a jar or tin of caviar.
You also want to make sure the product is properly labeled. The net weight and expiration date should be very clearly indicated and easily readable.
Lastly, the product should be fairly labelled. Unfortunately, many caviar sellers misrepresent their products in an effort to confuse or take advantage of their customers. For instance, we see many sellers label Kaluga as River Beluga - an incredibly dishonest practice. Beluga is the most expensive and prestigious caviar. Kaluga is a completely different product that is occasionally referred to as "River Beluga" in China only.
That being said, know what you're buying, who you're buying it from, and certainly don't be afraid to ask questions.
Looking to buy caviar in Canada?
CaviarHub has one of the largest and most prestigious selections in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Caviar in Canada
You can buy caviar online, at seafood retail stores, fish markets, and gourmet stores. During the Christmas holidays, you may find some at your grocery store.
Yes. You can buy caviar online in Canada with refrigerated delivery directly to your door. Online caviar stores typically have large selections and competitive pricing.
Yes. Caviar is commonly sold online in Canada by a small number of reputable sellers with good reviews, fast and refrigerated delivery, and high-quality products.
No. Grocery stores typically do not carry or sell sturgeon caviar. Select grocery stores may sell some during the Christmas holidays only.
Sources & References
- • Sturgeons and CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
- • Universal Caviar Labelling Requirements – CITES
- • The Basics of Legal Caviar Trade – WWF
- • Wild Animal and Plant Protection Act – Environment Canada
- • Caviar Sales Trends – BBC News
- • Casual Caviar: The New Food Trend – The Globe and Mail
