Dollarama's shelves always seem to be full of surprises, especially if you haven't given the store a proper walk-through in a while.
We recently published a story called These 12 name-brand items are worth buying at Dollarama, according to shoppers, based on picks from MTL Blog readers. The responses were solid, and they got me curious.
I’m more of a casual dollar store shopper myself, usually popping in for a birthday card or a couple of mini cans of soda. But after reading what people had found, I figured it was time to do some browsing of my own.
While not everything here is necessarily cheaper than what you'll get at a big box store, here are nine name-brand products I didn’t expect to spot at Dollarama.
Kellogg's and General Mills cereal (full-sized boxes)
I didn't expect this level of cereal variety.
Al Sciola
While the mini bowls of Frosted Flakes or Froot Loops didn't surprise me, I was kind of floored to find regular, full-sized boxes of Rice Krispies, Cheerios, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch on the shelf. Prices ranged from $2.75 to $3.50, which is pretty decent considering what they go for elsewhere.
Farberware knives
A six-piece knife set for five bucks is a heck of a deal.
Al Sciola
Farberware might not be high-end, but it's definitely a step up from most dollar store kitchen gear. For $5, the value's hard to beat, especially since the same knife set sells for around $20 at Walmart.
Sensodyne toothpaste
Gone are the days of limited dollar store toothpaste options.
Al Sciola
I knew Dollarama had Colgate tubes, but I was a little taken aback at the size of their toothpaste section.
Seeing rows of Crest, Sensodyne, and Arm & Hammer made me feel like I was in a pharmacy.
Tostitos chips and dips
Super Bowl appetizers no longer require a stop at the grocery store.
Al Sciola
From what I can remember, Dollarama has always carried chips. But something about seeing an entire display of large Tostitos bags — along with glass jars of salsa and cheese dips — made me forget I was shopping at a dollar store.
But at $3.75 a bag and $4 a jar, it's not exactly a great bargain.
Tylenol
This is undeniably convenient.
Al Sciola
I’ve never associated Dollarama with over-the-counter meds, but here we are. Tylenol in small-size formats. It's limited, sure, but handy in a pinch.
Silk almond milk
The lack of a need for refrigeration definitely makes selling these items easier.
Al Sciola
The lack of refrigeration makes these an easy sell.
Seeing boxed dairy alternatives like Silk and Earth's Own on the shelf was unexpected (in a good way). At $2.50 a box, it's about what you'd pay at grocery stores when they're on sale. Not bad if you're stocking up.
Kraft cheese
Mamma mia! Cheese at Dollarama?!?
Al Sciola
Take it from an Italian — Kraft's parmesan isn't real Parmigiano Reggiano, but it still does the trick as long as it's not the staple ingredient.
The fact that you can buy Kraft-branded shredded cheese at Dollarama felt more like Costco than a dollar store. I didn't check the expiry date too hard, but it looked fine and was selling for $4.25 a jar.
Frank's Red Hot
Put that sh*t on everything — even your Dollarama haul.
Al Sciola
This one genuinely caught me off guard. Frank's is a staple in a lot of fridges, and seeing it alongside no-name hot sauces was kind of funny. At $1.75 a bottle, it's a great value if you're running low.
Yves Rocher sun cream
Since when did this place get so fancy?
Al Sciola
Yves Rocher isn't some random off-brand — it's legit French skincare, and seeing $4.50 tubes of sun cream on the shelf next to hand sanitizer felt like a glitch in the matrix.
And in case you're wondering, these bad boys go for about $20 on Yves Rocher's website.
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