Canadians receive cash from $500 million bread price-fixing class-action settlement

Canadians who submitted claims in the bread price-fixing class-action settlement are beginning to receive payments as part of a $500 million agreement linked to alleged industry-wide bread price manipulation.

The settlement, reached in July 2024, included $404 million from Loblaw Companies Limited and George Weston Limited.

The remaining $96 million was tied to Loblaw’s gift card compensation programme launched in 2017.

According to the claims website, “Payments are being issued on a rolling basis and not all claimants will receive payment at the same time.”

The website added: “The amount you receive will depend on whether or not you previously received a $25 Loblaw card from the Loblaw Card Program.”

Claimants who did not receive the earlier Loblaw gift card are expected to receive $49.11, while those who participated in the programme will receive $24.11.

People who chose payment by cheque will receive $2 less.

The lawsuit accused several major grocery chains and suppliers, including Walmart Canada, Sobeys and Metro Inc., of participating in a bread price-fixing conspiracy between 2001 and 2015.

The Competition Bureau alleged in court documents that at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread during the scheme.