Consumers who filed claims in the class-action settlement concerning a long-running bread price fixing conspiracy are now receiving their compensation. Verita, an independent administrator overseeing the settlement, has initiated the payment process for approved claims. Due to the considerable number of validated claims, payments are being distributed gradually, as stated on the settlement website.
In 2016, the Competition Bureau launched an investigation into the issue, leading to admissions by Weston Foods and Loblaw that they engaged in an industry-wide price-fixing agreement. This illicit collaboration allegedly inflated the cost of a loaf of bread by $1.50. To resolve the resulting class-action lawsuit, Loblaw and its parent company, George Weston Ltd., agreed in 2024 to pay $500 million.
Eligibility for a share of the settlement funds was open to any individual in Canada who purchased bread for personal consumption between 2001 and 2021, without the need for proof of purchase. The deadline for submitting claims was December 12 of the previous year.
The amount of compensation depends on whether claimants had previously received a $25 card from the Loblaw Card Program, issued in 2018 as a gesture of apology for their involvement in the scheme. Individuals who did not receive the gift card will be compensated $49.11, while those who did will receive $24.11, according to the settlement website.
Claimants will receive their funds via Interac e-transfer or cheque, based on their chosen payment method during the claim submission. Verita’s website cautions claimants to watch out for fraudulent activities, citing instances where deceptive messages related to the payouts have been sent to some Canadians. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre disclosed receiving nine reports in March alone regarding phishing text messages linked to the settlement. These misleading messages requested personal information such as name, address, date of birth, and credit or debit card details.
To prevent falling victim to fraud, claimants are advised that legitimate e-transfer emails will solely originate from notify@payments.interac.ca. The claim webpage underscores that no communications or payments will be sent via text, warning claimants against clicking on any links or responding to text messages purportedly from Verita.
