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If you submitted a claim in the class-action settlement related to a years-long bread price fixing scheme, your money it on its way.
The payout process for Canadians whose claims were approved began last week, according to Verita, an independent administrator for the settlement. Because of the high number of approved claims, the settlement website says payments are being issued on a rolling basis.
The Competition Bureau began investigating the matter in 2016, and Weston Foods and Loblaw have admitted that they participated in an “industry-wide price-fixing arrangement” which the bureau alleged added $1.50 to the price of a load of bread.
Loblaw and its parent company George Weston Ltd. agreed in 2024 to pay $500 million to settle the class-action lawsuit.
Anyone who lived in Canada who bought bread for personal use between 2001 and 2021 was eligible to apply for a share of the settlement money, and no proof of purchase was necessary. Claimants had until Dec. 12 of last year to apply.
Canada Bread must pay a $50 million fine for being part of a scheme to fix the price of bread in Canada over 14 years. It’s the highest fine the Competition Bureau has ever levied. Andrew Chang explains how the scheme worked, and why this may only be the beginning.
The amount received will depend on whether claimants previously received a $25 card from the Loblaw Card Program, which it paid out in 2018 to make amends for its role in the scheme.
Those who didn’t get a gift card will be paid $49.11, while those who did will get $24.11, according to the bread settlement site.
Claimants will either receive their money by Interac e-transfer or cheque, depending on which method they selected when making the claim.
Verita’s website also warns claimants to be wary of fraud, as bogus messages related to the payouts have been sent to some Canadians. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre told CBC News in March it had received nine reports of phishing text messages that month related to the settlement, all of which asked the recipient for their name, address, date of birth and credit card or debit card information.
The claim website says legitimate e-transfer emails will only come from notify@payments.interac.ca.
“We will never send any communications or payments via text,” the claim webpage reads, adding that claimants should not click any links or respond to text messages claiming to be from Verita.
