Canadians who filed claims in the class-action settlement linked to a lengthy bread price fixing scheme are now in the process of receiving their compensation. Verita, an independent administrator for the settlement, has initiated the payout for approved claims, with payments being distributed gradually due to the large number of approved claims.
The Competition Bureau launched an investigation into the issue in 2016, leading to admissions from Weston Foods and Loblaw that they engaged in an industry-wide price-fixing arrangement, allegedly inflating the cost of a loaf of bread by $1.50.
In 2024, Loblaw and its parent company, George Weston Ltd., agreed to pay $500 million to resolve the class-action lawsuit related to the scheme. Any individual residing in Canada who purchased bread for personal consumption between 2001 and 2021 was eligible to claim a portion of the settlement funds without the need for proof of purchase, with the deadline for applications being December 12 of the previous year.
The payout amount varies based on whether claimants had previously received a $25 card from the Loblaw Card Program in 2018 as part of the restitution for their involvement in the scheme. Those who did not receive the gift card will be compensated $49.11, while recipients of the card will receive $24.11, as detailed on the bread settlement website.
Claimants will receive their funds via Interac e-transfer or cheque, depending on their chosen method during the claim process. To prevent fraud, Verita’s website cautions claimants about fraudulent activities, as some Canadians have reported receiving deceptive messages linked to the payouts. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre disclosed that it had received nine reports of phishing text messages in March connected to the settlement, requesting personal information like name, address, date of birth, and credit or debit card details.
The official claim website stresses that legitimate e-transfer emails will only originate from notify@payments.interac.ca. Claimants are advised not to engage with any suspicious text messages purporting to be from Verita or click on any accompanying links.
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