If you bought bread this century, you could get some 'bread' from class-action lawsuit

If you bought packaged bread in Canada sometime between 2001 and 2021, you may be entitled to a slice of a new, $500-million class-action lawsuit against Loblaw and Weston. Here’s what to know.

In 2018, the Competition Bureau of Canada released court documents alleging that senior officials at Canada’s two largest bread makers, Canada Bread and Weston Bakeries, had made a secret agreement to artificially inflate the price of bread in this country. The bureau alleged that at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread over at least 16 years.

Grocers alleged to be involved in the scheme included Loblaw Companies Ltd., Walmart Canada Corp., Sobeys Inc., Metro Inc. and Giant Tiger Stores Ltd.

In May, Loblaw and its parent company, George Weston Ltd., agreed to pay $500 million to settle a class-action lawsuit regarding their involvement in the scheme. Class-action lawsuits continue against Canada Bread, Sobeys, Metro, Walmart Canada and Giant Tiger.

Courts in Ontario and Quebec have approved the settlement, and the claims process is now open for Canadian residents who bought packaged bread for personal use between 2001 and 2021. Claims for compensation must be submitted by Dec. 12.

An application form is available at canadianbreadsettlement.ca . Claimants must be 18 years of age or older and have purchased packaged bread in Canada between 2001 and 2021. No proof of purchase is necessary. Also, officers and directors of the Loblaw/Weston group of companies are not eligible.

The claims form does not cover the province of Quebec. However, a similar form for Quebec residents can also be found on the site.

Yes. In 2018, Loblaw offered $25 gift cards to anyone who purchased bread from its stores from 2001 onward. People who received one of the cards can still participate in the class-action lawsuit, but any payout will be reduced by $25, and will only be paid if it then amounts to $5 or more.

Those who didn’t participate in the Loblaw gift card program will receive a maximum payment of $25 made as initial compensation.

The site notes: “If there is money left after the calculation of the initial compensation, a supplemental compensation may be made to all approved claimants (including those who got a Loblaw Card under the Loblaw Card Program in 2018).”

The lawsuit website states: “Settlement funds allocated for the benefit of businesses or entities in Canada that purchased Packaged Bread for resale in the period 2001 to 2021, inclusive, are being held in Trust at this time and will be distributed as the Courts direct at a later date.”

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