If you’ve filed a claim in the settlement related to a long-standing bread price fixing scheme, your money is now being distributed. The payout process for eligible Canadians began recently, managed by Verita, an independent administrator overseeing the settlement. Due to the substantial number of approved claims, payments are being made progressively, as stated on the settlement website.
Initially investigated by the Competition Bureau in 2016, Weston Foods and Loblaw confessed to participating in an industry-wide price-fixing agreement. This collusion was alleged to have inflated the cost of a loaf of bread by $1.50. In 2024, Loblaw and its parent company, George Weston Ltd., agreed to a $500 million settlement to resolve the class-action lawsuit.
Residents of Canada who purchased bread for personal consumption between 2001 and 2021 were eligible to claim a portion of the settlement without needing proof of purchase. The deadline for submissions was December 12 of the previous year.
The amount received by claimants will vary depending on whether they had previously received a $25 card from the Loblaw Card Program, distributed in 2018 as a goodwill gesture for their involvement in the price-fixing scandal. Those who did not receive a gift card will be compensated $49.11, while those who did will receive $24.11, as indicated on the settlement website.
Claimants can expect to receive their funds via Interac e-transfer or by cheque, depending on their selected payment method during the claim process. Verita’s website cautions claimants against fraudulent activities, as some Canadians have reported receiving deceptive messages regarding the payouts. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported receiving nine reports of phishing text messages in March related to the settlement, requesting personal information such as name, address, date of birth, and credit or debit card details.
To avoid falling victim to scams, claimants are advised to only trust legitimate e-transfer emails from notify@payments.interac.ca. The official claim webpage emphasizes that all communications and payments will be sent via email, not text messages, and recipients should refrain from clicking on any links or engaging with texts claiming to be from Verita.