If you have filed a claim in the settlement regarding a long-standing conspiracy to fix bread prices, your money is now being sent to you. Verita, an independent administrator for the settlement, has initiated the payment process for approved claims. Due to the large number of approved claims, payments are being distributed gradually, as stated on the settlement website.
The Competition Bureau launched an investigation into the issue in 2016, and Weston Foods and Loblaw confessed to participating in an “industry-wide price-fixing scheme” that the bureau alleged increased 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 for the class-action lawsuit.
Individuals residing in Canada who purchased bread for personal consumption between 2001 and 2021 were eligible to seek a portion of the settlement funds without the need for proof of purchase. The deadline for submitting claims was December 12 of the prior year.
The amount each claimant receives will vary based on whether they had previously obtained a $25 card from the Loblaw Card Program, which was disbursed in 2018 to address their involvement in the scheme. Those who did not receive the gift card will receive $49.11, while those who did will get $24.11, according to the settlement website.
Claimants will receive their funds through either Interac e-transfer or by cheque, based on their chosen method during the claim submission. Verita’s website cautions claimants to be vigilant against fraud, as there have been instances of fraudulent messages related to the payouts being sent to certain Canadians. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported receiving nine phishing text messages in March requesting personal information such as name, address, date of birth, and credit card details related to the settlement.
Legitimate e-transfer emails concerning the claim will only originate from notify@payments.interac.ca, as stated on the claim website. Claimants are advised not to interact with any text messages claiming to be from Verita or click on any accompanying links.
