Based on coverage from Radio-Canada, DailyHive, and Inside Halton.
Deadline Approaches for Loblaw Bread Settlement Claims
If you've ever bought bread from a Loblaw store, you might be eligible for a slice of a $500-million settlement. This stems from a class-action lawsuit alleging that Loblaw, along with its parent company George Weston Ltd., participated in a price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated bread prices across Canada. The settlement was approved by the Superior Court of Quebec and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and the window to submit claims is closing soon.
The lawsuit claims that Loblaw and other major grocery chains, including Metro, Sobeys, and Walmart, were involved in an industry-wide arrangement that saw bread prices rise by about $1.50. This scandal, which first came to light in 2015, has led to significant legal and financial repercussions for the companies involved. While Loblaw and George Weston have agreed to the settlement, other defendants like Canada Bread and Giant Tiger continue to deny the allegations.
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How to Claim Your Share of the Settlement
To be eligible for compensation, you must have purchased packaged bread products from Loblaw or its affiliates between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2021. The good news is you don't need to provide proof of purchase to file a claim. However, you will need to answer a verification question and disclose whether you received a $25 Loblaw card from a previous program.
The settlement funds are divided with 22% allocated to Quebec residents and 78% to the rest of Canada. The exact payout per claimant is still up in the air and will depend on the number of claims submitted and whether claimants have already received compensation through the earlier Loblaw Card Program. The minimum payout is expected to be $50, but it could be higher depending on the final number of claimants.
For those who have already received a $25 Loblaw card, additional compensation will only be provided if the remaining settlement funds allow for it, and the extra amount is at least $5.
What Happens Next?
The deadline to submit a claim is December 12, 2025, and the process is straightforward. You can fill out an online form on the Canadian Bread Settlement website, providing basic personal information. If you're in Quebec, there's a separate site for claims. Once the deadline passes, payments are expected to be distributed between six to twelve months later, either via Interac e-transfer or cheque.
The settlement is not just for individual consumers. Business owners who purchased bread for resale during the specified period are also eligible, although their claims will be processed separately.
It's worth noting that the settlement process has faced challenges, particularly with fraudulent claims submitted by bots. The administrators are using advanced software to detect and prevent such fraud, but they are otherwise relying on the honesty of Canadian claimants.
This settlement offers a unique opportunity for Canadians to receive compensation for overcharged bread purchases, a staple in many households. As Jay Strosberg of Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP puts it, this is a chance for Canadians to get some money back from an unfortunate chapter in the country's grocery industry.
