Canadians who purchased bread from Loblaw stores can now apply to receive compensation from the bread price-fixing class-action settlement.
Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP and Orr Taylor LLP announced on Thursday, Sept. 11, that the claims process is now open for the $500-million settlement in the bread price-fixing class action lawsuit against Loblaw. The settlement was approved by the Superior Court of Quebec and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
The lawsuit alleges that Loblaw overcharged Canadians for bread as a result of an industry-wide price-fixing scandal involving certain packaged bread products. The class actions against Canada Bread, Sobeys, Metro, Walmart Canada, and Giant Tiger are ongoing.
In addition to Loblaw Companies Ltd. and parent company George Weston Ltd., other grocery chains mentioned in the lawsuit include Metro, Sobeys, and Walmart.
Are you eligible?
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You can now submit a claim if you’re a Canadian resident who purchased packaged bread between Jan. 1, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2021. According to the Canadian Packaged Bread Class Actions Settlement website, you don’t need to provide proof of purchase.
If you previously received a $25 Loblaw card from the Loblaw Card Program, you can still submit a compensation claim. However, you will only receive more than $25 if there’s enough money in the settlement fund and if the additional amount is at least $5.
How much can you receive?
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According to the settlement agreement, Weston and Loblaw must pay the remaining $404 million, having previously paid $96 million through the earlier Loblaw Card Program. Once court-approved expenses have been deducted, 22 per cent is allocated for class members in Quebec, while 78 per cent is allocated for class members nationwide.
The exact amount that class members will receive hasn’t been specified and will depend on several factors, including the settlement funds available, the number of approved claims, and whether a claimant has previously received a $25 Loblaw card.
Funds have also been allocated to business owners who purchased bread for resale from 2001 to 2021.
What should you do next?
Screenshot of the Canadian Packaged Bread Class Actions Settlement website (canadianbreadsettlement.ca)
Now that the claims period is open, Canadians can submit a claim by filling out an online claim form. You’ll be required to provide personal details, including your full name, date of birth, address, and contact information.
You must also answer a verification question to prove that you’re eligible to submit a claim, and whether you received a $25 Loblaw Card under the Loblaw Card Program in 2018.
If you live in Quebec, you can submit a claim on a separate website. All claims must be filed by Dec. 12, 2025. According to the timeline on the website, processing claims takes time, and class members are likely to receive their money in 2026. Compensation payments are typically sent out six to 12 months after the claims deadline.
“This resolution provides Canadian consumers with the monetary relief they deserve,” said Jim Orr, a partner at Orr Taylor LLP.