Judge approves $500-million settlement in Loblaw, George Weston bread-fixing case
An Ontario judge has approved a settlement in a class-action lawsuit that accused Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. of engaging in an industry-wide scheme to fix the price of bread.
In a written decision, judge Ed Morgan says the $500-million settlement is excellent, fair and in the best interest of class members.
The settlement was reached last year and includes a combined $404 million to be paid by Loblaw and George Weston. The remaining $96 million is accounted for through a gift card program Loblaw announced in 2017 to make amends for co-ordinating the price of some packaged bread back to 2001.
Once legal fees and other court expenses are paid, records show 78% of the settlement funds will be allocated to residents in Canada outside Quebec and 22% will wind up with people in that province.
READ: George Weston Limited, Loblaw Companies announce settlement bread price-fixing arrangement
Those eligible for a piece of the settlement had to have purchased packaged bread for personal use or for resale between January 2001 and December 2021.
