If you’ve bought packaged bread in Quebec, there’s a good chance you qualify for compensation. The Superior Court of Quebec recently approved a $500 million class-action settlement against Loblaw and Weston over the price of packaged bread.
The deal applies to Canadians who purchased packaged bread between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2021. Roughly 22% of the fund is set aside for Quebec residents, while the rest is handled under a parallel Ontario case.
Why is there a bread settlement?
This case stems from allegations that some of Canada’s biggest grocery and baking companies — including Loblaw, George Weston, Canada Bread, Sobeys (IGA), Metro, Walmart Canada, and Giant Tiger — took part in a 14-year price-fixing conspiracy that drove up the cost of packaged bread.
The class action was first authorized by the Superior Court of Quebec in December 2019, and the plaintiff’s formal application was filed in 2020. The lawsuits claim these companies engaged in anti-competitive practices that led to artificially higher prices on everyday bread products and alternatives, excluding frozen bread and loaves baked fresh in-store.
In July 2024, Loblaw and George Weston agreed to settle their part of the case for $500 million — the largest anti-trust settlement in Canadian history.
Who can file a claim?
Quebec residents are eligible if they were living in the province on December 31, 2021 and purchased packaged bread during the covered period for personal use. That includes most supermarket staples like bagged bread, buns, rolls, bagels, pitas, and tortillas — but it excludes bread that was frozen when sold or baked fresh on-site in stores
You must be 18 or older when submitting a claim. Each person can only file one claim, regardless of how many bread products they purchased over the years.
If you previously received a $25 Loblaw gift card through the earlier compensation program, you can still apply, but you’ll only get an additional amount if your new share comes out to at least $5 more.
How to claim
Quebec residents need to submit a Claim Form online at QuebecBreadSettlement.ca or by mail, but they must do so no later than December 12, 2025
You won’t need to provide proof of purchase, but you’ll have to confirm some basic details like your name, address, date of birth, and whether you previously received the Loblaw card. Payments will be sent by Interac e-Transfer (fastest and free) or by cheque if you prefer, though choosing a cheque means $2 will be deducted for processing
How much money could you get?
The exact payout per person isn’t fixed. It depends on how many Quebecers submit valid claims and how much is left after legal fees and administrative costs. The fund is designed to be shared proportionally among all approved claimants, so the fewer the claims, the bigger each share.
Importantly, no compensation will be issued if your entitlement is less than $5. In that case, the money will be redirected to Canadian food security charities, like food banks or school meal programs.
Love this? Check out our MTL Blog noticeboard for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!
AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog’s Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
