Ongoing Probe Uncovers “Alleged Conspiracy” To Fix Bread Prices In Canada

Court documents filed by Canada’s Competition Bureau show evidence of a 14-year price-fixing scheme involving two big bread companies and several retailers. The ITO (“information to obtain”) documents named Canada Bread and Weston Bakeries, and retailers Loblaw Companies Ltd., Sobeys Inc., Metro Inc., and Walmart Canada Corp., in the scheme that inflated bread prices by at least $1.21 a loaf. The Competition Bureau said there has been no conclusion of wrongdoing yet, and no charges have been filed. However, Weston and Loblaw have admitted to participating in the industrywide scheme, and have received immunity from prosecution in exchange for their cooperation. A senior competition law officer at the bureau said the “alleged conspiracy” was a deliberate attempt “to suppress competition” and increase the wholesale and retail prices of bread in Canada. [Image Credit: ©   Weston Bakeries ]