ITO documents by Canada’s Competition Bureau released on Wednesday contain allegations of collusion between two of the country’s biggest bread producers and five grocery retailers.
Late last year, Loblaw Companies Limited and parent company, bread producer George Weston Limited, sent shockwaves throughout the Canadian retail system by admitting to a scheme to increase the price of packaged bread that went on for over 14 years.
Union members at Multi-Marques, the Québec-based arm of Canada Bread, have demanded $6m in pension repayments for the 15 years the company is accused of cutting employee benefits.
Canada Bread has swept up the remaining assets and business of
troubled British baker Harvestime in a move that broadens the
firm's operations in the UK.