Loblaws found to have price-fixed bread products, giving customers $25 to make up for it
Loblaws have made a few headlines this past year, from announcing the union of their Shoppers Optimum and PC plus programs, to the closure of 22 stores across Canada. And, now they have given the news circuits something new to talk about.
The Canadian grocery chain outted themselves as participants in a global price fixing agreement with certain bread products. Loblaw Companies Ltd and George Weston Ltd. revealed that they had been fixing the prices for over a decade, from 2001 to 2015. But, thanks to coming clean about it to Canada's competition watchdog, both companies have gained immunity and no legal action will be taken.
"As a result of the co-operation we have provided to the Competition Bureau, neither George Weston Ltd. nor Loblaw or their respective employees will face criminal charges or penalties," said Galen Weston, CEO of both companies.
To make it up to their customers, Loblaws is offering $25 gift cards to those who qualify.
"This is a difficult matter and clearly something that never should have happened," said Weston, in a conference call with analysts. "The gift card is a direct acknowledgment of that to our customers. We hope that they'll see it as a meaningful amount that demonstrates our commitment to keeping their trust and confidence."
Those wishing to get a gift card must go to LoblawCard.ca and input their email. Customers will then be notified by email when registration to claim their card begins. It is believed that registration will begin January 8th, and will be open until May 8th. Only those who are the age of majority declare that they bought certain packaged bread products at one of the participating banner stores in Canada before March 1st, 2015 will be eligible to receive the gift card.
The company anticipates that 3-6 million customers will be eligible for the $25 gift card and that the initiative will set them back $75-$150 million.