Bakers, grocers met to reach deals on bread prices, competition watchdog alleges

Senior officers at Canada's two largest bread wholesalers communicated directly to raise prices in lockstep, then met with five retailers, who accepted the hike on condition their competitors would as well, the federal competition watchdog alleges in court documents released Wednesday.

The suppliers then allegedly met individually with their retail customers to get their approval for the price hike.

The retailers agreed to the boost on the condition their competitors would as well to maintain a fixed price in the market.

"Further, the retailers demanded that the suppliers actively manage retail competition by co-ordinating retail prices for their respective fresh commercial bread products and ensuring pricing alignment amongst the retailers," the documents read.

The two companies received immunity in exchange for their co-operation. The remaining five companies have previously said they're co-operating with the investigation, and some have outright denied any wrongdoing.

Loblaw spokesperson Kevin Groh said Wednesday the documents are "unequivocal."

"We have admitted our role, and you cannot price fix alone," he said.

Canada Bread issued a statement shortly after the documents were released saying it first learned of the claims in December but was not allowed to discuss them until the information was made public.

It noted that the George Weston and Loblaw informants admitted to inappropriate conduct and accused "certain former Canada Bread executives" dating back to 2001 "while Canada Bread was under previous ownership."

Maple Leaf Foods sold its majority share in Canada Bread to Mexico's Grupo Bimbo in 2014.

"The allegations do not reflect the Canada Bread we know," the company said Wednesday.

"Our current leadership takes these allegations very seriously and are actively investigating to take the necessary measures."

Michael Medline, the president and CEO of Sobeys, said in statement emailed to CBC News that the company disagrees "with irresponsible allegations of 'industry-wide' bread price-fixing and reckless attempts at trying to drag us into this debacle. We will fight false allegations with all of our energy in the courts." 

Metro Inc. said Wednesday that there is nothing in the documents that indicate the company broke competition laws. It added that after the Competition Bureau executed warrants at its offices on Oct. 31, the company launched an internal investigation.

"Based on the information processed to date, we have found no evidence that Metro has violated the Competition Act."

Giant Tiger said it has co-operated with the regulator's investigation and will continue to do so. "Giant Tiger reaffirms our previous assertion that we have no reason to believe that Giant Tiger or any of our employees has violated the Competition Act," the retailer said.

"Giant Tiger exists to serve our customers and communities and to offer low prices. We take this purpose very seriously; it is at the heart of who we are as a retailer," the company said.

A spokesperson for the Competition Bureau said the regulator's investigation remains ongoing and declined to comment further.

Sylvain Charlebois, professor of food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University, said: "Two months ago, if you would have asked me if there was any collusion in the industry, I would say likely not.

"Now, I'm asking myself where else in the grocery store is there collusion other than bread. That's the real question, I think. And so the Competition Bureau has to look at this case very seriously, beyond bread," Charlebois said.