Canada Bread settles years-long price-fixing allegations, to pay $50-million fine

Grupo Bimbo, a Mexican company that bought control of bakery wholesaler and distributor Canada Bread Co. Ltd. from Maple Leaf Foods Inc. in 2014, will pay a $50-million fine to settle allegations over Canada Bread‘s role in price fixing. In an emailed statement, Maple Leaf Foods said it had just learned of the fine levied against Canada Bread and said it is “completely unknown” why Canada Bread or its owner entered into the plea agreement. “We are not aware of any wrongdoing by Canada Bread or its senior leadership during the time that we were a shareholder,” the statement said. Canada Bread has settled allegations it took part in a price-fixing scheme that regulators contend began in 2001 and spanned at least 14 years. Court documents filed by the bureau in 2018 alleged an industry-wide scheme involving the grocers and wholesale bread product maker and distributor Canada Bread.