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CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Possible class action against Loblaw over meat pricing filed in Manitoba
Beef and meat products are displayed for sale at a grocery store in Aylmer, Que., on Thursday, May 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick A Manitoba woman has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against a Canadian food retailer, alleging that Loblaw consistently overcharged consumers for meat and seafood by including the packaging weight in the final price. The statement of claim filed in Manitoba's Court of King's Bench on July 7 lists Iris Griffin of Hecla Island, Man., as the plaintiff and Loblaw Companies Limited, Loblaws Inc., T&T Supermarket Inc. and Provigo Distribution Inc. as defendants. The claim alleges that 'Loblaw has included the weight of packaging in the listed weight of its packaged meat and seafood products' since at least 2023, leading to 'systematic overcharging' across the country. By allegedly including packaging weight in the stated net weight, the claim says that Loblaw has 'misled' consumers and violates Canadian food regulations, which requires accurate net quantity labelling. 'The term 'net weight' is commonly understood by consumers, and required by law, to mean the weight of the edible product alone.' The claim said that Griffin noticed the discrepancy after purchasing ground beef at a Real Canadian Superstore in Winnipeg in November 2023. The price is based on the product's listed net weight multiplied by the unit price. While weighing the meat into individual portions to be frozen, the court filing said Griffin noticed the weight was incorrect. 'The store had included the weight of the packaging when weighing the beef, resulting in an overcharge of approximately eight per cent,' the claim alleges. Griffin contacted the manager of the Superstore, and then the meat department manager, who told her the store did not adjust the weight to account for the packaging, per the claim. A friend also attended a different Superstore location in the city who noticed the same issue. The claim said Griffin reported the incident to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), but 'the CFIA did not inspect any Loblaw stores, weigh any meat or take enforcement action, relying instead on Loblaw's assurance that the issue had been resolved.' Nearly a year later, the claim said a CBC News investigation found meat was still being weighed with its packaging elsewhere in Canada, resulting in Loblaw admitting the issue affected 80 stores and that it would 'refresh in-store training.' 'Details on the scope of the overcharging across the country will be part of the discovery process in the lawsuit,' said David Klein, a lawyer on the class action team. 'The lawsuit seeks to ensure that the Loblaws group has taken appropriate remedial steps and to obtain compensation for customers who were overcharged.' Error occurred when converting meat tray format: Loblaw In a statement to CTV News, Loblaw said, 'The error happened as we were converting our meat trays to a more environmentally friendly format and was corrected when discovered.' The food retailer said the issue was specific to a 'small number of meat products' sold in select stores in Western Canada, which was disclosed earlier this year. Since January, Loblaw said they have placed a discount on select meat products in impacted stores, which is visible on customers' receipts. If certified as a class action, the lawsuit would seek damages for affected customers in Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. 'Loblaw's conduct violated the trust of consumers to inflate their profits,' according to the claim. 'Punitive damages are necessary to appropriately condemn Loblaw's actions and serve as a sufficient deterrent to prevent Loblaw from engaging in these practices in the future.'
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Manitoba woman files proposed class action against Loblaw over alleged underweight meat sales
Social Sharing A Manitoba woman, who blew the whistle on a case in which Loblaw sold underweight meat across 80 stores in Western Canada, has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the grocery chain over allegations it consistently overcharges for meat and seafood by including the packaging weight in the final price tag. Plaintiff Iris Griffin's claim, filed in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench last week, names Loblaw Companies Ltd., Loblaws Inc., T&T Supermarket Inc. and Provigo Distribution Inc. as defendants. It alleges that since at least 2023, "rather than weighing only the edible portion, they have included the packaging weight in the prices charged to customers." "This practice is deceptive and misleading and violates Canadian food regulations, which require accurate net quantity labelling," the claim reads in part. The court filing also alleges the companies have continued the practice, "either deliberately, or at minimum recklessly," and failed to correct the issue despite consumer complaints, media coverage and reports to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, "at a time when many are already struggling with the rising cost of food." WATCH | No fines laid for overweighted meat: Underweighted meat prompts class-action lawsuit 6 months ago Griffin says she hopes her challenge in court holds the industry and stores accountable. "They're making profit off of the backs of Canadians, one plastic tray at a time," Griffin said in an interview on Tuesday. CBC News has reached out to Loblaw for comment. In November 2023, Griffin purchased ground beef at a Loblaw-owned Superstore in Winnipeg, CBC News reported earlier this year. The Hecla Island resident determined the meat in the package was 134 grams short and that its plastic tray had made up for the missing weight, amounting to an overcharge of almost eight per cent. Under federal regulations, net weights for packaged food used for pricing can't include the packaging. WATCH | Tip from shopper spurs CBC investigation: Grocery stores overcharge for meat by including package weight 6 months ago A CBC News investigation discovered some Canadian grocers were found to be overcharging customers, potentially by including the weight of the packaging in the cost of meat, which over time could add up to millions in profit. One of the grocers has apologized and all have pledged to address the issue. Griffin's statement of claim says her complaint to the food inspection agency did not trigger any enforcement action — including fines — or follow-up inspections. It relied "instead on Loblaw's assurance that the issue had been resolved," the claim states in part. About a year later, Griffin shared her experience as part of a CBC News investigation that found packages of underweight meat being sold in Loblaw locations, along with one store owned by Sobeys and a Walmart. Loblaw apologized for the errors at the time, saying that it had refreshed its in-store training. Following the publication of the story, a company spokesperson told CBC that Loblaw was offering a discount on selected meat products at "the impacted stores." The company did not specify which stores were involved. The court filing accuses the grocery chain of breach of contract, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, breach of the federal Competition Act and breach of provincial consumer protection legislation in Manitoba and seven other provinces. "Loblaw's conduct violated the trust of consumers to inflate their profits," the claim alleges. "Loblaw's actions are part of a pattern of willful disregard for their customers and the law." If certified, a class action would seek general and punitive damages and restitution for affected customers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. "Punitive damages are necessary to appropriately condemn Loblaw's actions and serve as a sufficient deterrent to prevent Loblaw from engaging in these practices in the future."
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Manitoba woman files proposed class action against Loblaw over alleged underweighted meat sales
Social Sharing A Manitoba woman, who blew the whistle on a case in which Loblaw sold underweighted meat across 80 stores in Western Canada, has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the grocery chain over allegations it consistently overcharges for meat and seafood by including the packaging weight in the final price tag. Plaintiff Iris Griffin's claim, filed in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench last week, names Loblaw Companies Ltd., Loblaws Inc., T&T Supermarket Inc. and Provigo Distribution Inc. as defendants. It alleges that since at least 2023, "rather than weighing only the edible portion, they have included the packaging weight in the prices charged to customers." "This practice is deceptive and misleading and violates Canadian food regulations, which require accurate net quantity labelling," the claim reads in part. The court filing also alleges the companies have continued the practice, "either deliberately, or at minimum recklessly," and failed to correct the issue despite consumer complaints, media coverage and reports to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, "at a time when many are already struggling with the rising cost of food." WATCH | No fines laid for overweighted meat: Underweighted meat prompts class-action lawsuit 6 months ago Griffin says she hopes her challenge in court holds the industry and stores accountable. "They're making profit off of the backs of Canadians, one plastic tray at a time," Griffin said in an interview on Tuesday. CBC News has reached out to Loblaw for comment. In November 2023, Griffin purchased ground beef at a Loblaw-owned Superstore in Winnipeg, CBC News reported earlier this year. The Hecla Island resident determined the meat in the package was 134 grams short and that its plastic tray had made up for the missing weight, amounting to an overcharge of almost eight per cent. Under federal regulations, net weights for packaged food used for pricing can't include the packaging. WATCH | Tip from shopper spurs CBC investigation: Grocery stores overcharge for meat by including package weight 6 months ago Griffin's statement of claim says her complaint to the food inspection agency did not trigger any enforcement action — including fines — or follow-up inspections. It relied "instead on Loblaw's assurance that the issue had been resolved," the claim states in part. About a year later, Griffin shared her experience as part of a CBC News investigation that found packages of underweighted meat being sold in Loblaw locations, along with one store owned by Sobeys and a Walmart. Loblaw apologized for the errors at the time, saying that it had refreshed its in-store training. Following the publication of the story, a company spokesperson told CBC that Loblaw was offering a discount on selected meat products at "the impacted stores." The company did not specify which stores were involved. The court filing accuses the grocery chain of breach of contract, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, breach of the federal Competition Act and breach of provincial consumer protection legislation in Manitoba and seven other provinces. "Loblaw's conduct violated the trust of consumers to inflate their profits," the claim alleges. "Loblaw's actions are part of a pattern of willful disregard for their customers and the law." If certified, a class action would seek general and punitive damages and restitution for affected customers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. "Punitive damages are necessary to appropriately condemn Loblaw's actions and serve as a sufficient deterrent to prevent Loblaw from engaging in these practices in the future."
Winnipeg Free Press
15-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Possible class-action plaintiff has a beef with Loblaw measurements
A Manitoba woman who claims she was overcharged for ground beef at a Real Canadian Superstore has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Loblaw, alleging it consistently charges consumers for the weight of packages in which meat and seafood are sold. Iris Griffin, who lives on Hecla Island, filed the claim in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench last week, naming Loblaw Companies Ltd., Loblaws Inc. and subsidiaries T&T Supermarket and Provigo Distribution as defendants. 'The defendants have consistently overcharged consumers across Canada for meat and seafood products weighed and packaged in their stores. Rather than weighing only the edible portion, they have included the packaging weight in the prices charged to customers,' the court filing claims. Nathan Denette / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES A Manitoba woman has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Loblaw, alleging it consistently charges consumers for the weight of packages in which meat and seafood are sold. 'This practice is deceptive and misleading and violates Canadian food regulations, which require accurate net-quantity labelling.' The claim says consumers are being overcharged just as they are struggling to buy groceries. The issue of packaging being included in the listed weight of meat and seafood at Loblaw stores has been in recent headlines. The company promised to refresh training and issued an apology earlier this year after the practice occurred in at least 80 stores, as per a CBC News investigation, in which Griffin was quoted. The lawsuit claims the grocer did not offer restitution to customers who were overcharged. The court filing alleges the pricing practice has continued despite complaints from customers, reports to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, investigations and media coverage. The lawsuit claims the overcharging has occurred since at least 2023. 'Loblaw's conduct violated the trust of consumers to inflate their profits,' the court filing alleges. 'Loblaw's actions are part of a pattern of wilful disregard for their customers and the law.' Griffin regularly travels from Hecla Island to Winnipeg to buy groceries to save money, the court filing says. In November 2023, she went to a Real Canadian Superstore in Winnipeg, where she purchased a large package of ground beef. The package listed the price as the cost per unit of beef multiplied by the net weight. When Griffin weighed the meat into portions to freeze it, she found the weight was incorrect, the court filing claims. 'The store had included the weight of packaging when weighing the beef, resulting in an overcharge of approximately eight per cent,' the lawsuit alleges. The court papers say Griffin spoke to the manager of the Superstore, then the meat department manager, who told her the store did not adjust the weight of the product to account for the packaging weight. A friend of Griffin's went to another Winnipeg Superstore and experienced the same problem. Griffin reported the overcharge to the federal food inspection agency, but the agency did not inspect any stores, weigh meat or take enforcement action, the court papers claim; instead it relied on Loblaw's assurance the issue had been resolved. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'To this day, we don't know how many stores were affected or what steps they took to make sure that it isn't still happening,' David Klein, a lawyer on the class action team, said Monday. The lawsuit accuses Loblaw of misrepresentation, breach of contract, unjustly enriching itself, breaching the federal Competition Act and consumer protection legislation in several provinces. If it's certified as a class action, the lawsuit would seek damages for residents of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island who sign on as class members. The defendants have yet to be served notice of the claim and haven't responded in court. Representatives for the grocery giant did not return a request for comment. Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
