Packaged Ice Price Fixing Conspiracy Class Action

Between January 1, 2001 and March 6, 2008, it was alleged that North America’s two largest ice manufacturers conspired to fix the price of packaged ice and to allocate the North American market as between them, resulting in Canadians paying non-competitive and artificially high prices for packaged ice.

Our lawyers prosecuted a price fixing case against Artic Glacier Inc. and Reddy Ice Holding Inc. which alleged that the defendants conspired to unlawfully fix, raise, maintain and/or stabilize the price of packaged ice. The claim was advanced on behalf of all persons in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and certain persons in Quebec who purchased packaged ice directly from Artic Glacier, Reddy Ice or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.

A settlement was reached and approved by the court on April 15, 2013. Artic Glacier Inc. agreed to pay $2 million dollars in complete resolution of the litigation, and the settlement recoveries were successfully distributed to class members. As provided for in the court-approved Plan of Distribution, a small residue was distributed cy prés to certain members of two industry organizations in Canada who were likely to have purchased packaged ice during the class period.