By Howie Silbiger
Aleph Meats Inc., a Montreal kosher meat supplier, has formally accused the Jewish Community Council of Montreal, which operates MK Kosher Certification, of using its dominant position in the kosher marketplace to prevent businesses from purchasing products certified by competing kosher agencies.
The allegations are contained in a formal demand letter dated June 20, in which the company alleges MK’s practices amount to an abuse of dominant position under Canada’s Competition Act.
According to the letter, Aleph Meats imports, prepares and distributes kosher meat certified by KSR, the Kosher Supervision of the Rabbinat under Quebec Chief Rabbi David Sabbah. The company argues that KSR is a legitimate kosher certification and alleges that businesses operating under MK supervision are effectively prevented from purchasing or selling products carrying competing kosher certifications.
The company further alleges that grocery stores, slaughterhouses, caterers and event venues risk losing their MK certification if they do business with suppliers carrying other kosher certifications.
It also claims slaughterhouses have been discouraged from selling meat to Aleph Meats, preventing the company from accessing much of Montreal’s kosher marketplace. Those allegations have not been proven in court.
Aleph Meats entered Montreal’s kosher market earlier this year after opening in the former J&R Kosher location, positioning itself as an alternative supplier following the closure of one of the city’s best-known kosher butchers. Its products are certified by KSR rather than MK, a distinction that now sits at the centre of the dispute.
The allegations strike at the heart of Montreal’s kosher food industry. MK is the city’s largest kosher certification agency and supervises a substantial portion of Montreal’s kosher restaurants, caterers, grocery stores and food manufacturers.
While kosher certification agencies routinely establish standards governing the products used in establishments operating under their supervision, Aleph Meats argues MK’s position in the marketplace gives those standards an anti-competitive effect.
The company argues that MK’s influence within Montreal’s kosher marketplace leaves businesses with little practical choice but to comply with its requirements, creating what it describes as an abuse of dominant position under Sections 78 and 79 of the Competition Act.
In its demand letter, Aleph Meats is asking MK to remove what it describes as formal and informal restrictions preventing businesses from purchasing products certified by competing kosher agencies and to provide written confirmation within seven days that those restrictions have been lifted.
Failing that, the company says it intends to pursue legal remedies before the Competition Bureau, the Competition Tribunal or through other available legal avenues.
The letter also notes that the Competition Tribunal has the authority to impose administrative monetary penalties of up to $25 million where an abuse of dominant position is established, in addition to any damages that may be awarded.
Rabbi Saul Emanuel, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Council of Montreal, declined to comment when contacted by the Montreal Jewish News.
No proceedings have been filed before the Competition Tribunal, and the allegations contained in the demand letter have not been tested in court.
Total BS.
Mendy of Aleph meats only opened this to go after the MK, he doesnt care about anything else. He’ll also sue anyone who says anything negative about him. There is nothing honest or kosher about his business.
Someone who’s standing up to the price gouging of the Monopoly that the MK has had is somehow someone who doesn’t care???
You might not like the person but saying that his place is not Kosher, to the highest, is ridiculous.
Unless of course you’re one of the MK’s mouthpieces…. purposely spreading fake news!
Shame on you for spreading such disgusting lashon hara…..
Are you an MK glazer or just and idiot who likes to spread lashon hara?
Time for MK to be called out on all their shady behaviour, they have done it to Benny and many others who choose to not be bullied by them anymore. Thanks to Aleph Meats to finally stand up to a Bully!
Thank you Aleph Meats to finally do what the whole community knew but was too scared to say.
These allegations are known throughout the Montreal Jewish community as being true. Everyone knows that’s why butchers have to have MK because they won’t let you use their meat in venues otherwise. MK tells venues that if they chose to use a different certification, they will lose the no longer certify the hall. There’s no bidding MKs long standing corruption BUT we know that suing was never our way. The way to do it is to bring it to the beit din. The problem in this case is that the beit din is comprised of members that are also affiliated with MK and KSR thus ruining the integrity of the judgement. Although they have a moral and religious obligation to evaluate truthfully and (no one doubts that they’ve been acting accordingly thus far), there is still conflict of interest.
Hopefully this can be dealt with discreetly and putting the Jewish community interest ahead of personal agendas and vendettas.
Very good point about the conflict of interest! MK is not an independent organisation: both MK and the Beth Din are merely branches of the Jewish Community Council. It’s the same entity, just different departments. It took someone with courage to shake things up. Of course we should avoid suing in the court system when we can avoid it, but in these circumstances, there was just no other way.
I pray that MK will realise this and relent. The current practices are creating resentment and division in the community.
Has boyarsky not heard of the Halacha about not going to civil authorities ?
I didn’t know boyarsky was a sfardi using the ksr.
He alsi has a history of fighting with the Vlad.
Maybe he should check with the Rebbe.
Wowwwee. Amazing. And yes it is SUPER IMPORTANT to use one’s own judgment. Only G-d is perfect. Do not listen to a rabbi if you don’t want to. And I picked up not from Vancouver Hebrew Academy but from a Chabad video that the בית דין doesn’t judge דיני נפשות since the Bais Hamikdash was destroyed. Good night. Mashiach now.