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Canadian Celiac Association Pushes For OHIP Coverage of Celiac Blood Test, Amongst Other Awareness Day Initiatives

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TORONTO, May 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — For International Celiac Awareness Day, the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) plans to meet at Queen’s Park at 10:30 a.m. to call on MPPs to support OHIP coverage for the IgA TTG serological test for celiac disease.

The lack of OHIP coverage for the IgA TTG serological test is a problem the CCA is aiming to change, especially in Ontario, which remains the only province that doesn’t cover the blood test necessary for detecting celiac disease.

The CCA states the benefits of OHIP coverage of the test will produce an earlier diagnosis of celiac disease, which will reduce the number of years thousands of Canadians suffer from failing health and will translate into real cost savings for the provincial health care system.

“Because the only treatment for celiac disease is for individuals to follow a strict gluten-free diet, funds spent on unnecessary prescription drugs will be reduced, as will unnecessary diagnostic tests and visits to doctors and hospitals,” says CCA executive director Melissa Secord.

Members of the CCA and members of parliament will also be at Queen’s Park to lend their support.

To date, the CCA has collected over 3,000 signatures on its Blood Testing petition. Click here to sign the petition and join those who have already supported this cause.

Additionally, as part of its International Celiac Disease Awareness Day efforts, the CCA has launched two new patient-focused reference tools, designed to educate Canadians on the condition and promote early diagnosis.

  • The Symptom Quiz is a self-assessment questionnaire to help patients start a dialogue with their doctor about celiac disease.
  • The Growing Up Celiac Workbook, is a resource guide designed for parents of young children with celiac disease and offers tips on everything from packing school lunches to navigating social situations at school, birthday parties and sporting events.

To learn more, visit www.celiac.ca

About the Canadian Celiac Association

The Canadian Celiac Association / L’Association canadienne de la maladie coeliaque is a volunteer-based, federally registered charitable organization with its national office in Mississauga, Ontario. It was founded in 1972 with financial assistance from the Kaufman Foundation, with the initial mandate of providing information on sources of gluten-free food, fostering research and encouraging mutual support among celiacs. Today the association serves people with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis through 28 affiliated chapters and 30 satellite groups across Canada.

Media Contact: Angela Rotundo

E: arotundo@bangalbino.ca

C: 647-525-0030

T: 416-366-2264

Sobeys says Voilà to online grocery delivery

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Through its partnership with U.K. e-grocer Ocado Group plc, Sobeys Inc. plans to launch an online grocery delivery service called Voilà next year and build a second automated warehouse for fulfillment.

Parent Empire Company Ltd. said Thursday that the retailer’s initial home delivery offering, Voilà by Sobeys, is slated to get under way in the greater Toronto area and Ottawa in spring 2020 when its previously announced customer fulfillment center (CFC) in Vaughan, Ontario, begins operation.

Due to launch in 2021 is Voilà par IGA, an online grocery delivery service for major cities in Quebec that will be served by a second CFC to be built in Pointe-Claire, Montreal. The Sobeys and IGA Voilà services and the Vaughan and Montreal CFCs will be powered by Ocado’s Smart online grocery platform.

Sobeys and Ocado announced their partnership in January 2018. Plans call for the development of an e-commerce infrastructure enabling online grocery ordering, automated fulfillment and home delivery. That includes front-end website functionality and mobile ordering; automated warehouses using Ocado’s grid and robots; last-mile routing management technology for delivery trucks; and customer service tools.

The Voilà service will offer a selection of up to 39,000 products, including fresh produce, at prices comparable to those at Sobeys and IGA stores, Stellarton, Nova Scotia-based Empire said. The online grocery brand will carry the tagline “Your groceries delivered. Just like that.”

“We are building the most advanced e-commerce infrastructure in Canada,” Sarah Joyce, senior vice president of e-commerce for Empire, said in a statement. “An online grocery home delivery experience like Voilà by Sobeys does not yet exist in Canada. While most players in the industry are focused on store pick models to fulfill their online orders, we are building automated warehouses specifically designed for best-in-class home delivery based on a highly successful model from the U.K. Voilà by Sobeys will deliver Canadians exactly what they want, when they want it, every time.”

IGA has provided online grocery pickup and delivery in Quebec for more than 20 years via its IGA.net service. Empire said IGA.net will continue to offer online grocery service in Quebec until Voilà par IGA and the Montreal CFC launch in 2021. Thereafter, IGA.net will continue to serve customers outside the Voilà delivery area.

“We’re thrilled to build on our solid legacy of e-commerce in Quebec,” Joyce added. “When selecting future locations, we consider size of market, population density and potential for growth. Launching in Quebec is another exciting step forward to bringing the world’s most innovative e-commerce solution to Canadians.”

Construction of the Vaughan CFC is on schedule and will cost an estimated $95 million, Empire reported. The company said it expects the Montreal CFC’s construction cost to be about the same or possibly less than Vaughan’s, since the latter facility enables efficiencies in Montreal. Empire plans to partner with its Crombie REIT subsidiary to develop the Montreal CFC and then lease the facility from Crombie.

Empire added that most of the Montreal investment will be incurred by Crombie, while software, licensing and systems integration costs incurred in fiscal 2019 will apply to both CFCs. The company said its e-commerce expansion will create about 1,500 jobs in the greater Toronto and Montreal areas.

Overall, Sobeys owns, affiliates or franchises more than 1,500 stores in all 10 provinces under such banners as Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, Farm Boy and Lawtons Drugs. Its retail network also includes 350-plus fuel locations.

Stickling’s Specialty Bakery Ltd. Partners with iLevel Management Inc.

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Canada, May, 2019 – Stickling’s Specialty Bakery Ltd. is pleased to announce their partnership with iLevel Management, Inc. iLevel Management will be acting as Stickling’s sales broker to Natural Health Food stores, Mass Retail, Food Service and Drug Stores in Canada. The team at Stickling’s is excited to be working with iLevel’s sales team to market, distribute and increase sales of Stickling’s products across Canada. “We are looking forward to working with the group at iLevel Management to expand our brand awareness, and grow our line of Gluten Free products. iLevel’s initiatives and experience will be invaluable as we look to establish ourselves further in the Canadian Market.” Michael Walter, President, Stickling’s Specialty Bakery Ltd.

 

About Stickling’s Specialty Bakery Ltd. (www.sticklingsbakery.com)

Stickling’s Bakery is a family owned and operated business founded in 1939 in Germany. At Stickling’s it has been a longstanding family tradition to produce delicious, natural and healthy baked goods. Whether enjoying a gluten free or gourmet treat, customers can fully trust that Stickling’s products are made with quality, real ingredients. Stickling’s is especially excited about their new gluten free line of pies, in addition to their popular gluten free pizza crusts, bread crumbs, and croutons.

 

About iLevel Management Inc. (www.ilevelmanagement.ca)

iLevel Management, Inc., opened its doors in 2013. Its core principles are centered on innovation, integration and invigoration of its brands and marketing strategies. Implementing custom technologies into everyday business operations allows their brands to receive detailed information that is retailer driven and has long-term plans for success.

For more information, please contact: info@ilevelmanagement.ca

Cannabis fans everywhere may get their wish as Oreo-maker Mondelez eyes CBD-infused snacks

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Cannabis aficionados everywhere may finally get their wish as Oreo-maker Mondelez eyes adding CBD-infused snacks to its product line, which includes Chips Ahoy cookies, Cadbury chocolate, Nilla Wafers and Nutter Butter cookies.

“Yes, we’re getting ready, but we obviously want to stay within what is legal and play it the right way,” CEO Dirk Van de Put said Wednesday on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street. ”

Although he dashed hopes that consumers would get CBD-infused Oreos, saying that the non-psychoactive compound in cannabis might not be a fit for the company’s family brands, the company could add the ingredient to other products or even create new product lines.

A number of start-ups have already started selling CBD-infused food and drinks, but larger companies such as Mondelez and Coca-Cola are still sitting on the sidelines while federal health officials weigh new rules regulating the industry. Van de Put predicted the ingredient will hit the mainstream food market in the “not-so-far future.”

In December, President Donald Trump legalized most products containing CBD when he signed the farm bill into law. Since then, retailers such as Walgreens and CVS have started selling a limited number of CBD products such as lotions and creams. However, the Food and Drug Administration prohibits adding the compound to food or beverages. In response to pressure from Congress, the regulator has set its first date for public hearings on the matter for next month.

“The space is not clear,” Van de Put said. “It’s a bit clearer in non-food products. In food products, I’m hoping that the FDA will bring some clarity in the coming months.”

Professional chefs have named CBD- and cannabis-infused foodas the top food trend of 2019. CBD in particular has been gaining buzz for health benefits, such as easing pain and managing anxiety. Little scientific research has been done to support those claims. Mondelez is also looking into those claims, Van de Put said.

Shares of the company were up 1% in morning trading Wednesday after Mondelez reported earnings Tuesday night. The stock, which has a market value of $74.14 billion, has risen 28% so far this year.

Mondelez reported adjusted earnings of 65 cents per share, topping analysts’ expectations of 61 cents per share. But the company fell just short of estimates for revenue, reporting net sales of $6.54 billion. Wall Street was expecting the company to report revenue of $6.55 billion.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: What can employers do to break the stigma of mental health in the workplace?

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month! With approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiencing mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is imperative that today’s employers focus on breaking the stigma around mental health in the workplace. Address this taboo topic so employees can educate themselves and seek appropriate resources to remain productive and happy in both their personal and professional lives. A study done in October 2018 by workplace consultant Peldon Rose shows that 72% of employees want to work for employers that champion mental health and wellbeing.

It makes sense. However, with mental illness covering a wide range of conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors to name a few, what can employers do to support employees struggling with these issues? Are there steps they can proactively take to help employees manage certain mental illnesses or conditions?

The following three tips will help employers create an environment that fosters positive mental health. It’s important to understand, however, that organizations need to be open about mental health by holding and encouraging honest conversations around the topic.

Reduce stress in the workplace

One thing an employer can do to support mental health in the workplace is to foster a drama free workplace. Create an atmosphere where individuals are encouraged to give constructive feedback to one another. Encourage managers to use positive reinforcement. Tackle negativity and cynicism head on. These efforts need to start from the top down, but don’t be afraid to let your managers brainstorm ways to improve your organization’s culture in this area.

Provide resources

Employee Assistance Programs or EAPs provide a wealth of resources for a fairly low benefit investment. These programs offer these resources in a variety of ways such as articles, videos, or apps and cover a wide range of mental health topics. They also provide services that can lead to reduced depression or anxiety such as legal and financial resources, work-life balance solutions, and short-term counseling.

Go beyond simply providing the resources and encourage participation and interaction with them. Start with leadership.

“Employers set the tone in a workplace,” says Helen Corley, Director of Account Management at Workplace Solutions. “One of the easiest ways to create an inclusive and accepting atmosphere is to share a personal story of how paying attention to mental health was a top priority in your own life. Do you have an example of when your EAP helped you or someone in your household? Share it at your next Town Hall or benefits meeting! If the leaders at the top are willing to share their stories, it will signal that carving out time and using the resources provided is not just encouraged during times of stress, but important in day to day practice.”

Educate employees

Find ways to educate employees on identifying and dealing with mental health issues. Make sure they know when and how they can use any resources you’ve provided to them. If you have an intranet or internal newsletter, include this information with your other benefits news. If you do not have an EAP to assist with onsite training, Mental Health First Aid can help. They provide overview training as well as training for crisis situations.

Now is the perfect time to begin! May is mental health awareness month and our friends at Mental Health America provide a full toolkit to get you started with promoting it with messages, articles, social media posts, banner images and more.

Offer good mental health coverage

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, only 41% of adults in the U.S. with a mental health condition received services in the past year. While you cannot control whether your employees seek the assistance they need, you can undoubtedly offer health plans that include improved mental health coverage. While shopping benefits programs, ask about mental health coverage. Compare several plan options to see how coverage measures up.

American workers spend the majority of their waking hours at work. With such a high percentage of mental health issues arising in the adult population, it is inevitable that the workplace will be affected. Employers can proactively encourage employees to take care of their mental health through these low or no cost action steps.

New Experimental Therapy CAR NKT- Cells Tested In Cancer Patients For The First Time

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CAR T-cells are becoming somewhat of a household name, but a new phase I trial is, for the first time, using CAR ‘NKT’ cells, featuring genetic modification of a different immune cell, natural killer cells. Natural killer T-cells have long been known to be important in mediating the immune system’s response to cancer, targeting both tumor cells and cells infected with viruses.

The new therapy is being used to treat relapsed neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer that 1 out of 5 children still do not survive long-term. Although many children can be successfully treated, the prognosis for children who have relapsed after initial therapy is poor and many families find that they have exhausted all treatment options.

Now, a new phase I clinical trial run jointly between Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, both in Houston is evaluating the brand new treatment approach for children with relapsed neuroblastoma. The CAR-NKT cell treatment CMD-501, developed by UK-based cellular therapy company Cell Medica is the first of its kind to ever be trialed in any disease.

The first preliminary results from the trial named GINAKIT2 were shown yesterday at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy in Washington DC. The presentations described results from testing and safety evaluations of the therapy in mice before also talking about results from the first two patients enrolled on the phase I clinical trial.

“Both patients had widely metastatic disease that has failed multiple therapies and many treatment regimens. The first patient achieved a stable disease at a four-week follow-up and the second patient had two bony tumors, one of which has completely disappeared and the other which is responding,” said Dr Andras Heczey, pediatric oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, one of the leaders of the trial.

Obesity experts call for mandatory health star ratings as study reveals extent of junk food

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Obesity experts are calling on the Government to ramp up regulations around food manufacturing as new research reveals almost half of all processed supermarket food is considered “discretionary” — or junk.

In a report published yesterday by the George Institute, researchers ranked the nutritional value of tens of thousands of packaged foods and beverages on sale in Australian supermarkets.

They found that despite efforts in recent years to improve nutritional standards of processed foods, little progress had been made overall when it came to Australia’s packaged food supply.

Gary Sacks, co-author of the study and associate professor at Deakin University’s Global Obesity Centre, said government action was urgently needed to encourage manufacturers and retailers to make foods healthier.

“We know that unhealthy diets are the biggest contributor to poor health in Australia, and at the moment Australians’ diets are dominated by packaged food,” Dr Sacks said.

Jane Martin, executive manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition, which includes the Global Obesity Centre, said without stricter regulations, brands had little incentive to reduce the salt, sugar, and saturated fat content in their products.

“There’s no accountability at the moment, and that’s the problem,” Ms Martin said.

“For adults, 35 per cent of the energy they’re consuming every day is coming from highly processed foods, and for children, it’s even higher — 41 per cent.”

In Australia, nearly two thirds of adults and one quarter of children are overweight or obese. Excess weight is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.

“This is an urgent and serious public health issue,” Ms Martin said.

Using the government’s Health Star Rating System, the researchers assessed the nutritional quality of 32,000 products by 33 major food and beverage brands, including Heinz, Kellogg’s and Nestle.

Products included breads, cereals, pasta, cheese, desserts, processed meats, and fruit juice.

“We took a snapshot of what our packaged food supply in Australia looks like … by food manufacturer and by product category,” Dr Sacks said.

Each product was rated between 0.5 and 5.0 stars (least healthy to most healthy), assessed for its level of processing and nutrient composition, and classified as a ‘core’ or ‘discretionary’ food.

Between 2017 and 2018, 16 brands recorded a fall in their average health star rating (HSR), eight experienced an improvement, and nine remained unchanged.

“One year isn’t a very long time [to study], but it is disappointing that there has been such little change … particularly given how important diet is to the health of Australians,” Dr Sacks said.

Overall, the researchers found A2 Dairy, Sanitarium, and Nudie Foods were the healthiest brands (with an average of 4.1 stars), while Frucor, Mondelez, and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks were the least healthy (with an average of 1.3 stars).

Of the major supermarkets’ own-brand products, Woolworths came out on top with an average of 3.2 stars, followed by Coles on 3.0, ALDI on 2.7, and IGA on 2.6.

“For the most part, own-brand products sort of match the branded products from a nutrient point of view,” Dr Sacks said.

The researchers found only four in 10 of IGA and ALDI’s own-brand products were considered ‘healthy’ (3.5 stars and above), and that ALDI had the highest proportion of ultra-processed foods (which tend to contain additional sugars, oils, fat and salt).

Simplifying regulations and allowing for greater innovation in Canada’s beer industry

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The Government of Canada is committed to supporting innovation and protecting human health. That is why the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced today that the government has modernized Canada’s beer standards.

The Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) outline specific requirements that must be met for a product to be labelled, packaged, sold, and advertised as beer in Canada. The changes to the FDR support business competitiveness by allowing Canadian companies more flexibility in what they use to make beer and how they do it.

This enables Canada’s beer industry to create new and innovative products and gives consumers more variety in their choices when it comes to beer. It also provides clarity on what constitutes standardized beer. Brewers will be able to develop new products by using new ingredients and flavouring preparations while maintaining the integrity of beer.

In addition, under the amended regulations, beer labels must declare food allergens, gluten sources, or added sulphites. This will help Canadians with food allergies, celiac disease, or food sensitivities make more informed choices.

The new standard aligns with the Government of Canada’s commitment to regulatory reform focussed on supporting innovation under Budget 2018 and the 2018 Fall Economic Statement. The goal is to make Canada’s regulatory system more agile, transparent, and responsive to allow businesses to act on new opportunities, while continuing to protect Canadians’ health and safety.

Quotes
“These changes demonstrate our Government’s commitment to simplifying regulations so that they work better for businesses. A modernized beer standard allows Canadian brewers to develop a new range of products that meet the tastes of our consumers. These changes will help our beer industry grow, creating good middle class jobs in communities across Canada.”

– Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“The new labelling changes serve to protect consumer health. Food allergies and intolerances are a real concern and safety issue for many Canadians. The requirement to have beer labels clearly state if food allergens, gluten sources, or sulphites are present in the product will give consumers assurance that the beer they drink will not pose a risk to their health because of a food allergy or food sensitivity.”

– Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health

“The changes to Canada’s Beer Standard will support industry innovation and will ensure beer is treated as distinct from other beverage alcohol categories for decades to come. We are pleased to see that the changes permit the use of new ingredients and recognize beer as a beverage alcohol product that is low in sugars. We applaud the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s efforts to support Canada’s brewing industry and look forward to future opportunities to work together to grow the domestic beer market.”

– Luke Harford, President, Beer Canada

“The new labelling requirements for standard beer is a welcome change and one that will have a positive impact on Canadians living with food allergies and celiac disease. Having complete and accurate allergen ingredient disclosure on food products and beverages, including beer, will provide those at-risk with the information they need to make informed, safe choices. We look forward to continuing our collaborations with Health Canada on food labelling.”

– Jennifer Gerdts, Executive Director, Food Allergy Canada

Quick facts

The changes to the FDR are the result of extensive consultations with consumers, brewers, and other stakeholders and will be applied by December 14, 2022. Until that date, Canadian brewers and beer importers must follow either the previous or the new requirements.
The modernized beer standard is supported by brewers as it reduces duplication in the FDR by having one compositional standard for all beers, regardless of type or style (such as ale, stout, porter and malt liquor). It also provides clarity on what constitutes standardized beer.
Food compositional standards set out the criteria that define a particular food, often with its associated common name, for example beer, jam, or bread. There are over 300 food standards in the FDR.
Beer is Canada’s most popular alcoholic drink, making up 40.6% of total sales of alcoholic beverages in 2016-2017.
Domestic brewers produce 84% of the beer purchased in Canada.
The number of beer brewing facilities in Canada increased to 817 in 2017, from 695 in 2016.
Associated links

Regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations (Beer)
Final publication of regulatory changes to Canada’s beer compositional standards
Questions and answers: Canada’s beer standard
Canada’s beer industry
Labelling requirements for alcoholic beverages – Product specific information for beer
SOURCE Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

The Keto Diet Might Prevent Migraines—Here’s What You Need to Know

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Back before the keto diet became super trendy for weight loss, this high-fat, low-carb plan was created to help people suffering from epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes abnormal brain activity.

Now, some researchers think it could help people with another condition: chronic migraines.

Millions of women in America suffer from migraines, and treatments such as OTC pain medication don’t always work. So the fact that a simple lifestyle change might ease the pain and the debilitating side effects of migraines is welcome news. (These skull crushers can last for days and be accompanied by disabling nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity.)

To find out how the diet could potentially benefit migraine sufferers, Health spoke to Mayo Clinic migraine expert Jennifer Robblee, MD, a member of the American Headache Society. She tells us that diet in general often comes into play when doctors think about ways to treat people who frequently get migraines.

But when it comes to the keto diet specifically, “the research is still quite young there. There’s a lot for us to learn,” Dr. Robblee says. While going keto might help you if you suffer from migraines, experts aren’t sure why.

Changing a person’s diet might help keep chronic migraines at bay. Yet right now, not enough data exists for experts to make specific recommendations. “Ketogenic diet is one that has been looked at, [but] right now there’s no one diet that has enough research for us to recommend it,” Dr. Robblee explains.

“The ketogenic diet affects your metabolism. Are you having improvements because of the weight loss? Is it the ketosis itself? That’s still an unknown,” Dr. Robblee says. Ketosis is the state a person’s body goes into on the keto diet, forcing their system to burn fat rather than carbs for energy (and leading to weight loss and other health benefits, keto adherents say).

“One hypothesis is that, ultimately, you’re doing a diet that has less processed foods,” says Dr. Robblee. The keto diet focuses on whole, unprocessed products, such as eggs, fatty fish, low-carb veggies, and low-sugar fruits.

Research published in 2017 drew a link between the keto diet and migraine prevention. But the research doesn’t explain exactly what the relationship between the two is. That research called for randomized control studies, and Dr. Robblee says we definitely need these moving forward.

Dr. Robblee says the keto diet might benefit migraine patients the same way it benefits people with epilepsy. “Both conditions have abnormal function in the brain. There is some sort of overlap. [In migraine patients,] you have this difference in the electric signal in the brain.”

Some treatment options for migraines are also used to treat epilepsy, Dr. Robblee adds. Among these is a vagal nerve stimulator, which can reduce the number of seizures an epileptic person has. (The vagus nerve connects the brain to organs in the neck, chest, and abdomen.)

Bottom line: If you’re suffering from migraines consistently, it might be worth your while to try going keto. It could help—though right now, science is just not quite sure why.

Sears Says Former CEO “Looted” the Company

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Sears Holdings Corp. has sued its former chairman and CEO, Eddie Lampert, claiming the hedge-fund billionaire and his associates illegally stripped the company of its most valuable assets, forcing it into bankruptcy.

The restructuring team handling the company’s remaining assets filed the 110-page complaint on April 17 in New York bankruptcy court. Defendants are listed as: ESL Investments, Lampert’s investment company; ESL president Kunal Kamlani; and Steven Mnuchin, the former vice chairman of ESL and Sears board member, who now serves as the U.S. treasury secretary.

It charges that, as the onetime retail icon entered a “death spiral” that eventually brought it to bankruptcy court, Lampert and other insiders cherry-picked its best assets, getting bargain prices for assets worth billions.

For instance, in 2014, it spun off Lands’ End, its profitable clothing and accessories brand considered one of its “crown jewels.” The company’s board didn’t consider an outside offer from investment company Leonard Green & Partners for the brand, which valued it at more than $1 billion, it says. Instead, ESL and other Sears shareholders purchased most of the company in exchange for a $500 million dividend.

It finds similar fault with Sears’ 2011 sale of Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp.; its 2012 sale of Sears Hometown and Outlet stores; its 2012 partial spin-off of Sears Canada, which later liquidated; and its 2015 rights offering of Seritage, a real estate investment trust—all of which, it says, were structured to benefit Lampert, ESL, and other defendants.

The suit includes an in-depth recounting of the slow decline of this former giant, which it says started when Lampert obtained a majority of the company’s shares in 2008.

Lampert’s handpicked management—later replaced by Lampert himself—didn’t properly invest in the stores, exacerbating their decline, it says. He tried to transform the century-old retailer with a rewards program named Shop Your Way, which attracted little interest.

Despite this, Sears continued to issue annual revenue goals, which it consistently failed to meet, sometimes by as much as $3 billion–$4 billion, it said. Insiders knew these goals were unachievable, it charges.

ESL could not be reached for comment. However, a statement provided to Chain Store Age called the allegations “misleading or just flat wrong.

“All transactions were done in good faith, on fair terms, beneficial to all Sears stakeholders and approved by the Sears Board of Directors, made up of a majority of independent directors, as well as the company’s Related Party Transactions Committee, which was itself comprised of independent directors and advised by separate independent financial and legal advisors,” it said.

In January, ESL purchased Sears and sister chain Kmart for $5 billion. The new retailer will likely total some 400 stores. As recently as 2011, it numbered 4,000.

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