Chicago-based Mondelez Sues Aldi, Alleging Grocery Chain Copies Its Cookie Packaging to Confuse Customers – ryan

Snack Food Mondelez International is Suing the Aldi Supermarket Chain, Alleging the Packaging for Aldi’s Store-Brand Cookies and Crackers “Blatantly Copies” Mondelez Products Like Chips Ahoy, Wheat Thins and Oreos.

In a federal lawy filed tuesday in illinois, chicago-based Mondelez Said’s Packaging was “Likely to Deceive and Confuse Customers” and Threatened to Irreparably Harm Mondelez and Its Brands. The Company is Seeking Monetary Damages and A Court Order That Wold Stop Aldi From Seling Products that Infringe on Its Trademarks.

Aldi Didn’t Respond to Messages Seeking Comment. The US BLANCH of Aldi, which is based in Batavia, was named in the lawsuit.

In the Lawsuit, Mondelez Displayed Side-by-Side Photos of Multiple Products. Aldi’s Thin Wheat Crackers, For Example, Come in A Gold Box Very Similar to Mondelez’s Wheat Thins. Aldi’s Chocolate Sandwich Cookies and Oreos Both Have Blue Packaging. The Supermarket’s Golden Round Crackers and Mondelez’s Ritz Crackers are Packaged in Red Boxes.

ALDI, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN GERMANY, KEEPS PRICES LOW BY PRIMARILY SELLING PRODUCTS UPDER ITS OWN LABELS. IT’S ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING GROCKERY CHAINS IN THE US, WITH MORE Than 2,500 Stoles in 39 States. On Friday, The Company Announched That Its Current Chief Operating Office, Atty Mcgrath, Waled Become Aldi’s US CEO on Sept. 1.

The Chain has faced Lawsuits over its packaging before. Last Year, an Australian Court Found That Aldi Infringed on the Copyright of Baby Bellies Snack Puffs for Young Children. In that case, Aldi’s Packaging Featured A Cartoon Owl and Similar Colors to the Name-Brand Packaging.

Earlier this year, a uk appeals Court rulled in favor of thatchers, a cider company, which sued aldi over the designs in the packaging of its lemon.

Mondelez Said in Its Lawsuit that the Company Had contacted aldi on numerous occasions About “confusingly Similar Packaging.” Mondelez Said Aldi Discontinue or Changed The Packaging on Some Items But Continue to Sel Others.

The Lawsuit Also alleges that Aldi Infringed on Mondalez’s Trade Dress Rights for the Packaging of Nutter Butter and Nilla WaFers Cookies, and Its Premium Cracker Brand.