Mondelēz International, Oreo or Chips Ahoy Owner Group, has filed a lawsuit on the US division of the German supermarket chain ALDI for use of a similar packaging design to some of its brands. The company argues that Aldi is imitating the packages of its products with the intention of confusing and deceiving consumers.
As collected The New York Timesthe lawsuit was filed on May 27 in a federal court in Illinois, a state in which both companies are based, and in it Mondelēz argues that the supermarket chain “”blatantly copy“Your snacks in a way that”Probably deceive and confuse customers“
Mondelēz alludes to a series of specific products, including cookies CHips Ahoy, Oreo or Nilla Wafers, or snacks Wheat Thins, Nutter Butters, or Ritz. The manufacturing group considers that the containers of these products, which Aldi markets under the Benton’s brand, use design elements (colors, graphics or names) similar to the originals of their brands.
As can be seen in the online catalog of Aldi United Statesthe supermarket offers both Oreo cookies and their own version of them, which it markets as “chocolate sandwich cookies with vanilla filling”. The packaging, like Oreo’s, is blue and with photographs of the cookie.
Oreo is one of the best -selling cookies globally, with around 4,000 million dollars in annual sales.
That is why in the demand he alleges that Aldi’s packaging threatens with “dilute the distinctive quality of the unique package of Mondelēz products“And, consequently, irreparably harm Mondelēz and his brands. The demand also points out that Aldi is looking for take advantage of Mondelēz’s reputation and benefit from his power of attraction, fame and prestige.
As reported by the aforementioned medium, the company requests compensation for damages, as well as a court order that prevents Aldi from selling products that, according to Mondelēz, violate its registered trademarks.
According to Use TodayMondelēz affirms in the demand that has been communicated with Aldi on numerous occasions objecting the alleged use by the supermarket chain of “confusingly similar containers“And he has demanded that his cessation and withdrawal of his”illegal infraction“The company points out in the documents presented that Aldi stopped marketing or modified the containers of some products, but has continued to sell others.
ALDI’s strategy is similar to that of many other supermarket chains, which sell their own Product versions From brands seeking to offer consumers a very similar, but more affordable option. Aldi, which is known for its low prices and simple stores, mainly sells products from its own brand.
It is not the first time that Aldi faces a demand in relation to a similar use of packaging design. In December 2024, he was declared responsible to an Australian court for violation of copyright due to the similarity of the children’s snacks of his Mamia brand, with that of the Baby Bellies product, of the Australian company Every Bite Counts.
In January of this year, the British brand of Sider Thatchers also won a process initiated in 2022, in which he denounced Aldi for the imitation in appearance and flavor with his Taurus brand.
