Mondelez, the Oreo producer, alleges that Aldi has mimicked their packaging design.
Mondelez International, the global confectionery powerhouse behind iconic brands such as Oreo, Wheat Thins, and Nilla Wafers, has accused Aldi of copying the distinctive packaging design of these products in a federal lawsuit filed in Illinois. The allegation, levied against the budget supermarket chain, accuses Aldi of intentionally mimicking Mondelez's packaging to deceive customers into purchasing Aldi's store-branded products.
The lawsuit, which seeks monetary damages and a court order to prohibit Aldi from selling goods that allegedly infringe on Mondelez's trademarks, names several Aldi products as look-alikes, including Benton's Original Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (reminiscent of Oreos), Thin Wheat crackers (a replica of Wheat Thins), and others. The lawsuit claims that tailored aspects like font, colors, and image placement in Aldi's packaging represent a sophisticated effort to deceive customers.
For instance, Aldi's Peanut Butter Creme Filled Cookies boast resemblances to Mondelez's Nutter Butter cookies by using a red box and emboldened white script font. The arrangement also echoes the cookie image, as alleged by the snack company. Thin Wheat, another brand in Aldi's lineup, also shows a striking similarity to Mondelez's Wheat Thins, featuring a yellow background, the word "original" and crackers displayed on the lower half of the box.
The legal action against Aldi is not a first for the company, which has been under scrutiny for its product packaging design. In an earlier decision, a U.K. appeals court found in favor of Thatchers, a cider company, in their lawsuit against Aldi over design similarities in the packaging of their lemon cider.
Mondelez International, headquartered in multiple countries worldwide, and Aldi, a US-based company, have yet to comment on the lawsuit publicly. The current status of the lawsuit remains unclear, with no progress or court decisions reported as of the latest news reports.
[1] Lawrence, R. (2022, September 21). Aldi accused of Nabisco packaging copying in lawsuit. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.retaildive.com/news/aldi-accused-of-nabisco-packaging-copying-in-lawsuit/630215/
[2] Association Press. (2022, September 26). Mondelez sues Aldi alleging it copied Oreo packaging. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.wmur.com/article/mondelez-sues-aldi-alleging-it-copied-oreo-packaging/39494543
[3] Bernard, D. (2022, September 26). Mondelez Files Lawsuit Against Aldi Over Panel Designs. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.snacksandhealth.com/mondelez-files-lawsuit-against-aldi-over-panel-designs/
[4] Iversen, K. (2022, September 27). Mondelez sues Aldi over similar designs for crackers, cookies, and more. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.upi.com/Business_News/food-business/2022/09/27/Mondelz-sues-Aldi-over-similar-designs-for-crackers-cookies-and-more/9171645850041/
[5] Rodríguez, C. (2022, September 28). Mondelez sues Aldi for copying its packaging. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/28/mondelez-sues-aldi-for-copying-its-packaging.html
- The lawsuit filed by Mondelez International against Aldi in Illinois involves allegations of business practices, as Mondelez accuses Aldi of intentionally mimicking its packaging design for financial gain.
- The news reports indicate that this is not the first time Aldi has been under investigation for similarities in product packaging design, as a previous U.K. court ruling found in favor of Thatchers against Aldi over design similarities in their cider packaging.
- The current legal action between Mondelez International and Aldi, both multi-national corporations in the finance and business sectors, could potentially impact future business relations and competitions in the law and business arenas.
