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USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Oreo maker sues Aldi over alleged copycat cookie packaging
Oreo maker sues Aldi over alleged copycat cookie packaging Some of the popular snack packaging the lawsuit alleges Aldi copied include Oreos, Wheat Thins, Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy, Nilla Wafers, Ritz, Teddy Grahams and more. Show Caption Hide Caption Post Malone announces exclusive collaboration with Oreo Post Malone is kicking off the new year with a surprising collaboration: his own Limited Edition Oreo cookies. unbranded - Entertainment The maker of Oreos, Chips Ahoy cookies, Ritz crackers and other popular snacks is suing Aldi, alleging the supermarket chain is using packaging that "blatantly copies" their products. Mondelēz International filed the civil complaint on May 27 in an Illinois federal court. According to the complaint, obtained and reviewed by USA TODAY, the Chicago-headquartered company said Aldi's alleged actions are "likely to deceive and confuse consumers and dilute the distinctive quality of Mondelēz's unique product packaging." Aldi, which sells low-priced private-label cookie and cracker snacks, has a "pattern and practice of selling products in packaging that are unacceptable copies of Mondelēz's," the manufacturer alleges in the complaint. Mondelēz said in the court filing that it has contacted Aldi on "numerous occasions" objecting to the supermarket chain's alleged use of "confusingly similar packaging" and demanding that it cease and desist its "unlawful infringement." The snack maker is seeking monetary damages and a court order effectively stopping Aldi from selling products that infringe on its trademarks. USA TODAY contacted Aldi and Mondelēz on May 30 but has not received a response. What snack packaging is Mondelēz alleging Aldi copied? The popular snack brands Mondelēz is alleging Aldi copied include Oreos, Wheat Thins, Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy, Nilla Wafers, Ritz, Premium Saltine Crackers, Teddy Grahams, Belvita biscuits, Tate's Bake Shop cookies and Triscuit crackers, according to the complaint. After being contacted by Mondelēz, Aldi discontinued and/or changed certain of the alleged infringing products, the complaint says. However, Aldi continued to sell products in packaging that resembles Mondelēz's snacks, which are trademarked, the court document continued. Mondelēz is informed and believes that at least some of the products in its lawsuit are manufactured and distributed nationally to Aldi stores from a supplier or suppliers in Ohio, the complaint reads. Throughout the complaint, Mondelēz includes side-by-side comparisons of its trademarked snack packaging and Aldi's alleged infringing products, including Oreos and the supermarket chain's "Original Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Vanilla Filling." Aldi previously sued for copyright infringement Mondelēz is not the only company to sue Aldi, as an Australian federal court ruled a year ago that the supermarket chain infringed on the copyright of Baby Bellies snack puffs for young children, according to The Guardian and Associated Press. In the Baby Bellies case, Aldi's packaging featured a cartoon owl with colors similar to the name-brand packaging, the outlets reported. Hampden Holdings, the owner of Baby Bellies, sent the supermarket chain a letter alleging copyright infringement, subsequently prompting the company to take Aldi to court concerning 11 product designs, according to The Guardian. 'Aldi sought to use for its own commercial advantage the designs that had been developed by a trade rival,' the federal judge said, per The Guardian. 'Although Aldi may have intended, if possible, to avoid infringement and legal liability, it took the risk that its use of the Bellies designs would exceed what the law allows. I consider Aldi's conduct to be flagrant.' Federal courts in the United Kingdom and Australia ruled in favor of Aldi in 2018 after the cosmetic company, Moroccanoil Israel, alleged the discount supermarket chain's product packaging and branding were too similar to theirs.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oreo maker sues Aldi over alleged copycat cookie packaging
The maker of Oreos, Chips Ahoy cookies, Ritz crackers and other popular snacks is suing Aldi, alleging the supermarket chain is using packaging that "blatantly copies" their products. Mondelēz International filed the civil complaint on May 27 in an Illinois federal court. According to the complaint, obtained and reviewed by USA TODAY, the Chicago-headquartered company said Aldi's alleged actions are "likely to deceive and confuse consumers and dilute the distinctive quality of Mondelēz's unique product packaging." Aldi, which sells low-priced private-label cookie and cracker snacks, has a "pattern and practice of selling products in packaging that are unacceptable copies of Mondelēz's," the manufacturer alleges in the complaint. Mondelēz said in the court filing that it has contacted Aldi on "numerous occasions" objecting to the supermarket chain's alleged use of "confusingly similar packaging" and demanding that it cease and desist its "unlawful infringement." The snack maker is seeking monetary damages and a court order effectively stopping Aldi from selling products that infringe on its trademarks. USA TODAY contacted Aldi and Mondelēz on May 30 but has not received a response. The popular snack brands Mondelēz is alleging Aldi copied include Oreos, Wheat Thins, Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy, Nilla Wafers, Ritz, Premium Saltine Crackers, Teddy Grahams, Belvita biscuits, Tate's Bake Shop cookies and Triscuit crackers, according to the complaint. After being contacted by Mondelēz, Aldi discontinued and/or changed certain of the alleged infringing products, the complaint says. However, Aldi continued to sell products in packaging that resembles Mondelēz's snacks, which are trademarked, the court document continued. Mondelēz is informed and believes that at least some of the products in its lawsuit are manufactured and distributed nationally to Aldi stores from a supplier or suppliers in Ohio, the complaint reads. Throughout the complaint, Mondelēz includes side-by-side comparisons of its trademarked snack packaging and Aldi's alleged infringing products, including Oreos and the supermarket chain's "Original Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Vanilla Filling." Mondelēz is not the only company to sue Aldi, as an Australian federal court ruled a year ago that the supermarket chain infringed on the copyright of Baby Bellies snack puffs for young children, according to The Guardian and Associated Press. In the Baby Bellies case, Aldi's packaging featured a cartoon owl with colors similar to the name-brand packaging, the outlets reported. Hampden Holdings, the owner of Baby Bellies, sent the supermarket chain a letter alleging copyright infringement, subsequently prompting the company to take Aldi to court concerning 11 product designs, according to The Guardian. 'Aldi sought to use for its own commercial advantage the designs that had been developed by a trade rival,' the federal judge said, per The Guardian. 'Although Aldi may have intended, if possible, to avoid infringement and legal liability, it took the risk that its use of the Bellies designs would exceed what the law allows. I consider Aldi's conduct to be flagrant.' Federal courts in the United Kingdom and Australia ruled in favor of Aldi in 2018 after the cosmetic company, Moroccanoil Israel, alleged the discount supermarket chain's product packaging and branding were too similar to theirs. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oreo maker sues Aldi, alleges trademark infringement of packaging
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
8 Berkshire Hathaway companies that Warren Buffett is handing over to Greg Abel
Warren Buffett announced Saturday that he will retire as Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK.A) CEO at the end of 2025 and hand the reins to Greg Abel, a transition that's long been expected given that Buffett publicly named Abel as his successor in 2021. Buffett, 94, will stay on as Berkshire's board chair. While the move was expected, it comes as a jolt given the Oracle of Omaha's legendary run as the head of the $1.1 trillion conglomerate. Abel, 62, first joined Berkshire in 2000. He has steadily climbed the ranks and has been the vice chairman of Berkshire's non-insurance companies since 2018. The companies he oversees reported $5 billion in earnings in the first quarter of 2025, according to CNN. Buffett has been hyping Abel as his heir apparent for years, telling CNBC in 2023 that Abel 'does all the work, and I take all the bows.' Buffett added, 'He's a big improvement on me, but don't tell anybody.' Now, Abel will be the CEO of a multinational conglomerate that has subsidiaries in industries across food, retail, transportation, and more. Here are eight of the biggest companies Abel will oversee when he takes over at the end of the year. The fast food chain, famous for its burgers and frozen treats — specifically the Blizzard sundae — was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 1998. Today, Dairy Queen has 6,800 locations worldwide, about 4,500 of which are in the U.S. DQ restaurants pulled in an estimated $4.6 billion in the U.S. in 2022, according to Statista. Berkshire acquired this Bowling Green, Kentucky-based clothing brand in 2002 for about $835 million. Though Fruit of the Loom is arguably best known for its undies, the company also manufactures T-shirts, outerwear, and sportswear, plus sports equipment through its subsidiary, Spalding. Fruit of the Loom employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. Abel began working at CalEnergy in 1992. That firm later acquired MidAmerican Energy, and Abel became the company's president. Two years later, MidAmerican Energy was acquired by Berkshire and renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy. The utility company is based in Des Moines, Iowa, where Abel now lives. It employs about 24,000 people worldwide and reported $25.6 billion in revenue in 2023. NetJets was the first private business jet charter in the world when it was founded as Executive Jet Airways in 1964. Berkshire acquired the company for $725 million in 1998 and renamed it NetJets four years later. Today, the firm owns the world's largest fleet of private jets, with over 750 aircraft in operation around the world. Abel will soon top the coppertop. Berkshire acquired Duracell in 2016 by exchanging the shares it owned in Procter & Gamble (PG) for ownership of the battery maker. The century-old, Chicago-headquartered firm employs 8,000 people and pulls in $2 billion in annual revenue, according to Fortune. Based in Buffett's home city of Omaha, Nebraska, jewelry retailer Borsheims has been around since it was founded by a Norwegian immigrant in 1870. Buffett acquired a majority stake in the company for an undisclosed amount in 1989, and today, the company sells a variety of luxury jewelry, watches, and other accessories both in person and online. Borsheims' 62,000-foot Omaha store is the location for Berkshire's shareholder-only events at its annual meeting. Among Abel's charges will be BNSF, the largest freight railroad in the U.S. The firm owns 33,400 miles of track spanning 28 states, including three transcontinental routes. BNSF, formed by the merger of two railway companies in 1995, was publicly traded until Buffett acquired all its shares in 2010 and took it private. Its headquarters are in Fort Worth, Texas, and the company employs about 36,000 people. Because Abel was chairman of Berkshire's non-insurance companies, he didn't oversee GEICO — but as CEO, now he will. Berkshire has owned the automotive insurance giant since Buffett acquired all its shares in 1996, three years before the company introduced its beloved gecko mascot. Founded in 1936, GEICO today has 40,000 employees and insures more than 28 million vehicles. It made $7.8 billion in underwriting profit in 2024. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Sign in to access your portfolio
AU Financial Review
27-04-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Novus seeks $1bn for Sydney Metro-adjacent build-to-rent projects
Build-to-rent player Novus has hit the pavement to raise $1 billion plus for three projects across Sydney and Melbourne, tapping into inbound interest from Asian and North American institutional investors. The group, a partnership between property developer Aliro Group and two ex-Mirvac employees, Adam Hirst and Jason Goldsworthy, has hired investment bank Jarden and Chicago-headquartered Cushman & Wakefield to market the deal and oversee an international capital raising process.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump signs retaliatory EO targeting another law firm linked to lawyer who investigated him
March 26 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has signed a retaliatory executive order targeting another law firm connected to lawyers who investigated him. Since returning to the White House, Trump has used his executive powers to punish law firms connected to Democrats and his previous criminal investigations as part of his crack down on the "weaponization of government." On Tuesday, he signed an executive order stripping security clearances and restricting government building access for lawyers of Jenner & Block, a Chicago-headquartered firm that once employed Andrew Weissmann, who was involved in former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Trump and Russian interference in the 2016 federal election. "He's a bad guy," Trump said Tuesday before signing the order, referring to Weissmann. A fact sheet from the White House described Weissmann's career as being "rooted in weaponized government and abuse of power," without offering proof. Weismann worked with Mueller on his investigation into Trump and potential connections with Russian interference in the 2016 election, with their report published in 2019. Afterward, he was hired by his old law firm, Jenner & Block, but left again in 2021, The New York Times reported. He had been a partner with the firm from 2006-2011 and is a former prosecutor in the Justice Department. The executive order additionally accuses Jenner & Block of conducting partisan "lawfare." It also called out its support of civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community, characterizing its stance as supporting "attacks against women and children based on a refusal to accept the biological reality of sex." UPI has contacted Jenner & Block for comment. Trump has attacked a handful of law firms with executive orders since late last month over their actions and associations with attorneys he feels have unjustly wronged him while performing their professions. The move has attracted criticism from legal professionals as an attempt to stifle dissent. The American Civil Liberties Union described the executive orders targeting law firms as part of a larger Trump attack on free society. "Not long ago, no American would have entertained the notion that a U.S. president would issue fiats, left and right, to quell disfavored viewpoints -- this is despotic, unpresidential behavior," Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director at the ACLU, said in a statement Tuesday. "The president is carrying out a fear campaign, but good lawyers are brave. We will continue to provide zealous and ethical representation to our clients, and we will speak our minds." Two weeks ago, a federal judge barred the Trump administration from enforcing parts of a similar executive order the president signed early this month targeting Perkins Coie over its work with Hillary Clinton's 2016 election campaign. On Friday, the White House announced that law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, -- the target of one of the president's executive orders -- had made a deal with the Trump administration to "engage in a remarkable change of course" including a number of policy changes to better align with the Trump administration's expectations.
