Thatchers Cider claims newest victory in Aldi lookalike dispute

admin 01/20/2025

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Thatchers Cider claims newest victory in Aldi lookalike dispute

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2025-01-20 13:30:00

Royal Courts of Justice Two images sit side by side. One shows the close up of a yellow can with lemon artwork on it. It reads 'Taurus Cloudy Cider Lemon' and adds 'made with premium fruit'. The second photograph shows a four pack of cider cans in a cardboard packet. — The case has now been heard twice within the courts

Cider producer Thatchers has efficiently received an attraction in a long-running trademark battle with grocery store chain Aldi.

The Somerset firm sued the grocery store chain in 2022 over claims Aldi had “copycatted” its Cloudy Lemon Cider in “style and look”.

Thatchers claimed Aldi’s Taurus drink, launched in 2022, had been “driving on the coat-tails” of Thatchers’ repute.

Final January the Excessive Court docket in London dismissed Thatchers’ case, however the newest listening to has led to a decide ruling in Thatchers’ favour. Aldi has stated it should attraction.

Thatchers A can of Thatchers Cloudy Lemon Cider, with its pale yellow can and lemons on the packaging. It's next to an apple cut in half so we can see its cross-section. They are sat on a wooden table and in the background is a blurry landscape of Somerset. — The merchandise had been launched two years aside

Within the January ruling, Decide Melissa Clarke concluded there was a low diploma of similarity between the merchandise and no chance of confusion for customers.

Thatchers had claimed Aldi was “deceptive consumers to consider that the ciders are the identical, or indirectly linked”.

And within the newest ruling from the Court docket of Attraction, Lord Justice Arnold stated Aldi had infringed Thatchers’ trademark almost about its “signal”, referring the imagery on the product’s packaging.

‘Meant to take benefit’

He added: “The inescapable conclusion is that Aldi meant the signal to remind customers of the trademark.

“This will solely have been with a view to convey the message that the Aldi product was just like the Thatchers product, solely cheaper.

“To that extent, Aldi meant to benefit from the repute of the trademark with a view to help it to promote the Aldi product. “

He added the truth that “Aldi didn’t intend customers to be deceived, and even confused, as to the commerce origin of the Aldi product doesn’t detract from this”.

Martin is wearing a sage green tweed jacket and checked shirt, staring at the camera with a slight smile on his face. He is holding an small model of himself wearing the exact same clothing. Behind him is the word 'Thatchers' on a gate, with a wall to the side. — Martin Thatcher stated the ruling was a ‘victory’ for household companies

Martin Thatcher, a fourth-generation cidermaker at Thatchers Cider, stated: “This can be a victory not only for our household enterprise, however for all companies whose innovation is stifled by copycats.”

He added that Thatchers was “thrilled” the courtroom had “bought to the core of the difficulty and cleared up any cloudy judgment”.

An Aldi spokesperson stated: “We’re disillusioned that the Court docket of Attraction disagreed with the Excessive Court docket on this case.

“We expect the Court docket of Attraction’s determination is improper and we intend to attraction.

“Aldi provides unique manufacturers as low-price options to costlier branded merchandise.

“The Excessive Court docket was clear that Aldi prospects know what they’re shopping for after they store with us.”