Thatchers is suing Aldi over alleged trademark infringement, accusing the discounter of copying its Cloudy Lemon Cider.
The drinks brand claims Aldi had “intentionally mimicked” its product with the “highly similar” appearance of the discounter’s own-brand Taurus Cloudy Cider Lemon.
In court papers, Thatchers argues Aldi had taken “unfair advantage” of its brand reputation by putting the product on shelves.
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The 115-year-old family-run cider business is seeking an injunction restraining Aldi from selling the cider, along with damages of at least £500,000 at London’s High Court.
“The defendant, by its use of the graphics on the Aldi product, seeks to ride on the coattails of the substantial reputation of the trademark in order to benefit from its power of attraction, fame, and/or prestige, and to exploit the marketing effort expended by the claimant,” the court papers say.
It’s the latest in a long line of high-profile copycat claims against Aldi. In 2021, the supermarket reached a confidential agreement with M&S in a dispute over alleged similarities between caterpillar cakes sold by the two retailers.
A new version of Aldi’s Cuthbert the Caterpillar returned to stores in June last year.
In other news, Hendrick’s Gin maker William Grant & Sons took other German discounter Lidl to court last year over alleged trademark infringement, and as a result Lidl were temporarily banned from selling Hampstead Gin in Scotland.
