Cadbury and Toblerone owner sues small vegan chocolate brands

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 20:52 · Archive

Mondelēz International has demanded two small vegan chocolate companies remove products from shelves over trademark disputes.

Mondelēz International, which owns Cadbury and Toblerone, has sent legal letters to two small vegan chocolate brands accusing them of trademark infringement. Moo Free, a Devon-based company founded in 2010, has been demanded to remove its White Choccy Snowballs from shelves. The product consists of gluten-free biscuit-flavoured rice balls covered in dairy-free white chocolate. Mondelēz says Cadbury registered use of the word 'Snowball' and 'Snowballs' for chocolate confectionery as a trademark in 2001. Cadbury Snowballs first launched in the UK in 1966 and have been sold as packs of Mini Snow Balls since 2023.

Moo Free co-founder Mike Jessop said the company has been selling its Snowballs for about two years before Mondelēz demanded immediate removal from sale just before Christmas. The products are stocked in Waitrose and other major supermarkets. Jessop said he had 'never even heard of' Cadbury Snow Balls and questioned whether 'snowball' could be trademarked as such a generic term, comparing it to how Cadbury's Freddo is a distinctive shape.

Mondelēz said in a statement that Cadbury Snowballs are 'one of our most popular Christmas products, enjoyed by households across the UK' and that it is 'open to reaching an amicable resolution'. The company added it has 'a responsibility to protect our trademarks and intellectual property'.

The action against Moo Free comes days after Mondelēz launched legal proceedings against Catherine's Originals, a Sussex vegan chocolate company, accusing it of copying Toblerone's famous chunky pyramid shape with its O'bar range. Catherine Dodd, the 24-year-old founder, has described the lawsuit as 'frightening' and fears the legal costs could force her business to collapse. She accused Mondelēz of 'attempting to bully us into submission'.

How it is being reported

• Vegan chocolate company owner, 24, who is being sued by Toblerone for 'copying their famous shape' says battle will collapse her small businessVegan chocolate company Catherine's Originals has been accused by Mondelez International of trademark infringement and 'passing off' the iconic Toblerone pyramids with its O'bar range.Daily Mail · 3 Nov, 20:43
• Cadbury’s owner enters ‘snowball fight’ with vegan chocolate makerIt comes a week after Toblerone sued a vegan chocolate company from SussexThe Independent · 2 Nov, 21:26
• Snowball fight: Cadbury owner in trademark row over festive chocolate treatMini Snow Balls’ maker Mondelēz is demanding vegan brand Moo Free remove its White Choccy Snowballs from shelves Toblerone owner sues British vegan chocolate brand over chunky shape The owner of Cadbury and Toblerone has demanded that a small vegan chocolate brand remove its products from shelves in a trademark dispute over the use of the word snowball. Mondelēz International has written a legal letter to Moo Free accusing it of trademark infringement by selling its White Choccy Snowballs – gluten free biscuit-flavoured rice balls covered in dairy free white chocolate. Continue reading...The Guardian · 2 Nov, 12:22

In this story: Mondelēz International · Cadbury · Toblerone · Moo Free · Mike Jessop · Catherine's Originals · Catherine Dodd · Devon

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log