The JM Smucker Company filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in Ohio against Trader Joe’s, claiming the grocery chain’s crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches copy their popular Uncrustables brand. Smucker’s alleges Trader Joe’s product is “an obvious copycat” featuring identical round shapes and similar blue packaging with a sandwich missing a bite. The company says some customers believe the products are connected, allowing Trader Joe’s to exploit Uncrustables’ “fame and recognition.” Smucker’s has used the signature round shape since 1996 and the bitten-sandwich image since 2000. The Uncrustables brand now approaches $1 billion in annual sales after launching in the late 1990s as a grab-and-go lunch option for busy parents. Smucker’s seeks to halt Trader Joe’s sales, destroy infringing packaging, and recover profits plus legal fees. (Story URL)
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