Trader Joe’s Is Being Sued Over One of Its Most Popular Items

It’s not uncommon for retailers to offer private-label look-alikes of our favorite brand-name treats. At times, however, the companies that hold the original products’ trademarks decide that the competition has gone too far. 

In May, budget-friendly retailer Aldi was sued by Mondelēz International after the snack company accused the store of creating copycat snacks that cause customer confusion and infringe on its trademark.

Now, Trader Joe’s is in the spotlight because the J.M. Smucker Company has filed a lawsuit claiming that one of the neighborhood grocer’s newest freezer finds is too similar to one of the brand’s most popular products.

The J.M. Smucker Company Sues Trader Joe’s for Its Uncrustables Copycat

Earlier this year, Trader Joe’s debuted Crustless Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwiches. Shoppers were immediately thrilled with the news and didn’t waste time scooping up boxes of the new frozen entrée, many comparing it to Smucker’s long-time grocery product, Uncrustables. 

On Oct. 13, Smucker’s filed a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s for trademark infringement. According to the court documents, Smucker’s says it has built Uncrustables into a recognizable brand over decades, and that Trader Joe’s “obvious copycat,” takes advantage of the popular sandwiches’ reputation. As a result, it causes unfair competition and confuses customers. 

The lawsuit documents state that Uncrustables’ pie-like shape has been associated with the brand since the 1990s, and its signature design, featuring a bite taken out of it, has been included in its marketing since 2000. Smucker’s alleges that the look and style of Trader Joe’s packaging and product too closely mimics Smucker’s trademarked design.

In addition, the company claims that Trader Joe’s intentionally used a shade of blue for its crustless sandwich box that is strikingly similar to the color of Uncrustables’ lettering on boxes.

The J.M. Smucker Company ultimately requests that Trader Joe’s not only stop selling the product, but also surrender all materials associated with it to the company so that it can be destroyed. The company is also seeking to recover from Trader Joe’s all profits earned from its crustless PB&J sandwiches, as well as any damages incurred by the Uncrustables brand.

At this time, Trader Joe’s has not publicly commented on this matter, and litigation is still ongoing.