This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/25/weetabix-wars-british-shop-in-new-zealand-wins-fight-against-cereal-giant

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Weetabix wars: New Zealand to destroy 108 boxes of British cereal Weetabix wars: New Zealand to destroy 108 boxes of British cereal
(about 1 hour later)
A judge in New Zealand has ordered the destruction of more than 100 boxes of Weetabix held by customs and that a speciality grocery store must cover up the label on any boxes it sells from now on. A judge in New Zealand has ordered the destruction of more than 100 boxes of British Weetabix held by customs and told a speciality grocery store it must cover the labels on any of the boxes of cereal it sells in future.
The decision follows a legal battle between A Little Bit of Britain in Christchurch and the breakfast firm Sanitarium, which brought the case arguing that shoppers could confuse the British cereal with its trademarked product Weet-Bix. The decision follows a legal battle between A Little Bit of Britain in Christchurch and the New Zealand breakfast firm Sanitarium, which brought the case arguing that shoppers could confuse the British cereal with its trademarked product Weet-Bix.
In a reserved decision on Tuesday, Justice Gendall found there was no chance of customers being confused because Weetabix was only available at a speciality goods store selling British products. However, the judge ruled that A Little Bit of Britain had breeched the Trade Marks Act by not covering up the label on the boxes and that the impounded Weetabix must be destroyed. In a reserved decision on Tuesday, Justice Gendall found there was no chance of customers being confused because Weetabix was only available at a speciality store selling British products. However, the judge ruled that A Little Bit of Britain had breached the Trade Marks Act by not covering up the label on the boxes and that the impounded Weetabix must be destroyed.
A pallet holding 108 boxes of the cereal arrived last year in a container load of British goods destined for the shelves of the speciality store, which largely serves British immigrants. The boxes were seized by customs after Sanitarium complained about trademark infringement. A pallet holding 108 boxes of the cereal arrived last year in a container of British goods destined for the shelves of the South Island store, which largely serves British immigrants. The boxes were seized by customs after Sanitarium complained about trademark infringement.
That decision drew scorn from British immigrants and New Zealanders alike, some of whom said they would start boycotting Sanitarium’s products in New Zealand. The hashtag #freetheweetabix was also widely shared among supporters.That decision drew scorn from British immigrants and New Zealanders alike, some of whom said they would start boycotting Sanitarium’s products in New Zealand. The hashtag #freetheweetabix was also widely shared among supporters.
Lisa Wilson, the co-owner of A Little Bit of Britain, accused Sanitarium of bullying her small, family-run business.Lisa Wilson, the co-owner of A Little Bit of Britain, accused Sanitarium of bullying her small, family-run business.
“They are trying to force us to do what they want because they are a multimillion-dollar company.”“They are trying to force us to do what they want because they are a multimillion-dollar company.”
Other British goods stores in the North Island have complied with Sanitarium’s demands to cover up the Weetabix label when they sell the product. Other British goods stores in the North Island have complied with Sanitarium’s demands to cover the Weetabix label when they sell the product.
Wilson said her store sold about seven boxes of Weetabix a day to mostly British nationals. She said the look, taste and packaging of Weet-Bix and Weetabix were completely different and could not be easily confused.Wilson said her store sold about seven boxes of Weetabix a day to mostly British nationals. She said the look, taste and packaging of Weet-Bix and Weetabix were completely different and could not be easily confused.
New ZealandNew Zealand
Asia PacificAsia Pacific
Food & drink industryFood & drink industry
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content