Mondelez Sues Grocery Chain Aldi for Copying Its Packaging

Snack food giant Mondelez International is suing discount supermarket chain Aldi, alleging that Aldi’s private-label packaging “blatantly copies” iconic Mondelez brands such as Chips Ahoy, Wheat Thins, and Oreos, Associated Press’s Dee-Ann Durbin reported.

Mondelez is seeking financial damages and a court order to block Aldi from continuing to sell the contested products. Photo: Landmark Supermarket Facebook

In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in Illinois, Chicago-based Mondelez claimed that Aldi’s packaging is “likely to deceive and confuse customers” and could cause irreparable harm to its trademarks and reputation.

The company is seeking financial damages and a court order to block Aldi from continuing to sell the contested products.

The lawsuit includes side-by-side product photos showing visual similarities. For instance, Aldi’s Thin Wheat crackers come in a gold box resembling Wheat Thins; its chocolate sandwich cookies and Oreos share similar blue packaging; and its Golden Round crackers appear in red boxes like Ritz crackers.

Aldi, a German-owned discount chain with U.S. headquarters in Batavia, Illinois, keeps prices low by offering mostly store-brand products.