A familiar festive confectionery name has become the centre of a disagreement between Mondelēz International and vegan chocolate brand Moo Free in the UK.
The issue concerns Moo Free’s use of the name “Snow Balls” for one of its seasonal confectionery products. Mondelēz, which owns Cadbury, has held a trademark for Cadbury Snow Balls since 2001.
Moo Free says it has been selling its product under the name for approximately two years. The company has also indicated that it hopes to resolve the matter amicably.
Mondelēz has said it is open to an amicable resolution, and reports indicate that no formal legal action had been taken at the time of the latest coverage.
The disagreement highlights how important product naming and brand identity have become in the confectionery industry, particularly during the busy Christmas season when many brands introduce similarly themed products.
It also illustrates the challenges smaller confectionery businesses can face when developing products around familiar seasonal names.
As Christmas ranges continue to appear on shelves, brand protection and product identity remain important considerations for manufacturers of all sizes.
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