No it isn’t April the 1st
Jif peanut butter maker J.M. Smucker Company (SJM.N), opens new tab on Monday sued Trader Joe’s in federal court, accusing the national grocery chain of infringing trademarks tied to its popular Uncrustables brand of frozen sandwiches.
The lawsuit, opens new tab, filed in Ohio, alleges that Trader Joe’s competing round, crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches too closely mimic Smucker’s product design and packaging.
Smucker’s claims that California-based Trader Joe’s product unlawfully copies its sandwich’s round shape with crimped edges and imagery of a bitten sandwich revealing its filling. The lawsuit also said Trader Joe’s use of blue packaging is similar to Smucker’s trademarked branding.
Smucker’s in a statement on Monday said it monitors the marketplace to protect what it called its “distinctive Uncrustables sandwich design and round shape.” The company said it was focused on “preventing consumer confusion caused by imitation.”
Trader Joe’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ohio-based Smucker’s lawsuit said its Uncrustables products “are fast on their way to being a $1 billion brand.”
