Danone defeats Chobani in cold‑brew coffee trademark case

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon in Manhattan rejected Chobani's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Danone, the parent of Dannon, alleging that Chobani's La Colombe ready‑to‑drink cold‑brew coffee copies Danone's packaging and the "Bright & Mellow" slogan. The judge said the yellow‑and‑black colour scheme and the slogan could plausibly cause consumer confusion and found Danone's claim of bad‑faith copying credible.

The suit seeks unspecified damages and an order requiring changes to avoid confusion with the "Bright & Mellow" branding. It is one of at least four trademark disputes between the two companies since 2016. Danone, headquartered in Paris with a U.S. subsidiary in White Plains, New York, previously sued Chobani over alleged inflated protein claims. Chobani, based in New York, bought coffee brand La Colombe for $900 million in December 2023. Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya has accused Danone of opportunistic litigation, while Danone maintains its branding rights.