Mondelēz sues British vegan chocolatier over bar shape

Mondelēz International has filed a lawsuit in London’s High Court against Catherine’s Originals, a small British vegan chocolate brand. The company alleges trademark infringement and “passing off” regarding the O’bar, claiming the product’s segmented design with rounded, semi-oval humps copies the iconic shape of Toblerone.

Catherine’s Originals, founded in 2021 by Catherine Dodd, produces its chocolate in Walberton, Sussex. Dodd stated that the shape of the O’bar was intended to reflect an “O” for Originals and expressed that the legal action is “fairly frightening” for a small business. The brand intends to defend its product identity through the legal process.

Mondelēz, which also owns Cadbury, maintains that protecting the Toblerone trademark is a responsibility, noting the design has been a brand hallmark since 1929. The O’bar is priced significantly higher than standard Toblerone bars, with 200g varieties costing between £9.20 and £10.55.