Key facts
- A federal judge rejected Chobani's bid to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Danone.
A federal judge rejected Chobani's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit by Danone, the parent company of Dannon yogurt, which alleges Chobani copied the packaging and slogan for its La Colombe coffee line. The judge found Danone's claims plausible, suggesting Chobani's actions could confuse consumers.
The ruling allows Danone's lawsuit alleging trademark infringement and unfair competition to proceed, potentially impacting Chobani's marketing strategies for its recently acquired La Colombe coffee brand and highlighting the competitive landscape between the two major yogurt companies.
A federal judge has rejected Chobani's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Danone, the parent company of Dannon yogurt. Danone alleges that Chobani copied the packaging and slogan for its La Colombe ready-to-drink cold brew coffee line. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon in Manhattan stated that Danone plausibly alleged Chobani would confuse consumers by using a yellow-and-black color scheme and the slogan "Bright & Mellow," which Danone also uses for its SToK coffee brand.
The judge's decision means the lawsuit can proceed. Rochon rejected Chobani's argument that "Bright & Mellow" could not be trademarked because it was generic. She also indicated that Danone's allegations supported a "plausible inference of bad faith" by Chobani.
This is not the first legal dispute between the two major yogurt sellers, with at least four lawsuits filed since 2016. Last month, Danone sued Chobani over alleged inflated protein claims on yogurt products. Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya has previously accused Danone of using lawsuits to create damaging headlines and stated Chobani does not add external protein to its products and would never mislead consumers.
Chobani acquired La Colombe for $900 million in December 2023. Danone is based in Paris, with its U.S. subsidiary located in White Plains, New York.