Chocoholics and rabbit-lovers alike, shed a tear: a Swiss court has ordered the destruction of a retailer’s entire supply of store-brand chocolate bunnies.
Lindt & Sprüngli – well-known for its iconic chocolate bunnies wrapped in gold foil – has won a case at the federal court in Lausanne, Switzerland, to force German discount chain Lidl (a major competitor to Aldi) to stop selling “copycat” bunnies; this overturns a ruling made by the Swiss commercial court last year.
In addition, Lidl has been ordered to destroy its entire existing stock, which had a similar shape to Lindt’s bunnies and also came wrapped in gold foil with a bell around the neck; Lindt’s lawyers successfully argued that the physical similarities could lead customers to confuse the two brands.
“Destruction is proportionate, especially as it does not necessarily mean that the chocolate as such would have to be destroyed,” the court ruled.
Though it pains us to see the bunnies destroyed, we would like to solemnly volunteer for this grave and delicious task – just send them all to us, they’ll be gone in a day…
