A federal judge in Ohio has permitted J.M. Smucker to continue its lawsuit against Trader Joe’s over the grocery chain’s frozen peanut‑butter‑and‑jelly sandwiches. Smucker alleges the frozen products copy the distinctive round shape, crimped edges, and packaging style of its Uncrustables brand, which the company has cultivated for two decades.
Key claims in the lawsuit
Smucker contends that Trader Joe’s sandwiches not only share the same circular silhouette but also use similar coloring and a comparable photograph of a sandwich with a bite taken out of it. The company argues that these similarities constitute a trademark violation and dilute the Uncrustables brand.
Trader Joe’s defense
Trader Joe’s counters that its frozen sandwiches are shaped like “squircles”—a blend of square and rounded edges—rather than true circles. The chain says the crimped design is functional, keeping the filling inside, and that Smucker should not be allowed to monopolize a practical shape. The retailer also argues that the Uncrustables packaging, introduced in 2024, has not yet achieved the fame required for a federal trademark dilution claim.
Judge’s ruling
U.S. District Judge John Adams found that Smucker has invested significant resources in developing and protecting the Uncrustables brand over the past 20 years. He concluded that consumers have come to associate the sandwich’s design elements with Smucker, allowing the trademark claim to proceed. The judge also denied Trader Joe’s request to transfer the case to California, where the retailer is headquartered and where its third‑party sandwich supplier is located.
Potential outcomes
If Smucker prevails, the company could obtain restitution and a court order requiring Trader Joe’s to destroy any remaining products and packaging that infringe on the Uncrustables trademarks. The case joins a recent wave of high‑profile trademark disputes in the snack food industry, including a 2025 lawsuit by Mondelez International against Aldi over alleged copying of its cookie and cracker packaging.
The Associated Press reached out to both parties for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
