A U.S. District Judge in Ohio has ruled that J.M. Smucker Company may proceed with its trademark infringement lawsuit against grocery chain Trader Joe’s. The case centers on Trader Joe’s frozen peanut‑butter‑and‑jelly sandwiches, which Smucker alleges are too similar in shape, packaging and visual presentation to its iconic Uncrustables product.
Background of the dispute
Smucker filed the suit in federal court last fall, asserting that Trader Joe’s frozen sandwiches copy the round, crimped‑edge design and the distinctive coloring of Uncrustables boxes, even using a comparable photograph of a sandwich with a bite taken out of it. Smucker argues that the design has become associated with its brand over the past two decades.
Trader Joe’s defense
Trader Joe’s counters that its frozen sandwiches are not round but shaped like “squircles”—a square with rounded corners—and that the crimped edges are functional, keeping the filling inside. The retailer also claims Smucker’s current packaging, introduced in 2024, has not yet achieved the level of fame required for a federal trademark dilution claim. In a January filing, Trader Joe’s likened Smucker’s trademark argument to trying to protect a cartoon avatar the way a company protects a Nike swoosh or McDonald’s arches.
Judge’s ruling
Judge John Adams found that Smucker has invested significant resources in developing and protecting the Uncrustables brand for 20 years, and that consumers have come to associate the product’s design elements with Smucker. Accordingly, the judge denied Trader Joe’s request to move the case to California, where the retailer’s headquarters and its third‑party sandwich supplier are located, and allowed the lawsuit to proceed.
Potential outcomes
Smucker is seeking monetary restitution and a court order requiring Trader Joe’s to destroy any remaining products and packaging that infringe on its trademarks. The case joins a recent wave of high‑profile trademark disputes, including a 2025 lawsuit by Mondelez International against Aldi over alleged copying of cookie and cracker packaging.
What’s next?
The parties will continue to exchange legal arguments, and a trial date has yet to be set. Both companies remain silent on the matter as the Associated Press attempts to obtain comment.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
