AntepGourmet Dubai chocolate
200 g
Dubai chocolate: Importer takes Lindt to court
21/11/2024
Translation: machine translated
The hype surrounding "Dubai chocolate" is escalating. A Berlin importer is suing manufacturers and accusing them of misleading.
"Dubai chocolate" is a trend. Full stop. The name indicates its origin - and this is where the controversy begins.
In Germany, the real "Dubai chocolate" is imported by the brand "Fex Dessert". This is actually produced in Dubai and is handmade. Due to the complex production process, only 500 bars are produced per day. But while demand is booming, the term "Dubai chocolate" is coming under fire from lawyers.
Legal dispute over the designation of origin
Andreas Wilmers, managing director of a Berlin-based company that imports the original Fex dessert chocolate, believes he has been misled by the marketing of other products as "Dubai chocolate". In his opinion, companies such as Lindt are exploiting the hype surrounding the name without actually offering chocolate from Dubai. Wilmers is planning to take legal action to have the name protected.
Wilmers' lawyer points out that the term "Dubai chocolate" creates the expectation of buying an authentic product from the city of Dubai. However, the manufacturers concerned, including Lindt, justify the use of the name with the recipe and the ingredients used, which are based on the original chocolate.
Lindt and the expansion of the trend
One prominent example is Lindt & Sprüngli. The Swiss chocolate manufacturer recently announced that it would be launching a limited edition of "Dubai chocolate" - also in Switzerland. The price is proud: 14.95 francs for a 150 gram bar. Lindt emphasises that each bar is handmade and numbered, which is supposed to justify the price. However, neither Lindt nor the other manufacturers produce their version of the chocolate in Dubai.
How important is the geographical reference?
The central question of the dispute is: Is "Dubai chocolate" a geographically protected term, or can it be used generally for products that merely have a similar recipe? The situation could become complicated under trade mark law, as generic terms are often not protectable.
What do you think? Should only chocolates from Dubai be allowed to be called that? Or is the name free for all? Tell us your opinion in the comments!
Header image: Lindt
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