Mondelēz sues vegan chocolatier over Toblerone shape

Multinational food giant Mondelēz International filed trademark infringement lawsuits against independent UK vegan chocolate brand Catherine's Originals, alleging its O'Bar product copies the iconic Toblerone shape. The legal action highlights ongoing tensions between large corporations and smaller plant-based businesses over product design and branding.

Mondelēz International is suing Catherine’s Originals at the UK High Court over the shape of its O’bar chocolate bar. The claim alleges trademark infringement and passing off. Mondelēz and Catherine’s Originals Mondelēz filed High Court papers against Catherine’s Originals on 15 October 2026, according to Food Navigator. Kraft Foods Schweiz Holding GmbH, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, filed the case. The case is listed as a “passing off and trade marks” dispute. Mondelēz says Toblerone’s shape is one of the most recognised and distinctive product designs in the UK and across the world, and has been a hallmark of the brand since 1929. The company says it has a responsibility to protect its trademarks and intellectual property. It adds that it attempted to resolve the matter constructively and directly with Catherine’s Originals over several months but was unable to reach an agreement. Mondelēz alleges that Catherine’s O’bar infringes its trademark rights and could lead consumers to assume the two brands are commercially linked. The allegations have not yet been tested in court and no judgment has been issued. The O’bar is a length of chocolate divided into segments each with a rounded semi-oval hump. Catherine’s Originals says the shape reflects the O in Originals. The bars are sold in 200g sizes priced at £9.20 for milk or plain varieties, and as much as £10.55 for flavours such as pumpkin spice or cinnamon swirl. A standard milk chocolate Toblerone can be bought for £2.50, according to The Guardian and tradersunion. Catherine’s Originals was founded by Catherine Dodd in 2021 when she was still a teenager. The brand makes its chocolate in Walberton in Sussex, England, and sells via markets, online or by subscription. Dodd said she stands firmly behind the product and identity the company has created. She strongly disagrees with the claim concerning O’bar and is working with her legal team to defend its position. She described the dispute as frightening for a small business but said being smaller does not mean being afraid to stand up for what has been created. Stephen Lowry of Brandsmiths is the legal adviser to Catherine’s Originals. He said the client disagrees with the claim and considers O’bar to have its own distinctive design and identity. He added that they look forward to addressing the matter through the appropriate legal process. Other disputes Mondelēz challenged Poundland’s Twin Peaks chocolate bar in 2017, arguing that it too closely resembled Toblerone’s distinctive design. That dispute was settled after changes were made to the product’s packaging and shape. Poundland delayed the launch of its Twin Peaks bar after receiving a legal warning from Mondelēz. The bar eventually relaunched after Poundland modified the colour of the packaging and the shape of the bar, and is still on sale today, according to The Guardian. Mondelēz has threatened fellow dairy-free chocolatier Moo Free with separate legal action over its White Choccy Snowballs, claiming the product infringes on Cadbury Snow Balls, according to Vegan Food & Living. Moo Free co-founder Mike Jessop said the giant demanded the immediate withdrawal of the festive product, which would cause significant financial damage to the small, family-run business. He said they do not accept that any infringement has been established and that they stand in solidarity with Catherine’s Originals. Toblerone was forced to change its packaging in 2023 to remove the image of the Matterhorn mountain peak after some production was moved outside Switzerland, according to The Guardian. Online commentators on Reddit’s Vegan UK forum called the action against Catherine’s Originals “despicable” and “ridiculous,” according to Vegan Food & Living. Some users acknowledged that they saw the bar as an alternative to Toblerone, while many said it was clearly different. Others said they had never heard of the indie vegan brand before but expressed interest in placing an order after learning of the legal challenge.

Read source: Vegan Food & Living