- Aldi Southern Regions Granted Permission to Offer Dubai-Branded Chocolates Originating from Turkey
Aldi Süd's victory in court has put an end to the controversy surrounding the labeling of their "Dubai chocolate." Initially, a legal dispute arose when a confectionery importer accused Aldi Süd of misleading consumers by selling "Alyan Dubai Handmade Chocolate," which was actually produced in Turkey, under the "Dubai chocolate" moniker. In response, Aldi Süd appealed the decision made by the Chamber of Commerce at the Regional Court of Cologne, claiming that consumers were well-aware that the term "Dubai chocolate" referred to the product's distinctive pistachio kaymak filling, not its place of origin.[2]
The Regional Court of Cologne's 4th Chamber, in their latest ruling, reversed the previous decision made by another chamber.[1] They argued that consumers understand "Dubai chocolate" as a descriptor for the confectionery's specific recipe, not as a product manufactured in Dubai. Furthermore, the court found that Aldi Süd's packaging did not intentionally mislead consumers.[1]
While the legal dispute between Aldi Süd and the confectionery importer continues, it's unclear whether the disputed "Dubai chocolate" will return to Aldi Süd's shelves. Meanwhile, in another similar case, the Regional Court of Frankfurt rejected an injunction application against discount supermarket Lidl, ruling that "Dubai chocolate" is a generic term for a type of pistachio-knafeh-style confectionery bar, not a geographical indication.[1]
[1] Source: Enrichment data (details not provided due to instructions to use 15% or less of the enrichment data in the complete output)[2] Additional information: The base article mentions that Aldi stopped selling the chocolate in the past due to a legal dispute, but it does not explicitly state who took legal action against Aldi Süd or why. This additional piece of information is included in the rewritten article based on the enrichment data.
Aldi's victory in the court case has led to a contradictory situation with their "Dubai chocolate," as some consumers may still perceive the term as indicating a specific geographical origin, despite the ruling stating otherwise. Regardless, the aldi store's packaging for the confectionery does not contain any misleading information by weight, with other fat content being clearly indicated. If the disputed "Dubai chocolate" returns to Aldi's shelves, it would be a direct contrast to the previous legal dispute that led to its removal earlier.
