Dive Brief:
- A U.S. Appeals Court has handed a victory to Kraft Foods in its long-running dispute with Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. That restaurant chain wants to market meats and cheeses under its brand name. That's a problem for Kraft, which sells a line of cheese called Cracker Barrel.
- The court ruled that a legal ban preventing Cracker Barrel Old Country Store from selling meats and cheeses in grocery stores under the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store brand remains in place while the dispute proceeds through legal channels.
- The battle now returns to a U.S. District Court, where arguments on the merit of Kraft's lawsuit begin Nov. 25.
Dive Insight:
The court also ruled the restaurant chain can continue selling its branded line of meats and cheeses at its own stores under the slightly modified brand name CB Old Country Store. But things grow confusing after that. Kraft agreed to that compromise back in October, and shipments of the products to grocery stores began shortly thereafter.
The latest ruling appears to leave that compromise intact. We applauded that solution last month. We still think it's the best way to settle this fight.
