A German court prohibited the discount supermarket chain Aldi Sued from selling a Turkish-manufactured version of "Dubai Handmade Chocolate", ruling that the branding misled consumers into believing the product originated in the Emirati city.
The court in Cologne, whose decision may be appealed, issued the ruling following a complaint filed by businessman Andreas Wilmers, an importer of authentic Dubai-made chocolate.
Wilmers raised concerns over Aldi Sued's product, labelled "Alyan Dubai Handmade Chocolate", which was produced in Turkey.
According to the court's judgement, the average consumer would interpret the phrase "Dubai Handmade Chocolate" to mean that the chocolate had been manufactured in Dubai.
It also criticised the "Origin: Turkey" label, noting that its small font size and placement on the reverse side were insufficient to dispel the misconception.
Wilmers shared his frustration with the news agency. "If you see 'Dubai Handmade Chocolate' on a chocolate bar that is actually mass-produced in Turkey, that is simply unacceptable," he stated.
He suggested that terms such as "'Dubai style' or something along those lines would be fine".
The ruling followed widespread popularity of the pistachio-filled Dubai chocolate, which gained viral fame on social media platforms like TikTok.
The product had sparked mass buying frenzies, with some resellers charging hundreds of euros for the chocolate bars after they sold out in stores.
Aldi Sued, in response, declined to comment, describing the matter as "ongoing proceedings".
Wilmers further disclosed that he had initiated legal action against other producers of similar imitation products, including a Swiss chocolate maker that subsequently altered its packaging.
He also indicated his plans to challenge another German supermarket chain over its refusal to discontinue a comparable product.
