Catherine Dodd, the 24-year-old founder of Catherine's Originals, is facing a trademark infringement lawsuit from Mondelez International, the parent company of Toblerone. Dodd alleges that the legal battle could lead to the collapse of her small vegan chocolate business. Mondelez claims that Dodd's O'bar range infringes on Toblerone's iconic pyramid shape and constitutes "passing off."
Dodd, who launched Catherine's Originals five years ago with her boyfriend Jamie Miller, argues that Mondelez is attempting to "bully" her company into submission. "To us, this feels like an attempt to bully us into submission," Dodd stated. "We are not going to be bullied."
The O'bar chocolates are described as traditional rectangular bars with segmented, rounded tops. Dodd founded Catherine's Originals at age 18 after becoming vegan at 12 and finding limited plant-based options. She and Miller started by making chocolates by hand and selling them at markets, eventually growing the business to a factory in West Sussex where they now wrap 15,000 bars daily.
Mondelez International, which also owns brands like Cadbury and Oreo, said in a statement that they have "a responsibility to protect our trademarks and intellectual property." The company stated that legal action was a "last resort" after attempts to resolve the dispute constructively over several months were unsuccessful.
Dodd's legal team disputes the claim, asserting that O'bar has its own distinctive design and identity. "We look forward to addressing the matter through the appropriate legal process, especially to ascertain whether the registered trade marks for the shape of the Toblerone are even valid and enforceable," said Stephen Lowry, Dodd's lawyer.
Catherine's Originals has introduced a "Battle Bundle" O'bar set, with £7.50 from each sale contributing to legal costs. The company specializes in plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free chocolates, with flavors including Dark Ginger, Cool Mint, and Pumpkin Spice. Dodd expressed her dream of creating an "immersive chocolate shop" and making Catherine's Originals a globally recognized brand for delicious and imaginative chocolate.
