Cadbury Owner Mondelēz Targets Vegan Brand in Snowball Trademark Fight

Mondelēz International, the multinational confectionery giant behind Cadbury and Toblerone, has escalated a trademark dispute against Moo Free, a small British vegan chocolate brand, over the use of the word "snowball" on a seasonal product.

The company issued a legal letter to Moo Free alleging trademark infringement connected to the brand's White Choccy Snowballs — gluten-free, biscuit-flavoured rice balls coated in dairy-free white chocolate. Mondelēz is demanding the product be removed from shelves entirely.

Read more John Smedley Blends 18th-Century Craft With Modern Market Demands →

The clash pits one of the world's largest food conglomerates against a niche vegan producer, raising broader questions about how far established players can stretch trademark protections over common seasonal terms. "Snowball" is a word widely associated with winter festivities and appears in numerous food products across the market.

Moo Free, which positions itself as an allergen-conscious and dairy-free alternative for consumers who cannot eat conventional chocolate, now faces potential legal and commercial pressure during what is typically a critical sales period for festive confectionery.

The dispute underscores a recurring tension in the food industry between large corporations defending intellectual property and smaller brands carving out space in growing specialty markets. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.