Friday, 17 February 2023 14:46

Westland Milk wins US butter battle

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
A bid by Ornua to prevent the sales of NZ-made Westgold Butter in the US has been dismissed. A bid by Ornua to prevent the sales of NZ-made Westgold Butter in the US has been dismissed.

A bid by Irish dairy giant Ornua to prevent the sales of New Zealand-made Westgold Butter in the US was today (Thursday time in California) dismissed in the Californian District Court.

Ornua Foods & Another, owners of the Kerrygold butter brand filed court proceedings against Westland Milk Products, owners of the Westgold butter brand last month.

The Irish company claimed that the Westgold branding infringes its trade mark and packaging and sought orders preventing continued sales of Westgold butter in the US in the present packaging.

Westland Milk chief executive Richard Wyeth says the company is pleased “that the court has confirmed our right to continue with our planned sales plans for Westgold butter in the US”.

“We trust that this will resolve this matter as we pursue our sales objectives for our products, competing fairly in the local and global markets.”

 Kerrygold, claimed "wilful trademark infringement" according to legal documents filed in the US district court in northern California.

The lawsuit was aimed at stopping Westland from advertising, marketing, distributing or selling butter products using a trademark and trade dress "that are confusingly similar to Ornua's federally registered Kerrygold trademarks and trade dress", the preliminary statement said.

Westland Milk said that Westgold's distinctive packaging is linked to its rich heritage on the West Coast of New Zealand and the taste of its traditionally churned, grass-fed butter is rapidly gaining recognition around the world.

More like this

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having the last laugh when it comes to cashing in on NZ grass-fed butter.

Top dairy CEO quits

Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products (WMP)

Wrong, again!

OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour Agriculture Minister Damian O’Connor when Chineseowned Yili took over the troubled dairy company Westland Milk a few years back.

Featured

Taupiri Farmers Chase Ownership After Awards Success

For Taupiri dairy farmers Logan and Sian Dawson, their involvement in the NZ Dairy Industry Awards has been a key catalyst in the growth of their business - the experience helping shape how they approach the farm ownership pathway they are pursuing today.

Ballance Urges Farmers to Plan Ahead for El Niño

With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…

UK Warning

OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter