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Germany: Court rules ‘Dubai Chocolate’ must originate from Emirates

14 Jan 2025

Cologne, Germany – A German court has ruled that products labelled as ‘Dubai chocolate’ must be made in Dubai, banning the supermarket chain Aldi from selling a confectionery under the name that is produced in Turkiye.

The court in Cologne found Aldi’s ‘Alyan Dubai Handmade Chocolate’ misleading, as it could lead consumers to believe the product originated from the Emirate. Despite Aldi’s defence that the true production location was stated on the reverse label, the court determined that the name alone suggested a connection to Dubai, potentially deceiving buyers.

The legal case was brought forward by Andreas Wilmers, a German importer who sells ‘Dubai chocolate’ under the brand Fix, manufactured in Dubai. Wilmers argued that Aldi’s labelling created unfair competition.

Wider implications

This case is part of a broader legal battle over the term ‘Dubai chocolate.’ In December, Wilmers filed similar complaints against Aldi’s competitor Lidl and Swiss chocolatier Lindt.

Lidl has countered by claiming that ‘Dubai chocolate’ describes a specific type of sweet, characterised by a creamy pistachio and Kunafa filling, rather than denoting its place of origin. The German Association of the Confectionery Industry (BDSI) supported this interpretation, arguing that such products could be made anywhere.

However, the Cologne court rejected these arguments in Aldi’s case. The discount chain now has the option to appeal the decision.

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