On 20 January 2025, the Court of Appeal delivered a
significant judgment in the case of Thatchers Cider Company Limited
v. Aldi Stores Limited, ruling in favour of Thatchers in its trade
mark infringement claim against Aldi. This decision overturned a
previous High Court ruling from January 2024, which had dismissed
Thatchers' claims.
Background
Thatchers, a renowned family-owned cider producer based in
Somerset, launched its Cloudy Lemon Cider in 2020. In 2022, Aldi
introduced its own Taurus Cloudy Lemon Cider, which Thatchers
alleged bore a striking resemblance to their product's
packaging and branding.
High Court Proceedings
In January 2024, the High Court dismissed Thatchers' claim.
The Court found a low degree of similarity between the products but
concluded that there was no significant likelihood of consumer
confusion. This decision was based on the assessment that the
differences in branding and packaging were sufficient to
distinguish the two
