Marks & Spencer has agreed on a settlement with the confectionary company Swizzels after accusing it of copying its Percy Pig sweets.
The retailer said it had reached an “amicable resolution” with Swizzels after it agreed to change the design of its Pigs Mugs sweets.
In November 2022, M&S lawyers claimed the sweets were so alike customers may have ended up buying the wrong ones.
A M&S spokesperson told Sky News: “Marks & Spencer Plc and Swizzels Matlow Limited confirm that they have agreed to settle on confidential terms the trademark dispute concerning the appearance of Swizzels Matlow’s ‘Pigs Mugs’ sweets and have reached an amicable resolution whereby Swizzels has agreed to change the design of its product.”
A 37-page document filed at the High Court in London at the time said the Percy Pig brand had generated a £131.7 million turnover since its launch in 1993.
A total of 271 bags are sold every minute.
“M&S has a proud history as a leading innovator and for almost 140 years customers have turned to M&S for unique, original, quality products – conceived, created and developed alongside trusted suppliers and produced to the highest standards,” the spokesperson added.
“M&S has made a significant investment in building a strong Percy Pig brand over the past 30 years and believe it is important to protect the registered trademarks relating to Percy Pig’s appearance.”
Read more from Sky News:
Ice cream parlour changes the name after legal letter from M&S
M&S removes T-shirt from website after being accused of ‘ripping off’ pub name
Sky News has contacted Swizzels for its response.
The Percy Pig saga
Earlier this year, a dessert parlour had to change the name of its gelato after a request from the retail company.
Fabio’s Gelato had named its gelato “Perky Pig Gelato,” which did not go down well with M&S.
A day after the store posted the launch of its product, M&S sent a letter taking issue with the name.
The letter said: “While we are flattered that you have been inspired to create a flavour based on our Percy Pig sweets, and in no way wish to stop you from selling this flavour or from using our sweets to top it, we could be grateful if you could avoid using the name PERCY PIG to do so.”
Fabio Vincenti, the director of the ice cream parlour, captioned the post and said: “Soooooo about that Gelato we made… It’s got a new name ‘Fabios Pig’.”
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Earlier this year, Aldi also lost a court battle against M&S after being accused of copying its light-up Christmas gin bottles.
The High Court ruled Aldi had infringed on the design of the retail store’s product.
In April 2021, M&S also launched legal action against the German discount store, accusing it of copying the design of its Colin the Caterpillar cake.
The supermarket giants reached a settlement in 2022.
