nuOct 29, 2026, 14:34

Toblerone takes small British vegan chocolate brand to court

Mondelez has taken the British chocolate maker Catherine's Originals to court, alleging that the design of their O'bar violates Toblerone's trademarked shape. The small business owner, Catherine Dodd, intends to defend her brand, arguing that the segment shape is based on her company's logo rather than the iconic Toblerone design.

Multinational corporation Mondelez has initiated legal action against Catherine's Originals at the High Court in London, alleging trademark infringement. The dispute centers on the O'bar, a chocolate product manufactured by the small British company that features rounded, semi-oval segments. Mondelez contends that this design mimics the iconic shape of their own Toblerone bars, which they describe as one of the most recognizable product designs in the world. They claim the responsibility to protect their intellectual property rights after failed attempts to resolve the issue privately.

Founded in 2021 by Catherine Dodd in Walberton, England, the small chocolate firm maintains that the shape of their product is inspired by the letter O in their brand name. Dodd expressed that facing legal action from a large multinational is intimidating, but she remains committed to defending her company's identity. While a standard Toblerone retails for approximately 2.50 pounds in the United Kingdom, the 200-gram bars from Catherine's Originals are sold at a premium price point of 9.20 pounds or higher.

Economy Business

Read original ↗

Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

External hiring down at Amsterdam municipality, while number of permanent staff increases

The municipality of Amsterdam has reduced its total workforce by 83 full-time positions by cutting external hiring, even as the number of permanent staff has slightly increased. Officials are implementing a tightened hiring freeze to meet a long-term goal of cutting 2,500 jobs by 2030.

ECB keeps main interest rate at 2.5 percent

The European Central Bank has kept its key interest rate at 2.5 percent, choosing to pause further increases despite inflation reaching a three-year high of 3.8 percent in the eurozone. The rise in living costs is driven by elevated fuel prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East.

Google cut down 250,000 trees to build data center in Finland

Google has cut down 250,000 trees in Muhos, Finland, to facilitate the construction of a large-scale data center. The project faced a temporary suspension due to missing environmental documentation, sparking a national debate about the impact of rapid tech infrastructure growth.

Fewer tenants in rent arrears but number of evictions rising

Although the total number of tenants with rent arrears in the Netherlands has slightly decreased, the proportion of those with long-term debt is rising, leading to an increase in evictions. Housing corporations are increasingly employing early intervention strategies and payment plans, but they warn that structural government income policy is needed to prevent further financial hardship for vulnerable households.

Europe remains a difficult market for Unilever

Unilever faces significant challenges in European and American markets as price-sensitive consumers prefer cheaper private-label goods, forcing the company to reconsider its pricing strategies. To counter these difficulties, the firm is divesting its food division to focus on personal care and cleaning products while reporting strong growth in emerging economies.