ALDI copies cookie packaging, snack giant fights back

If you’ve ever wandered the aisles of ALDI and thought, ‘Hang on, doesn’t that biscuit look a lot like an Oreo?’—you’re not alone!

In fact, the resemblance is so striking that it’s landed ALDI in hot water with one of the world’s biggest snack companies.

The major snack company has taken ALDI to court, accusing the supermarket of copying packaging and causing customer confusion


In a hefty 72-page federal complaint filed in the US, Mondelez claims ALDI’s own-brand products are dressed up in packaging that’s just a little too close for comfort to their famous snacks.

The lawsuit points to ALDI’s Original Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (which look suspiciously like Oreos), Thin Wheat Original Crackers (think Wheat Thins), Vanilla Wafers, and Golden Round Crackers (Ritz, anyone?) as prime examples.


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Mondelez has launched a lawsuit against ALDI over copied snack packaging. Credit: YouTube


Mondelez argues that ALDI’s packaging mimics their colours, fonts, and even the little symbols that make their products stand out on the shelf.

According to Mondelez, this isn’t just a cheeky nod to the originals—it’s a calculated move to 'trade upon the valuable reputation and goodwill' of their brands, potentially tricking shoppers into thinking they’re getting the real deal.

You might be wondering, ‘Does it really matter if the packaging looks similar?’


For big brands, the answer is a resounding yes. Packaging isn’t just about looking pretty—it’s a powerful tool for building brand recognition and trust.

When you see that familiar blue Oreo packet, you know exactly what you’re getting.

If a lookalike pops up with similar colours and fonts, it can muddy the waters, especially for those of us who might not have our reading glasses handy!

Mondelez says ALDI’s approach could 'deceive and confuse consumers and dilute the distinctive quality' of their packaging.

In other words, if shoppers can’t tell the difference, it could hurt Mondelez’s reputation and bottom line.

ALDI, for its part, hasn’t commented publicly on the lawsuit just yet.


However, the supermarket is well-known for its strategy of offering low-priced alternatives to big-name brands—often with packaging that’s, shall we say, ‘inspired’ by the originals.

According to Mondelez, they’ve raised concerns with ALDI before, and while the supermarket has sometimes tweaked or discontinued products, the snack giant claims the copycatting continues.

ALDI’s website proudly proclaims its mission to save customers money on the products they love, and it’s no secret that many shoppers flock to ALDI for its affordable ‘dupes’.

Social media is full of fans comparing ALDI’s versions to the originals, with some even preferring the taste (and the price tag) of the ALDI alternatives!

This isn’t the first time a supermarket has been accused of copying a big brand’s look.


It’s a common practice in the world of private-label products. Supermarkets know that familiar packaging can catch a shopper’s eye and make them more likely to try a cheaper alternative.

For budget-conscious Aussies, these ‘dupes’ can be a real lifesaver—especially with the cost of living on the rise.

But for the big brands, it’s a battle to protect their identity and the years of marketing that have gone into making their products household names.

Lawsuits like this one are their way of drawing a line in the sand.

While this particular lawsuit is playing out in the US, it raises interesting questions for us here in Australia.


ALDI’s shelves are packed with lookalike products, and most of us have probably popped a ‘fake’ Tim Tam or a ‘not-quite’ Shapes into our trolley at some point.

For many, the savings are worth it—but it’s always good to know exactly what you’re buying.

If you’re a die-hard fan of the originals, you might stick with the big brands.

But if you’re happy to try a dupe and save a few dollars, ALDI’s versions can be a tasty alternative.

Just remember: while the packaging might look similar, the recipe inside could be a little different!
Key Takeaways
  • Mondelez, the maker of Oreo and other popular snacks, has launched a lawsuit against ALDI, accusing the supermarket of copying the packaging of several of its products.
  • In court documents, Mondelez claims ALDI’s similar packaging could confuse shoppers and damage the reputation of its iconic brands.
  • The legal action seeks financial compensation and wants ALDI, which is headquartered in Germany, to stop selling the alleged 'copycat' products in the US.
  • ALDI has previously changed or withdrawn some items after Mondelez’s requests, but Mondelez alleges that the supermarket continues to sell products in packaging that infringes on its trade dress.
Have you ever been fooled by lookalike packaging at ALDI or another supermarket? Do you prefer the originals, or are you a fan of the budget-friendly alternatives? Share your stories and tips in the comments below.
 

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Aw, gee ... square-shaped blue-coloured packaging, round "cookies" (they used to be called biscuits before Yankeeism took over the world), different numbers of the product on the packets, big splash of white on one.
Even, as I look closer, a different brand name on the packet!
Dare I say it, there is completely different wording on the packets, too. However, the most important thing of the lot is that both contain the word "cookies".
But they ARE circular in shape, unlike some other "cookies" which aren't.
Also, you have to be shopping in a store called Aldi to buy one of them, whereas you can buy the other one in different chains.
My life is simply fraught with impossible, life-changing choices. Don't know how I'll survive my "shopping experience" today, as the marketing experts so tweely put it.
Goddlemighty, another 37 minutes wondering about the possibilities and how deeply my life is going to be altered as I wander the aisles ...
But I guess I'll survive this latest onslaught on my tiny little mind.
The important thing, though, is whether my wallet will overcome the discovery that one is possibly cheaper than the other.
Will my taste buds ever recover when I find that they probably taste slightly different, too, enough to make me want to move to one over the other in future purchases?
Is one a generic copy, produced in the same factory but labelled with a different name on the production line, with a different moulding pressed into the dough as it passes by before they're baked?
Do I rreally need these things, after all?
Pass me the tissues, quick!
 
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I have tried many similar products that are in Aldi, but some how the taste never really reaches the standard of the original product that is sold in Coles, Woolworths and other popular stores.
With regards to the claim that Aldi's Oreo is a copycat to the original, well, first, Aldis design on top of the biscuit, is not identical to the original biscuit design and second, have the ingredients been compared. If Aldi's Oreo ingredients contain some different ingredients to that of the original Oreo, which would obviously cause a mild change in its flavour, then what can we say, other than, they are not the same, they are not a copycat biscuit, so let it be. 🙏🦋
 
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I gave up on Aldi when quietly and without fanfare, their promise of a set percentage of Australian products, disappeared. Now age has entered the picture. I don't move fast enough, or have enough hands, to unpack and repack my shopping at the checkout, all will digging out my purse. Then having to go to Woolies or Coles to finish my shopping, is just too much at my age.
 
I gave up on Aldi when quietly and without fanfare, their promise of a set percentage of Australian products, disappeared. Now age has entered the picture. I don't move fast enough, or have enough hands, to unpack and repack my shopping at the checkout, all will digging out my purse. Then having to go to Woolies or Coles to finish my shopping, is just too much at my age.
You're not supposed to pack your groceries at the checkout that's what the packing bench is for.
 
I'm intrigued now. Will have to go buy a packet, as I like the original one.
I like Aldi for some items, but not all because they don't stock what I want. However, their Moser Roth chocolate and 100% pure Canadian syrup are winners.
 
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Mondelez don't yet own the colour combo of red, white and blue.
Will Mondelez sue American Samoa, Anguilla, Australia, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, France, Iceland, Laos, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Montserrat, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Russia, Samoa, Serbia, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, United States and Wallis and Futuna.

Why not? They have red, white and blue in their flags! :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
 
If a court case looms, say goodbye to Mondelez. Aldi has over four times the annual revenue of Mondelez.

The weird thing is that Aldi SELL Oreos!! :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:


EDIT: The sale has ended but Aldi currently sell Oreo Original Sandwich Biscuit 358 g for $4.49.
But not in the biscuit aisle. These once-in-a-while items are displayed prominently at the front of the store.
 
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I’ve always had a laugh at Aldi products looking like other brands packaging and names Banbury ginger beer for example looks like the bundaberg
 
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