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Iceland says they were the first to offer the 'iconic' prawn rings in 1991
The new 'battle of Britain' is now over prawn ring
(UNITED KINGDOM, 9/27/2024)
The Daily Mail (MailOnline) Reports That Lidl Responds After Iceland Threatens Legal Action Over 'Iconic' Prawn Ring
Lidl has broken its silence after frozen food retailer Iceland threatened legal action against competitors it claims are copying its 'iconic' King Prawn Ring. Iceland has applied for a trademark on both the term and design of its popular seafood product, which could block other supermarkets from selling similar items.
Iceland's executive chairman, Richard Walker, addressed competitors like Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury's, and Asda on social media, stating, "The King Prawn Ring is ours, and we won't let you off the hook."
In response, Lidl delivered a sharp retort, with a spokesperson telling MailOnline, "We thought it was just a classic 1970s party dish." Meanwhile, Aldi humorously chimed in on social media, saying, "Lol, our lawyers aren't scared of nothing."
The dispute mirrors past legal battles, such as the infamous cake war between Marks & Spencer and Aldi over Colin the Caterpillar, which escalated to London's High Court before a truce was reached in 2022.
According to official records, Iceland filed its trademark claim with the IPO on September 9, and it is now under review. The company’s open letter, packed with fish-themed puns, urged competitors to avoid launching ‘imitation’ prawn rings in their Christmas ranges.
Walker asserted, "When it comes to the King Prawn Ring, Iceland are the OGs. It’s been a Christmas staple for 30 years, and we’ve had enough of the pretenders."
In a playful exchange on social media, Iceland’s post was met with Lidl’s cheeky comment, "Sea-riously?" to which Iceland replied, "Shell yes."
MailOnline has reached out to the supermarkets mentioned by Walker for comment, but no formal responses have been issued yet.
The prawn ring trademark tussle recalls the legal battle between M&S and Aldi, where M&S accused Aldi of copying their Colin the Caterpillar cake with its Cuthbert alternative. That dispute was eventually resolved after high-profile legal proceedings, with both sides reaching a settlement.
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