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Montreal Gazette
17-07-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal pasta brand accuses Russian company of copying packaging
By A Montreal-based pasta company is accusing a Russian competitor of copying its packaging, after a lookalike product surfaced online bearing a near-identical design. Aliments Faita Forgione, the family-owned maker of the Stefano brand of sauces and pasta, posted a side-by-side image of the two packages on social media Wednesday, saying it appeared their design had taken an 'all-expenses-paid trip to Russia without us.' 'Here's a little lesson in plagiarism 101,' the company wrote on Instagram. 'When your packaging looks this familiar, it's not inspiration — it's copying.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stefano Faita (@sfaita) The resemblance between the two products includes the placement of text and the see-through window on the front, the font and overall layout. The brand's visual identity was designed by Montreal-based marketing agency LG2. The Russian pasta in question appears to be sold by Avanti Macaroni Factory. Its products are listed on the website though it is unclear how widely the Avanti product is distributed in Russia. However, in a comment posted to Stefano's social media account, a person claiming to represent the company issued an apology and pledged to stop using the packaging. 'We sincerely acknowledge having been inspired by your packaging design,' the message reads. 'But after reviewing our stance, we realize that we have crossed the line between inspiration and copy. It was a mistake and we apologize for this situation.' The company added it would halt the commercial use of the packaging and make 'necessary changes to our design.' The Stefano brand is the result of a collaboration between chef Stefano Faita and his business partner, Michele Forgione. In addition to their line of pasta products, the pair are known for operating some of Montreal's most popular Italian restaurants, including Impasto. Aliments Faita Forgione ended its online post, saying: 'Originality is always the best recipe. Just saying!'
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Pasta imposter? Montreal brand calls out Russian company for packaging plagiarism
A side-by-side comparison of packaging for dried pasta from the Stefano brand, based in Montreal, and from Avanti Macaroni Factory, based in Russia. (Source: Instagram/@sfaita) As the saying goes, 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.' That's how one Montreal-based pasta brand is reacting after calling out a Russian company which appears to have copied their design for their own pasta products. Aliments Faita Forgione, maker of the Stefano brand of pasta and sauces, shared a photo of the two packages side-by-side on their Instagram account on Tuesday. 'We always knew our packaging was stellar… but we didn't expect it to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Russia without us,' the company said in a post. From the placement of virtually every bit of text and the see-through plastic on the front to the lettering on the side to the package, the products look strikingly similar. 'Here's a little lesson in plagiarism 101: when your packaging looks this familiar, it's not inspiration — it's copying,' the Montreal company said online. 'Shoutout to our Russian pasta friends for 'borrowing' our design, but remember, originality is always the best recipe. Just saying!' LG2, a creative marketing company based in Montreal and Toronto, designed the branding for Stefano pasta products. A spokesperson told CTV News they were 'surprised' about the lookalike after a client in Toronto spotted the product on social media. Apology on Instagram The Russian products appear to be sold by Avanti Macaroni Factory. Someone purporting to be an employee responded to Aliments Faita Forgione's post online and apologized, writing in Russian that the company acknowledged that it was 'inspired' by the packaging design. Avanti pasta products sold in Russia. Avanti pasta products sold in Russia. (Source: 'After reviewing our stance, we realize that we have crossed the line between inspiration and copy,' the person wrote. 'It was a mistake and we apologize for this situation. We value your work and creativity, so we've decided to completely stop commercial use of this package and make necessary changes to our design.' Attempts by CTV News to reach the person who apologized were not successful. Aliments Faita Forgione seems to be having fun with the copycat and, at least for now, does not intend to take legal action. 'We would have to pay out of our own pocket with no guarantee that the product would be removed. If it was in North America, we would have consider it but Russia is far,' a company spokesperson wrote in an email Thursday. 'So, we decided to post on our social networks without identifying the company in question, mainly to raise awareness of plagiarism in design.'
