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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!'