Latest news with #copycat
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Hailey Bieber is accused of copying idea from small business AGAIN after latest Rhode product launch
Rhode, the billion-dollar beauty brand founded by Hailey Bieber, has landed in hot water again amid fresh accusations its team allegedly copied a product design from a small business. After the model, 28, was pictured wearing a custom lipgloss-carrying waist chain in a new Rhode campaign, social media users began accusing the company of taking inspiration from the skincare brand, Cocokind. The resemblance between the gold waist chains divided the internet as many were torn between whether Rhode ripped off Cocokind or if the resemblance was purely coincidental. 'Not surprised she's been copying concepts from other brands all along! Looks like it's just another day, another design lifted from someone else. Shamelessly stealing ideas,' one X user pointed out. Another quipped: 'There's nothing original about Hailey Bieber.' Others accused Bieber of being a 'copycat since day one.' 'Neither of them invented anything, that accessory has been around for decades, and Hailey never claimed to have created it,' one X user pointed out. has reached out to Bieber, Rhode and Cocokind, but has not heard back, at this time. Last month, Cocokind polled fans over the product to gauge interest from consumers to see if they would actually wear a body chain that hooks to their lip gloss and doubles as a belt chain. 'We don't know how many to make so we need your honest opinions! Here's how some of our Miami crew styled the chain this weekend!' they wrote on Instagram in a post, uploaded on June 9. Rhode first posted their body chain on July 5. It is unknown when they began working on their design. In general, product development timelines can vary from weeks to several years. After Rhode went public with their design, Cocokind founder and CEO, Priscilla Tsai, revealed they 'decided that were not gonna be making this body chain slash belt that hooks onto your lip balm' anymore. Tsai explained in an Instagram video that only 50 percent of consumers said they were interested in purchasing the body chain, which raised 'red flags' to her that it may be too niche. In the comments section, one customer wrote: 'I saw Rhode coming out with one. It's cute but I'd rather buy from Cocokind... no tea no shade to them.' A second commented: 'Rhode copied you.' Following the recent release of her brand's lipgloss-carrying gold waist chain, social media users alleged the model, 28, may have copied an idea in development at the brand, Cocokind A third wrote: 'Rhode has something similar for their new launch, however it's not for sale and simply used in the campaign pics. Maybe you can use yours for just pics.' Cocokind was launched in November 2014 by Tsai, who sought to create an accessible and clean skincare line. The company has 346,000 followers on Instagram and is sold at stores like Ulta Beauty, Target, Walmart and Whole Foods. Meanwhile, Rhode has 3.4 million Instagram followers and is primarily sold through its own website. This fall, it will hit Sephora. This is not the first time Rhode has been called out for copying the aesthetic of other brands, like Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty, Summer Fridays and Millie Bobby Brown's Florence by Mills. The resemblance between the waist chains divided the internet as many were torn between whether Rhode ripped off Cocokind or if the resemblance was purely coincidental In 2022, Rhode raised eyebrows for having similar packaging to Florence by Mills and has repeatedly been accused of taking inspiration from Gomez's Rare Beauty. Hailey has never not publicly denied or commented on the copying allegations. Bieber's brand was previously sued for trademark infringement by Rhode-NYC over its name Ultimately, Bieber's brand won the trademark dispute against the clothing company, which has been worn by stars like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross and Khloé Kardashian. Regardless, the mogul, who is married to pop star Justin Bieber, has achieved significant success as an entrepreneur and sold Rhode to E.l.f. Cosmetics in May. She still serves as the brand's the Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation and a strategic advisor for e.l.f. This is not the first time Rhode has been called out for copying the aesthetic of other brands, like Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty, Summer Fridays and Millie Bobby Brown's Florence by Mills In 2022, Rhode raised eyebrows for having similar packaging to Florence by Mills Four years before Hailey released her Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie at Erewhon, Summer Fridays had a similar collaboration with Alfred Coffee Bieber launched her much-anticipated brand in June 2022, releasing only three products at the time - Peptide Glazing Fluid, Barrier Restore Cream, and Peptide Lip Treatment. Since then, the brand has grown exponentially, expanding into different tinted lip products, blush and even viral phone cases that double as lip gloss carriers. After making the purchase, e.l.f. Chairman and CEO Tarang Amin told Business Wire: 'E.l.f. Beauty found a like-minded disruptor in rhode.' 'Rhode further diversifies our portfolio with a fast-growing brand that makes the best of prestige accessible,' he said in his statement. 'We are excited by Rhode's ability to break beauty barriers, fully aligning with e.l.f. Beauty's vision to create a different kind of company. Rhode is a beautiful brand that we believe is ready for rocketship growth.' Following the news, Hailey took to Instagram to break her silence on the monumental deal. Last month, Rhode raised eyebrows for seemingly taking inspiration from Gomez's Rare Beauty in the photo above 'When I launched @rhode in 2022, I always had big dreams for the company, and the most important thing to me is to keep bringing rhode to more spaces, places, and faces globally,' she wrote in the caption, which was accompanied by two pictures of her. 'So today I am so incredibly excited and proud to announce that we are partnering with e.l.f. Beauty as we step into this next chapter in the world of rhode. 'I found a like-minded disruptor with a vision to be a different kind of company that believes in big ideas and innovation in the same way that I do and will help us continue to grow the brand,' her message continued. 'I feel invigorated, excited and more ready than ever to step into an even bigger role as Chief Creative Officer, and Head of Innovation of rhode as well as strategic advisor to e.l.f. Beauty.' In the post, Hailey also thanked her dedicated team at rhode and acknowledged that she 'couldn't have done it' without their help. Of course, she also thanked consumers. 'As I've said, this is only the beginning,' Hailey signed off. Earlier this year, she told Vogue that Rhode, which is her middle name, was a COVID-era idea. 'I think from having worked with so many different makeup artists and trying different facialists, estheticians, all these different people... I realized that it doesn't take much for you to have a good routine, and it doesn't take much for skin care to be great,' she told the publication. In the interview, Rhode's president, Lauren Ratner, credited Hailey as the 'number-one reason for Rhode's success.' 'I think the consumer is really smart, and really understands authenticity,' Ratner said. While speaking about the success of Rhode, Hailey admitted she 'never, ever thought or expected it to turn into this.' 'In my wildest dreams, it's already gone beyond what I would've hoped for,' she gushed.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
6 Copycat Snacks That Landed Aldi In Legal Trouble And 7 More That Could Be Next
Speaking as a self-declared snack connoisseur, Aldi is one of the best in the game for tasty treats. The chain -- which was founded in Germany in the 1960s but has since ballooned into a global operation -- has made its name with a stellar lineup of affordable food and drink, declaring itself the world's first discount grocery store. While it may not be the only chain in the game today, its proclivity for wallet-friendly products is still going strong more than 60 years after its debut. Over the decades, a significant portion of said wallet-friendly products have surged in popularity for their similarity to more expensive branded products. Part of Aldi's allure is the fact that you can secure a basket of dupes for your favorite food items for a fraction of the cost. While Aldi's skill for replicating these products has gone down a treat with customers, the brands that have inspired several of its products often don't share the same enthusiasm. Aldi typically pokes fun at its reputation for copycat products on social media, but this reputation has actually led to some not-so-funny consequences in the past. Some companies have taken legal action against the chain for ripping off their products -- and considering how many other dupes you can currently find on its shelves, we wouldn't be surprised if more do so in the future. Here are the items that have sparked some of Aldi's biggest legal disputes to date (and those we fear may cause more trouble in the future). Read more: 7 Must-Buy Aldi Items For First-Time Customers Aldi certainly isn't the only store to try its hand at knockoff Oreos. Sandwich cookies composed of two chocolate wafers and a vanilla creme filling can be found in the aisles of Walmart, Kroger, Trader Joe's, and more. In May 2025, however, Mondelēz International -- the company behind the iconic sweet treat -- filed a lawsuit against Aldi in the U.S. over claims that it was intentionally trying to deceive customers by copying the famous Oreo packaging for its Benton's Original Chocolate Sandwich Creme Cookies. Oreo wasn't the only cookie brand listed in the lawsuit. Wheat Thins, Nutter Butter, Chips Ahoy!, and Ritz were all mentioned in the filing, with Mondelēz showing images of the first two cookies next to the Aldi copycats to demonstrate the similarity in their packaging. Mondelēz also claimed that it had reached out to Aldi to try to resolve the issue multiple times before deciding to take legal action, despite the company previously resolving complaints over products similar to its Tate's Bake Shop cookies, Teddy Grahams, and more. This lawsuit is still ongoing at the time of writing, with Mondelēz pursuing a court order to prevent Aldi from selling the named products. Watch this space. Clancy's Kettle Chips come in a range of flavors, including jalapeño and sea salt and vinegar. The version sold by Kettle Brands -- which has offered its trademark thick-cut chips since the 1970s -- comes in a range of flavors, including jalapeño and sea salt and vinegar. The two use similar fonts, with an iconic bold K at the front of "Kettle" on both products. They're also both very tasty (although some Aldi super fans claim that its private label is the superior chips brand in every sense). The influence of Kettle Brands on Clancy's Kettle Chips is pretty tough to deny, but it's worth noting that Aldi isn't the only store to take its cues from Kettle Brands products. Lay's also offers a line of kettle chips that isn't totally dissimilar to the latter's products, as does Herr's. Clancy's, however, undeniably features one of the strongest visual resemblances. While it has definitely popularized kettle chips in general, it's worth noting that Kettle Brands didn't invent the concept, cooking method, or even the term kettle chips. But with other brands taking legal action against Aldi over aesthetic similarities in the past, it's not totally beyond the realm of possibility that Clancy's Kettle Chips could cause issues in the future. In December 2024, an Australian brand named Little Bellies was victorious in its legal fight against Aldi. Specializing in children's snacks, the brand had previously taken action against Aldi in 2021, after the latter launched a line of blueberry-flavored corn puffs known as Mamia Organic Baby Puffs that looked suspiciously similar to its Baby Bellies Organic Blueberry Puffs. Like the original snack, Aldi's version included an illustration of a smiling bird over corn puffs and blueberries. The lawsuit also claimed that Aldi had previously instructed a design agency to use Little Bellies products as a reference when redesigning the packaging for products in its Mamia line. A court ultimately ruled in Little Bellies' favor, coming to the conclusion that Aldi had deliberately tried to replicate the aesthetic of the copycat product. Federal court justice Mark Moshinsky claimed that "Aldi sought to use for its own commercial advantage the designs that had been developed by a trade rival," and that the company was liable for damages (via the Federal Court of Australia). Today, Mamia Organic Baby Puffs Blueberry are sold in packaging that instead utilizes an illustrated blueberry. Other brands have been ripping off Pop-Tarts since the dawn of, well, Pop-Tarts. Even the identity of the genius who invented Pop-Tarts has proven contentious in the past, with the company claiming that Kellogg's chairman William E. LaMothe came up with the idea and had "Doc" Joe Thompson perfect the creation. Meanwhile, William Post -- who was the manager of a Keebler Foods plant in Grand Rapids at the time of the Pop-Tart's birth -- insisted that he was recruited to come up with the snack. Point being, the Pop-Tart has been a hotly debated creation since the start, which is why we're keeping an eye on Aldi's take on the saccharine treat. Aldi's line of Pop-Tart-esque products is known as Millville Toaster Tarts. While they don't feature quite as many weird and wonderful flavors as actual Pop-Tarts, there is some overlap, such as strawberry and frosted brown sugar cinnamon. While Kroger has Toaster Treats and Walmart has its Great Value Toaster Pastries, neither is quite as overtly influenced by Pop-Tarts in its design. Millville Toaster Tarts feature similar color schemes (a blue background with bold white writing), an equally bold font, and even arrange the toaster pastries featured on each box in a similar manner. From 2022, Aldi was embroiled in a three-year-long legal battle over its Taurus Cloudy Lemon Cider. The dispute took place in the U.K., where Aldi was accused of ripping off Thatcher's Cloudy Lemon Cider. Unlike the U.S., where it typically does not contain alcohol, the term "cider" almost always denotes an alcoholic beverage to British customers. Both Thatcher's and Aldi were retailing sweet, lemon-flavored ciders, which not only tasted similar but were wrapped in extremely similar packaging. While Thatcher's case was initially dismissed in 2024, the company filed -- and subsequently won -- an appeal in January 2025. According to the BBC, Lord Justice Arnold concluded that Aldi intentionally tried to evoke Thatcher's aesthetic to sell more products, claiming, "The inescapable conclusion is that Aldi intended the sign to remind consumers of the trademark. This can only have been in order to convey the message that the Aldi product was like the Thatchers product, only cheaper." While Aldi confirmed that it planned to appeal, product images for the cider have since been removed from its U.K. website. Aldi's line of Clancy's potato chips is clearly inspired by a string of several iconic brands, but few as much as Stackerz. Its iconic tube of stackable chips is more than slightly reminiscent of the packaging used for Pringles, down to the use of a moustached mascot. Once again, Aldi is far from the only brand to try to recreate the mammoth success of Pringles, which is today owned by Kellanova. Back in 2017, a much more direct Pringles knockoff known as Prongles was sold at Target as a publicity stunt by the same company behind the game Cards Against Humanity. Walmart and Lay's both sell their own interpretations of the same style of potato chip (even though technically, Pringles don't count as potato chips). While legal action has never been taken over Aldi drawing heavy inspiration from the Pringles product, the resemblance between the two is uncanny. One difference that works in Aldi's favor, however, is the fact that some customers actually think Clancy's Stackerz taste better due to their thickness and stronger flavor. Caterpillar cakes are a pillar of British childhood. Quirky though it may seem to someone who didn't grow up in the U.K., these insect-shaped cakes are a staple of birthday celebrations, office parties, Christmas festivities, and even weddings. The original -- Colin the Caterpillar -- is a chocolate and candy-coated chocolate Swiss roll cake created by British chain Marks & Spencer in 1990, but he has since been joined by a small army of larvae rivals, including Sainsbury's Wiggles the Caterpillar, Tesco's Slinky Caterpillar, Morrisons' Morris the Caterpillar, and of course, Aldi's Cuthbert the Caterpillar. The latter hit a little too close to home for Marks & Spencer in 2021, when it sued Aldi over its cheaper but otherwise pretty much identical caterpillar cake. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Aldi continued to make light of Cuthbert's similarity to Colin on social media, kicking off a passionate #FreeCuthbert campaign as the cake was temporarily pulled from stores. This legal dispute has a somewhat happy ending as the two companies eventually cut a confidential deal in early 2022, with Aldi announcing Cuthbert's impending return on Facebook. "Getting out early on good behaviour," it wrote. "Keep an eye out for Cuthy B this Spring." To mark the occasion, Forbes reported that Aldi erected billboards bearing phrases such as "Aisle be back" and "Made by bakers. Approved by lawyers." For anyone concerned about Cuthbert's status today, we can confirm that he's still going strong in Aldi stores across the U.K. Available in flavors such as birthday cake and brownie, Fiber One bars are a popular and tasty choice for anyone trying to boost their fiber intake. The same is true of Millville Fiber Now bars, which also combine the convenience of a pre-packaged cake bar with the nutritional benefits of a quick, low-calorie dose of fiber. Those attributes alone are enough to raise suspicion about where Aldi got the inspiration for the product. It also doesn't help that both products bear similar packaging, with the primary difference being that boxes of Fiber One bars feature a supersized "90" to brag about the fact they contain just 90 calories, while Millville Fiber Now bars feature a "70" (because of course Aldi had to outdo the original and slash the calorie count). The good news for Aldi is that General Mills, which owns Fiber One, hasn't cracked down on the similarities -- at least not yet. Customers, however, have lashed out at the chain in recent months over theories that Aldi changed its Millville Fiber Now recipe for the worse, with the updated bars lacking in both flavor and moisture. Yogurt was the topic at hand for Aldi in 2018 when a brand called The Collective made its feelings known about the chain's copycat tendencies. The brand -- which specializes in gourmet Greek-style yogurts heaped with fruity or fudgy toppings -- threatened the chain with legal action after it launched a line of similar-looking products under its Moo! Gourmet Yogurt line. The Collective co-founder Amelia Harvey shared the brand's frustration with The Sun, saying, "We've always been up for healthy competition, but we're confused why a successful brand like Aldi doesn't market these ranges under their strong own label brand, rather than deliberately imitating others and causing confusion amongst shoppers." While it doesn't seem like The Collective ever actually took legal action, the situation was still serious enough to warrant going to the press over the discontent. Notably, Aldi pulled the line of yogurts in question from its stores just months later. Aldi strikes again with its Clancy's White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn. If its black and yellow packaging looks a little familiar, that's probably because you're used to seeing Smartfood White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn -- a product that relies on the same flavor profile and extremely similar design choices. Nothing has ever come of the likenesses between the two products. However, it does seem like Aldi has eaten into Smartfood's customer base with Clancy's White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn, as fans have claimed that it offers a stronger cheesy flavor and tastes less greasy than its pricier counterpart. It probably doesn't hurt matters that some customers feel like Smartfood has switched up the recipe for its popcorn in recent years -- and not in a good way. While Smartfood once arguably boasted the best cheddar popcorn on the market, some of the most common complaints are that the cheddar flavor simply isn't as sharp as it once was, with cheddar now falling further down the ingredients list than it did in times gone by. In 2018, around the same time that yogurt brand The Collective accused Aldi of ripping off its products, a British sausage company called Heck started making noise about the same issue. This time, Aldi's Ashfield Farm Chicken Chipolatas lay at the heart of the drama, with Heck claiming that the packaging bore an extremely similar color scheme to its own Heck Chicken Italia Sausages. Andrew Keeble, founder of Heck, reportedly sent Aldi a letter asking the chain to axe the product, which was sold in its U.K. stores. He claimed to have received a threatening response that led him to consider taking the company to court. Aldi also insisted that it had used similar branding for its Ashfield Farm line for 15 years. The dispute may have never escalated to an actual court case, but Aldi did subsequently rebrand its Ashfield Farm Chicken Chipolatas, which today feature a cyan blue design, complete with the Union Jack. It doesn't take long to spot the similarities between Benton's Fudge Striped Shortbread Cookies and their Keebler counterpart. With yellow and brown packaging that contains ring-shaped, fudge-striped cookies, these sweet treats are closer to twins than sisters. Despite the strong resemblance between the two, Aldi has never been formally called out by Keebler or its parent company, Ferrero. It has, however, been called out by customers for creating near-identical dupes for Keebler Fudge Stripes. Fans have noted that Benton's Fudge Striped Shortbread Cookies are a similar size to the latter, with the exact same taste. In fact, some even claim that they taste better and less artificial, despite costing less. Other cookies in the Benton's range reportedly come up just as strong against similar products. Just like Walmart, Aldi offers several copycat Girl Scout cookies, with Benton's Mint Striped Fudge Cookies often compared to Girl Scout Thin Mints and Benton's Caramel Coconut Fudge Cookies tasting an awful lot like Girl Scout Samoas. Aldi sells a long list of cereal products under its Millville brand, plenty of which enter uncanny valley with their similarity to major brands such as Kellogg's and Quaker Oats. Perhaps the most obvious dupe of the bunch is Millville Fruit Rounds -- a kid-oriented, colorful, ring-shaped cereal with a parrot emblazoned on its packaging. Considering the fact that we could have written that exact same description about Froot Loops, you can probably see where this is going. While Aldi may deign to spell fruit properly in its cereal name, there's no denying where it got the inspiration. Yes, Fruit Rounds are accompanied by a green parrot, not a blue parrot, but if the only real difference between two products is the hue of their animal mascots, then you know you've got a problem. At least, theoretically. Aldi has sold its Fruit Rounds for years without consequence from Kellogg's. Some customers even prefer Aldi's lookalike cereal due to the fact that it's naturally flavored and doesn't contain a long list of colors like Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, or Yellow 6 like Froot Loops. This may just be one instance where a dupe has truly improved upon the original -- so long as Kellogg's lets it go unchecked. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Man in Japan arrested over suspected attempt to repeat 1987 attack on reporters
Police in Japan have arrested a man over a parcel containing threats sent to a news outlet in a suspected copycat attempt of the most serious attack on the media in the country's modern history. Kazuhiro Muto, 38, was arrested at his home in the city of Fuji, Shizuoka prefecture, on June 3, a month after a parcel allegedly from him was delivered to an office of the Asahi Shimbun in Nishinomiya, the newspaper reported. The parcel arrived just after the anniversary of the May 3, 1987 attack in the same office, in which an Asahi reporter was shot dead and another seriously injured. A group calling itself 'Sekihotai' in a statement claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed 29-year-old Tomohiro Kojiri and severely wounded his colleague, Hyoe Inukai, then 42. A letter purportedly sent by the group carried the message: 'We do not accept anyone who betrays Japan. We sentence all Asahi Shimbun employees to death.' The gunman was never identified, and the statute of limitations in the case expired in 2002. The parcel that allegedly involved Muto contained photographs of Asahi reporters that had been defaced, a toy gun and a statement that quoted the original claim of responsibility for the 1987 attack. The statement was signed 'Reiwa Sekihotai', with Reiwa being the name of the present imperial era of Japan.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Sainsbury's embroiled in dupe row as independent flavoured butter brand accuses supermarket giant of making 'carbon copies' of its products
Sainsbury's has become embroiled in a bitter copycat spat with an independent butter brand. The British supermarket is facing claims from Sublime Butter that its new Taste the Difference butter range, released last week, comprises 'carbon copies' of its products. Sublime Butter offers premium butters in flavours such as garlic and herb and garlic, rosemary, and mint at prices of up to £4.95. While the brand has found success at various retailers and is stocked in Harrods and Selfridges, it has claimed that Sainsbury's has 'gone and accidentally made carbon copies of the ones we sent you last year.' Sainsbury's has denied the claims. Sublime Butter founder Tony Ho told The Grocer that Sainsbury's contacted his brand in July last year to consider stocking them, which led to conversations about flavours and them sending 'loads of samples', said Ho. Ho, who has approached the Groceries Code Adjudicator over the matter, said the retailer then went radio silent without offering an explanation as to why. Taking to Instagram, the brand publicly directed a letter to Sainsbury's after the retailer 'ghosted' their attempts of direct communication. 'Your 'new' range of flavoured butters look great,' the statement said, continuing, 'Particularly the Chimichurri and the Truffle, Parmesan & Black Pepper ones. Did you come up with those yourselves? Be honest now. 'Because it seems like you've gone and accidentally made carbon copies of the ones we sent you last year. You know, the ones you pretended you wanted to stock? We won awards for ours though. 'Not to cry over spilled milk but as a small producer, we're sick of having giant supermarkets swoop in, ask for samples, and then rip us off. 'We're good people working hard to make something we're proud of. We love what we do. We find joy in helping people to eat better. Bad sportsmanship from big players means that it's increasingly difficult to do.' Sublime Butter concluded the post by urging Sainsbury's to develop 'original' products in the future, writing, 'Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so thank you. But also: stop and think. 'Take the £££s you've spent copying us and make something original. Go out on a limb. 'All these supermarket price wars and you've all forgotten the one true basis of any good brand: stand for something. Then, maybe you won't have to stoop to following in other people's wake.' A Sainsbury's spokesperson told MailOnline, 'There is no truth in these claims. We value our supplier relationships deeply - every supplier is an essential partner to our business and no matter their size or scale we are committed to fair treatment and trusted partnerships. 'We launched our Taste the Difference flavoured butter range in response to growing customer demand for more flavourful butter and joined several other retailers with launches in this category, based on customer insights and following well-established flavour trends in the market. 'Our own label product development process operates entirely separately and the team has no contact or discussion with suppliers over the brands we stock.' It comes after Aldi encountered dupe allegations after an independent company accused the supermarket giant of ripping off its product last year. Joe Moruzzi, managing director of Surrey-based brand Pleese, claimed the supermarket giant had designed a dupe of his brand Freezecakes. Taking to Instagram the the dessert company shared a clip saying Aldi even 'had the cheek' to call their dupe the same name, just dropping the 's' and used its slogan, 'It's not ice cream', which Pleese claims it has trademarked. Freezecakes, available in Waitrose, Co-op and Consort Frozen Foods, are frozen cheesecakes in a tub, made from 40 percent cream cheese with flavoured sauces and biscuit pieces. FEMAIL understands the product is not currently on sale in Aldi and the supermarket giant was in touch with Pleese. Joe claimed that he was alerted to the Aldi product when customers sent them photos via social media. Commenting on a picture of a very similar cheesecake product found in Aldi, which was shared by uknewestfoods on Instagram, one person said, 'The nerve! Freezecakes are an amazing little company. Get f**** Aldi.' Another wrote, 'Oh that is so naughty to rip off a new fledgling company, I supported you with the Colin/Cuthbert cake, but this is low! Very disappointed in you!' Meanwhile, another said, 'This is not cool at all. Ripping off a small business so blatantly, make sure you pick up the original, and best from @freezecakes' Speaking to FEMAIL, Pleese boss Joe said, 'Initially I thought great, the frozen dessert category is growing, I then looked closer and saw Freezecakes and 'it's not ice cream', two names and phrases we use and have trademarked. They're also exactly the same flavours. 'We're all about growing the category, but when large companies just copy tiny companies like for like it's disheartening for us and potentially off putting for new entrepreneurs. 'We're here to stand up for small businesses and I hope this is a note to encourage any copycat ideas to be less intrusive and detrimental to small brands that have worked so hard and made many sacrifices to get to where they are.' A Pleese employee took to Instagram to address the controversy saying, 'For those that don't know us, we are Pleese and we had to concept for a Cheesecake dessert that could be eaten like ice cream back in 2017. 'We started making overload cheesecakes which were loved by all, and we even made one for The Queen. 'Fast forward to 2020, we finally had the concept of creating a frozen cheesecake that could be eaten like ice cream from a tub, layers of cheesecake with biscuit chunks, fancy inclusions and sauces, we sold these via our website. 'Three years later we finally launched in the supermarkets and we were over the moon as we are still a startup brand with less the five employees. ' After receiving snaps of the dupe from their loyal followers on social media the Pleese team said they had a feeling it was going to happen. They said: 'Products get duped all the time, but we are the little guys, we are not a massive company with thousands of staff. 18 months ago we were still making this product by hand in a little kitchen in Redhill. 'The thing that got us was the name, Freezecake, not Freezecakes with an S, singular, that and 'it's not ice cream' which is trademarked by us, is featured on their tub. The brand said they refuse to be 'bullied' and want to 'raise awareness' for all the small brands this is happening to. FEMAIL understands the product is not currently on sale in Aldi stores.
Fast Company
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
What happens when you mix random stuff in a bowl for 100 days? TikTok found out
Ever wondered what happens when you add random household items to the same bowl every day for 100 days straight? Well, you're in luck. One TikTok account has made it their mission to find out—so you don't have to. The anonymous account, known simply as Bowl of Danger, adds 'random stuff' to a bowl each day until they 'get in danger.' The experiment began in January with a dollop of sunscreen. Each day, something new entered the mix: sugar, whipped cream, deodorant, lit firecrackers, batteries, nail polish, vodka, a whole pizza, a Big Mac. 'Can't imagine how bad that reeks,' someone wrote in the comments. 'I just unlocked a new facial expression,' added a second. Another warned, 'No cuz I genuinely think we're making a pandemic' (check out day 25 at your own risk). For every person who scrolls past in horror, plenty are invested. Some of the most viral Bowl of Danger videos have racked up millions of views, with fans suggesting new items to add. As for Day 100? The video was taken down, but according to the comments, it involved a firecracker and an explosion. Since Bowl of Danger went viral, a number of copycat accounts have emerged. There's The Danger Bowl, naturally, and Bowl of Living —an organic version of the original series. 'Mold is just a simple form of life,' the creator says. 'I want to create something more—like a new species.'
