A federal judge in Manhattan declined on Monday to throw out a trademark lawsuit brought by Danone, the parent company of rival U.S. yogurt brand Dannon, against Chobani. The dispute centers on allegations that Chobani’s use of a yellow-and-black color scheme and the slogan "Bright & Mellow" for La Colombe cold-brew products risks confusing consumers with Danone’s SToK coffee line.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon said Danone sufficiently pleaded that Chobani’s packaging and tagline could lead to consumer confusion. Rochon rejected Chobani’s contention that the phrase "Bright & Mellow" was ineligible for trademark protection because it is generic or merely descriptive of coffee’s mouthfeel or taste.
Without deciding the ultimate merits of the infringement claim, the judge also found Danone’s allegations that Chobani copied SToK’s look to be enough to "support a plausible inference of bad faith." The ruling allows Danone’s suit to move forward; the complaint requests unspecified monetary damages and seeks changes to Chobani’s packaging and branding to avoid confusion with the "Bright & Mellow" mark.
The case is the latest legal clash in a broader, ongoing rivalry between the two companies. It is one of at least four lawsuits filed between Danone and Chobani since 2016, both firms being among the largest sellers of Greek-style yogurt in the U.S.
Chobani and its attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Danone and its lawyers also did not immediately reply to similar requests, according to filings.
Previously, Chobani had accused Danone of bringing an "opportunistic" suit intended to "weaponize trademark law against a superior competitor." That contention appeared in filings challenging Danone’s allegations.
In a separate but related strand of litigation noted in court papers, Danone last month sued Chobani over alleged inflation of protein claims on multi-serving tubs of Chobani 20G Protein, asserting those claims made the product appear more protein-rich than Danone’s Oikos Pro. In a subsequent interview, Chobani founder and Chief Executive Hamdi Ulukaya criticized Danone’s actions, saying the company was "throwing things out there" to generate damaging headlines and adding, "We never add external protein to our products," and, "We will never mislead anybody."
Corporate details cited in filings indicate Chobani is based in New York and acquired La Colombe for $900 million in December 2023. Danone is headquartered in Paris, and its U.S. subsidiary is located in White Plains, New York.
Context and next steps
Judge Rochon’s decision to deny dismissal means discovery and further litigation can proceed. The court did not make any findings on whether Chobani actually infringed Danone’s trademark rights; rather, the ruling found Danone’s factual allegations sufficient to allow the case to advance past the motion to dismiss stage.