Jacobs warns over sourcing of biscuits

PAUL CULLEN, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

THE MAKERS of Fig Rolls, Cream Crackers and other popular biscuits have sent legal warnings to retailers who have sourced the same product, supplied by a rival, in the UK.

Jacob Fruitfield Foods says it will take legal action in defence of its trademark to sell and distribute the biscuits in the Irish market.

Some retailers have started sourcing the biscuits more cheaply in Britain from McVitie’s, which owns the rights to sell and distribute them in the UK.

RGDATA, which represents independent grocers, has complained to Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan about the issue.

In a letter, RGDATA director general Tara Buckley said it is incomprehensible retailers should be presented with a legal threat for sourcing imported branded goods at significantly cheaper prices. RGDATA members say that by sourcing from the UK, they are able to sell many well-known biscuits at prices lower than the list price charged in the Republic.

However, Jacob Fruitfield executive chairman Michael Carey said British products were being passed off as his company’s in the Irish market. He told RTÉ Radio that Jacob Fruitfield was an Irish-owned company that would defend its products against large and small retailers who infringed its intellectual property rights.