A Comox Valley winery is battling Real Canadian Superstore over use of the brand name Ziggy.
Family-operated 40 Knots Vineyard produces a Siegerrebe wine called “Ziggy,” named after its pet dog.
“Siegerrebe grape grows in our vineyard. It was planted in 2011 and 2012,,” owner Brenda Hetman-Craig said.
The owners sought to protect the brand with a trademark, but were blocked by Superstore parent company Loblaw Canada Ltd.
“We trademarked it back in I believe it was early 2015,” Hetman-Craig told CTV. “It was approved, and then it goes out for advertising and I believe it was sometime late in 2016 that Loblaws decided to oppose it.”
Loblaw has sold a Ziggy’s brand of foods since 1971, the company says.
But, the vineyard claims that’s never applied to wines.
“Our lawyer feels very confident that we have an excellent case,” Hetman-Craig said. “We have until May 30 to show that we have indeed manufactured the product, the first day we sold the product, the advertisements and what the sales were.”
– with files from CTV Vancouver Island
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