Chipotle Sues Sweetgreen Over 'Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl'
Chipotle Sues Sweetgreen Over Burrito Bowl ... Stop Using Our Name!!!
UPDATE
2:42 PM PT -- 4/6 -- A rep for Sweetgreen confirms to TMZ that they've changed the name of their bowl. The rep says, "I can confirm that in order to focus on the business and continue serving our guests without distraction, we have decided to rename our bowl to the Chicken + Chipotle Pepper Bowl as part of a tentative agreement to resolve the lawsuit. Our mission is to bring customers healthy, elevated and craveable menu items that make you feel good. We are looking forward to putting this lawsuit behind us as we continue to connect more people to real food."
Chipotle is beefing in court with a fast-casual food nemesis ... suing Sweetgreen over the competitor's latest offering -- the "Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl."
According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Chipotle claims Sweetgreen just came out with the menu item last week, and it takes issue with Sweetgreen using the word "chipotle."
Chipotle claims Sweetgreen is trying to profit off its brand name and even claims the restaurant is trying to confuse or deceive customers.
In the suit, Chipotle claims Sweetgreen is marketing the "Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl" with ads featuring colors and styles that are nearly identical to Chipotle's trademarks.
Chipotle is accusing Sweetgreen of trying to trade off Chipotle's goodwill ... claiming comments on a social media post announcing the new bowl show folks clearly understanding "the association Sweetgreen is trying to draw between its product, Chipotle's products, and the famous CHIPOTLE brand."
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After Sweetgreen started its ad blitz, Chipotle claims it reached out to its competitor with a request to re-name the item or use the word "chipotle" a different way ... but Chipotle says Sweetgreen didn't respond.
Chipotle is suing for money, and it wants Sweetgreen to stop using its "CHIPOTLE" trademark in promotions.
A rep for Sweetgreen tells TMZ ... "We are aware of the lawsuit Chipotle Mexican Grill has filed over the name of our new bowl. However, we do not comment on pending litigation." However, the rep does say the company responded to a cease and desist sent from Chipotle, but Chipotle had already filed the lawsuit.
Originally Published -- 4/5 9:55 AM PT
