Kroger Sues German Supermarket Chain Lidl Right After It Opened Its First US Stores

Supermarket giant Kroger is suing a newly-established rival, Lidl, for trademark infringement just two weeks after the German-based chain opened its first stores in the U.S.

A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia alleges that Lidl's house brand, "Preferred Selection," is too similar to Kroger's own house brand, "Private Selection," according to Business Insider.

Kroger claims that the similarity in names will lead customers to believe that the two companies are associated with each other, allowing Lidl to "compete unfairly," the lawsuit states, adding that Kroger's brand has been marketed for over 20 years, whereas Lidl filed its trademark last September.

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