In other coffee business news… 30 November-6 December 2024

Legal setback for Oatly’s post-milk marketing, Starbucks unveils Oprah’s Book Club podcast, Adelaide independents take on coffee chain giants, US cat café eyes franchise future and US rappers on track for coffee shop debut

Oatly attempted to trademark the its ‘Post Milk Generation’ slogan in 2019 | Photo credit: Oatly

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UK Court of Appeal rules Oatly cannot use ‘milk’ in marketing and labelling 

 

A UK court has ruled that Oatly can no longer use the word ‘milk’ in its ‘Post Milk Generation’ marketing. Oatly has been engulfed in a legal battle with trade body Dairy UK over the slogan since 2019 when it attempted to trademark the phrase. The UK’s International Property Office (IPO) granted the trademark for use only on merchandise only before Oatly successfully appealed the decision in December 2023 and reinstated the slogan on its food and beverage products. Now, the UK Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of Dairy UK, deciding that the trademark violates EU and UK regulations. Bryan Carroll, Oatly’s General Manager for the UK & Ireland, said ‘making it harder to label and find dairy alternatives benefits the interests of Big Dairy and Big Dairy alone’. 

 

Starbucks launches podcast companion to Oprah’s Book Club 

 

Starbucks has unveiled Oprah’s Book Club: Presented by Starbucks, a podcast companion to the popular book club. US host and television producer Oprah Winfrey launched the book club in 1996 to encourage readers to “discover new authors and books that ignite conversation”, with her chosen selections made available for purchase in US Starbucks stores the following year. Commencing December 2024, Winfrey will host an additional episode of The Oprah Podcast each month from a different Starbucks store, discussing the book selection and Starbucks beverage recommendations. 

 

Australian cafés launch joint campaign to support independents 

 

A group of independent Adelaide cafés have joined forces for a new advertising campaign encouraging consumers to support small coffee shops over large chains. The campaign promotes local independents with billboard and bus shelter advertisements to ‘help them grow and thrive amid larger industry shifts’, according to communications agency, Topbunk. The campaign comes a month after multinational franchise giant Retail Food Group acquired Adelaide-based coffee business CIBO Espresso for AU$2.7m ($1.7m) and announced plans to convert the stores into Gloria Jean’s sites – a decision CIBO Espresso co-founder Roberto Cardone described as “terrible news”.  

 

US rappers Jadakiss and 50 Cent hint Kiss Café collaboration 

Rappers Jadakiss and 50 Cent have hinted they will launch the first bricks-and-mortar Kiss Café in Louisiana, US. Jadakiss, whose given name is Jason Phillips, launched family-owned retail packaged coffee company Kiss Café in October 2022 and sells the company’s Beijo coffee blend via direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels. Posting on Instagram, 50 Cent urged Jadakiss to open a Kiss Café outlet in Shreveport – a city he has invested heavily in as part of a regeneration strategy. Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent, has invested $2.4m in commercial real estate in Shreveport to-date and established his G-Unit Studios production company in the city in May 2024.

 

Orlando Cat Café becomes first in the US to offer franchise model 

Florida-based Orlando Cat Café has become the first cat café in the US to offer a franchise model. Launched in 2016, Orlando Cat Café allows customers to purchase and consume coffee while interacting with rescue cats in a dedicated lounge area. The model has facilitated over 2,800 adoptions in partnership with SPCA, Florida. The cat café concept originated in Taiwan in 1998 before quickly gaining traction across East Asia and further afield. California-based Cat Town Cafe is widely credited with introducing the concept to the US in August 2014.