Andreas Wilmers banned Dubai chocolate made in Türkiye from Aldi.Image: DR
A German court has just ruled in favor of an entrepreneur who demanded that Aldi stop selling a Turkish imitation of the famous treat. Lidl and the Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli are also in its sights.
14.01.2025, 13:0014.01.2025, 13:31
The darling of social networks, “Dubai chocolate” has become a case for German justice: a court comes to ban Aldi supermarkets from selling this pistachio treat because it was produced… in Türkiye.
At the origin of the affair, the businessman Andreas Wilmers who imports into Germany this delicacy manufactured by the chocolate factory Fix Dessert Chocolatier in this Emirate. He had filed a complaint against Aldi Süd – the Aldi supermarkets in southern Germany – which offered “Alyan Dubai Handmade Chocolate”, produced in Türkiye, on its shelves.
Popularized by a culinary influencer, the chocolate with pistachio cream and crispy kadaïf, designed by the Dubai chocolate factory, has sparked worldwide enthusiasm, with limited editions resold at a high price on the Web and chocolatiers like Lindt seeking to reproduce its success.
“Simply unacceptable”
For the German entrepreneur who lives with his family in Dubai, “it is simply unacceptable that it says ‘Dubai Handmade Chocolate’ when (the chocolate sold at Aldi) is made in Turkey,” he said to the AFP.
“If it said ‘Dubai style’ or something like that, it would have been acceptable, but misleading the consumer like that is not okay.”
Wilmers who told the weekly the mirror “having started the importation into Germany of Dubai chocolate bars in wheeled suitcases” claims to have been alerted to the existence of these imitation products by consumers complaining of bad taste candy.
The court in Cologne (west) sided with Wilmers, finding that “the average consumer would take the expression ‘Dubai Handmade Chocolate’, as it appears, to mean that the chocolate was made in Dubai”, according to a decision dated January 2, seen by AFP, and likely to be challenged on appeal.
“The label ‘Origin: Turkey’ on the back is not likely to dispel this misunderstanding,” added the court, emphasizing its position and the “small size of the characters”.
Lindt and Lidl in the viewfinder
Questioned by AFP, Aldi Süd said it could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
Also in Wilmers’ sights is Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli, which has since changed the packaging of its “Dubai-style” chocolate.
He is also considering action against discount supermarkets Lidlcompetitors of Aldi, after the latter refused to stop selling their Dubai-style confectionery. (jzs/ats)
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