Shops mix it up over ‘Chicago Mix’

A snack shop in St. Paul, Minnesota, has sued Garrett Popcorn Shops and two other companies over the use of the name “Chicago Mix.”

Candyland Inc. has held a trademark for “Chicago Mix” since 1992 and wants Garrett to stop selling products under the same name. Candyland’s trademark lawsuit also names Snyder’s-Lance Inc., the maker of O-ke-doke popcorn, and Cornfields Inc., which makes G.H. Cretors popcorn. Garrett Popcorn Shops is owned by CaramelCrisp LLC.

It has become our No. 1 seller and it didn’t take long for it to escalate to that spot, Candyland co-owner Brenda Lamb told the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. It’s not like mixing of popcorn is anything new. … What I did was put a name on it.

Candyland says it asked the companies to voluntarily stop using the name but they refused or didn’t respond. The company wants a judge to order the companies to stop using the name and pay damages.

In an emailed statement, Garrett said Tuesday it had begun changing the name for its blend of cheese and caramel popcorn before the lawsuit was filed because so many brands used the “Chicago Mix” name.

“Garrett Popcorn Shops is expanding into new markets and proactively started transitioning away from calling its world famous CheeseCorn and CaramelCrisp flavor ‘Chicago Mix’ to the more ownable ‘Garrett Mix’,” the company said.

Chicago Mix lawsuit

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