Trader Joe’s settles cookie lawsuit with Pepperidge Farm

HARTFORD, Conn. — A clash over chocolate-filled cookies has culminated in Trader Joe’s settling a lawsuit filed by Pepperidge Farm.

Norwalk, Connecticut-based Pepperidge Farm sued in federal court in Hartford in December, saying Trader Joe’s Crispy Cookies filled with Belgian chocolate too closely resembled Pepperidge Farm’s Milano brand.

Ira Levy, a New York lawyer representing Pepperidge Farm, said on Wednesday that the two companies reached a “mutually satisfactory resolution” and agreed to make no further comments about the dispute. A judge dismissed the case on March 9 after Pepperidge Farm filed notice that it was withdrawing the lawsuit.

A spokeswoman for Monrovia, California-based Trader Joe’s declined to comment on the settlement Wednesday.

The lawsuit sought undisclosed damages and to block future sales of the Trader Joe’s chocolate-filled cookies.