Vosges Haut-Chocolat And Colorado Chocolate Shop Feud Over Trademark
By Melissa McEwen in Food on Feb 23, 2015 4:00PM
Ironically the feud between the two chocolatiers is over the phrase "Peace, Love, and Chocolate" which Vosges Haut-Chocolat has trademarked. Lawyers from Vosges sent a cease and desist to Piece, Love & Chocolate (PLC), a small chocolate shop in Colorado. Vosges owner Katrina Markoff says on a Facebook post that the letter asked them to contact their lawyers to discuss, but PLC says it demanded they change their name within a week:
I am a small town business owner trying to make ends meet. As you can see from the financials we sent to Mr. Jayaram, we haven’t made those ends meet yet. Your request for us to change everything that solidifies our company’s identity will be a financial burden so weighty, it will put me out of business. Where is the “peace and love” in an action so petty and bullying?
Vosges Haut-Chocolat, which started in Chicago, has gained national recognition for their unusual flavors of luxury chocolate and now has several boutiques in Chicago as well as outposts in Las Vegas and New York City. Piece, Love & Chocolate is a small store with one location in Boulder.