FRED FRANZIA ISSUING COPYCAT LABELS?
Fred Franzia has done it again, managing to strike controversy virtually every time his highly successful company, Bronco Wine, puts out a new brand. This time, however, the brawl is not with Napa wineries.
After spending six years in court unsuccessfully fighting for the right to use “Napa” in the name of several brands whose grapes did not originate from Napa Valley, Franzia has moved his irksome ways down south. His latest brand, Santa Barbara Landing ($4.99 at Trader Joe’s), is accused of featuring a label that strongly resembles that of Santa Barbara Winery, which goes for a much more expensive $14.
True, copycat labels are somewhat common but that doesn’t make them any less forgivable. Santa Barbara Winery seems to agree. In a press-release issued last week, the winery’s proprietor Pierre Lafond said:
“These producers hope to ride on Santa Barbara's reputation and perceived consumer ignorance.”
Bronco claims innocence, however, claiming the labels are not that similar. Company spokesman Harvey Posert was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle saying:
"If you look at the labels, they're really not alike. We think it's unlikely that anyone would mistake it. We're suggesting that people buy one bottle of each and taste it and see whether they like the $4.99 Santa Barbara Landing wine or the other wine."
You got to hand it to him. Franzia sure knows how to keep things interesting.
After spending six years in court unsuccessfully fighting for the right to use “Napa” in the name of several brands whose grapes did not originate from Napa Valley, Franzia has moved his irksome ways down south. His latest brand, Santa Barbara Landing ($4.99 at Trader Joe’s), is accused of featuring a label that strongly resembles that of Santa Barbara Winery, which goes for a much more expensive $14.
True, copycat labels are somewhat common but that doesn’t make them any less forgivable. Santa Barbara Winery seems to agree. In a press-release issued last week, the winery’s proprietor Pierre Lafond said:
“These producers hope to ride on Santa Barbara's reputation and perceived consumer ignorance.”
Bronco claims innocence, however, claiming the labels are not that similar. Company spokesman Harvey Posert was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle saying:
"If you look at the labels, they're really not alike. We think it's unlikely that anyone would mistake it. We're suggesting that people buy one bottle of each and taste it and see whether they like the $4.99 Santa Barbara Landing wine or the other wine."
You got to hand it to him. Franzia sure knows how to keep things interesting.
posted at 11:22 AM
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