BOSTON — For the second time in a year, two of Ahold's U.S.-based retailers have filed suit in U.S. District Court here to stop another company from using the phrase “Real Deal” — a promotional phrase Stop & Shop, Quincy, Mass., and Giant Food, Landover, Md., have been using since mid-2008.
The latest filing for trademark infringement involves Big Lots, the Columbus, Ohio-based discounter that reportedly has been using the phrase since April in TV ads, circulars, store signs and on its website.
Last summer Stop & Shop and Giant filed suit against Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas, for using the “Real Deal” phrase and ultimately reached an out-of-court settlement. Whole Foods renamed its program “The Whole Deal.”
The latest suit seeks an order to stop Big Lots from using the phrase and to require that it pay an unspecified amount of damages. Neither Big Lots nor Stop & Shop could be reached early Monday to comment on the latest suit.
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