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Fresh Market in Trademark Dispute

WASHINGTON The Fresh Market and Associated Food Stores of Salt Lake City are engaged in a trademark battle over the Fresh Market name, which both retailers have used on their stores. The Fresh Market, the Greensboro, N.C.-based specialty retailer, filed a notice of opposition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in February against Associated, which applied for a trademark on the name A Fresh

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

May 10, 2010

1 Min Read
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JON SPRINGER

WASHINGTON — The Fresh Market and Associated Food Stores of Salt Lake City are engaged in a trademark battle over the “Fresh Market” name, which both retailers have used on their stores. The Fresh Market, the Greensboro, N.C.-based specialty retailer, filed a notice of opposition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in February against Associated, which applied for a trademark on the name “A Fresh Market” that it has been using to rebrand the Albertsons stores it purchased in Utah.

Associated subsequently filed a counterclaim seeking to cancel The Fresh Market trademark, arguing among other things that the name is generic. The Fresh Market most recently sought to dismiss that claim.

The Fresh Market as part of its registration for an initial public offering last week said it believes it will be able to pursue its growth strategy “even if The Fresh Market trademark and related design mark are impaired.”

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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